ST. GEORGE —Turns out throwing things isn’t always bad.
From baking dishes to mugs, salad plates and more, one artist is creating unique ceramic dinnerware with glazes inspired by the awe-inspiring Southern Utah landscape.
“It’s been a huge impact on my mental health. I really believe that. Working with our hands brings light and joy and creativity into our lives,” artist Ridge Merrill said.
A play off of his first name Ridge, Oridgenal Pottery first launched four years ago. As a current fine art major with an emphasis in ceramics at Utah Tech University, Merrill develops his own glazes inspired by Southern Utah colors, such as sagebrush, Zion orange, sunflower, classic white, and patina blue – a rusted copper turquoise and fan favorite.
The first in his family to commit his life to pottery since 1860, Merrill said he comes from eight generations of potters that date back to the 1600s. In 1860, his family stopped making pottery when they learned their lead-filled glazes were poisonous. There hasn’t been a potter in his family since, until now.
“I would say it’s twofold for me: the mental health and connecting with people and also it’s in my blood, which is kind of cool,” he said about his passion for pottery.
Originally from Gilbert, Arizona, he was first exposed to ceramics and pottery as a senior in high school. He said he was originally “terrible” but enjoyed moving his hands and learning a new skill. It wasn’t until a month before graduation that he began to really hone his skills. As graduation came and went, pottery was the last thing on his mind. He then served a mission through his church. After returning home, he attended Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona.
“I was actually going to go pre-med,” he said. “I had the grades for it, wanted to be a neurosurgeon, all that fun stuff.”
Aside from his general credits, he decided to throw in a ceramics class and fell in love with pottery his first semester. During this time, his professor encouraged him to go all in. He made the leap from pre-med to business with a minor in art.
Since he made that decision, Merrill said he’s met and connected with many people he wouldn’t have otherwise. His now-wife McKinley for example, first messaged him through his Oridgenal Pottery Instagram account, and “the rest is history,” he said. As an active part of the Oridgenal Pottery business, she makes ceramic jewelry such as earrings that are sold alongside his dinnerware.
“Because I’ve made pottery and decided to devote my life to that, some of the best things in my life have come from it, my wife especially,” Merrill said.
Oridgenal Pottery made its public debut at Peach Days in Hurricane this year. The couple’s booth also has been at the St. George Downtown Farmers Market. Merrill said the market success has allowed them to purchase a kiln and potters wheel, which will go into their detached garage studio. He plans to host ceramic and pottery shops with renovations completed by his May graduation date next year.
Each of Merrill’s pieces features a unique signature, one of which Merrill said is a multi-fold symbol he personally created. The top portion of the signature is symbolic of an eye, coinciding with the phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” He hopes that whoever beholds his pieces – whether it’s himself, someone else or even god – sees the beauty in each creation. The symbol also resembles a tree canopy with roots, which represents looking forward to the future and connecting his family roots and others.
Oridgenal Pottery items can be seen at Red Canyon Company in Hurricane and the St. George Art Museum gift shop. As for the future, Merrill said he will be the official in-house potter of the Social District inside the Shoppes at Zion, a new bistro that plans to open soon. He also is preparing for his upcoming senior art show, which will be held March 20-31 at the Tilted Kiln Gallery.
“I kind of like to think of creativity as an inlet rather than an outlet,” he said. “We do things to decompress and release, but in a way, we are also bringing in things into our life. Making pottery and ceramics in that way and exercising my creativity brings a lot of joy into my life.”
For more information on Oridgenal Pottery and to purchase an existing piece, visit their website. To commission specific items, fill out the contact him here, or message Merrill on Instagram. Visit their booth in person at the upcoming St. George Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday at Vernon Worthen Park from 8 a.m. to noon.
Photo Gallery
The underside of a ceramic plate by Ridge Merrill is shown, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Stacks of soup bowls by Ridge Merrill are shown in Sage Green, Patina Blue and Zion Orange, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
A variety of mugs and bowls by Ridge Merrill are shown in various colors, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
An arrangement of soup bowls by Ridge Merrill are show in various colors, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Pottery by Ridge Merrill features his symbolic signature stamp, St. George, Utah, Oct. 12, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Pottery by Ridge Merrill features signature stamps placed on lower items like plates and bowls, St. George, Utah, Oct. 12, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Plate and mug combos by Ridge Merrill are shown, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Ridge Merrill holds a few of his unfired mugs, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Ridge Merrill assists in a wood firing at Utah Tech in St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Ridge Merrill and his wife McKinley stand inside their booth at a market, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Ceramic earrings by McKinley Merrill are on display during a market, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Ridge Merrill and his wife McKinley stand inside their booth at a market, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
A variety of glaze tests by Ridge Merrill are shown, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Ridge Merrill and his wife McKinley take a photo in front of plates they made together, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Ridge Merrill creates art on a pottery wheel, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Ridge Merrill and his wife McKinley take a photo in front his award-winning ceramic pieces, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Ridge Merrill, St. George News
Unfired Pottery by Ridge sits on a shelf at Utah Tech in St. George, Utah, Oct. 12, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
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