Chris Strecker was born in Greece and emigrated to America when she was 11. She studied forestry in college, but found herself drawn to the art department—and particularly to clay. She opened a full-time studio in 1976 and has been making her living as a functional potter ever since.

Chris and her family moved to Harrodsburg when her husband took a position at Centre College in nearby Danville. They restored a historic tollhouse and turned it into her studio/showroom, christening it the Old Harrodsburg Pottery. Chris made and sold pots there for many years.

In 1987, Chris sold that studio and retreated from the public eye to a 50-acre farm near Shakertown called Peace Roots. There she restored a 200-year-old cabin and built a timber-frame addition. She and her family tended the land, raised goats and milked them, and planted a fruit and nut orchard, becoming highly self-sufficient. Chris continued to make beautiful high-fired reduction pots, selling them at a once-a-year home sale or directly to customers who sought her out.

In 2003, Chris decided to make another change and sold Peace Roots Farm to her daughter, sculptor Zoé Strecker, and her husband, potter Mike Frasca. Then she restored yet another building, moving into a 1910 bungalow in Lexington. She has built a new studio; planted a plentiful garden; and started a potters’ group, the Clay Artists. Their first group sale took place December 7, 2003 in Lexington’s historic Bell House.

Chris continues to make beautiful, functional pots and hopes that they all will be put to use in people’s homes. The artist and her batter bowls and leaf pie plates were featured in the November 2003 edition of Southern Living magazine.

Program 612

Sculptor Chris Strecker, the Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville, and the Rock Garden String Band. (#612)

Program 625: Best of Season 6

Highlights from recent programs, including profiles of the Strecker family of artists and musical performances by students from the Kentucky Opera’s Young Artists’ Program, singer-songwriter John Mann, and rock band AM Sunday. (#625)