THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506020208
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: Rebecca Myers
LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
Wayne Potrafka has degrees in social work, political science and education, but it's art that satisfies his soul.
Potrafka, a potter and sculptor, likes the immediate feedback he gets from his work.
``When people look at my pottery, they're either going to like it and buy it or they're not going to like it and they're not going to buy it,'' said Potrafka, who operates a 3,500 square-foot art gallery in Tower Mall.
``I'm immediately assessed and it's not upon any false criteria. It doesn't matter if I have a degree or don't have a degree hung on my wall or any initials to put after my name.''
Potrafka was working in social work for the state of Michigan in the mid-1970s and studying for a master's degree at Michigan State University when he realized, ``Hey, this is not for me.''
So he quit everything and plunged head-first into his art.
``It seemed to meet some needs in my soul that weren't being met,'' he said.
Potrafka found art shows ``thrilling.''
``What I really liked was the spirit of cooperation that I was seeing between the artists, the spirit of community that's kind of missing'' elsewhere, he said.
Potrafka started going to a number a shows and ``spending money that I didn't have.''
To make ends meet, the budding artist made and sold crushed-glass mobiles.
``And one of the real hopes in my life, or what's left of it, is that I never see any of those things again,'' he said. ``Or, if so, that they don't remember where they got them!''
Eventually Potrafka gave up the crushed-glass mobiles in favor of wheel-thrown and hand-formed pottery. His specialty is raku pottery, which has a copper/metallic look. He also does a full line of wall sculptures.
Recently Potrafka showed and sold his work at three local art shows: Ghent, Stockley Gardens and the Seawall art shows.
Until last spring, Potrafka had taken an eight-year hiatus from his art. Part of that time was spent as a substitute teacher, with the goal of getting back into teaching full time, he said. Potrafka had been a teacher of gifted education in West Virginia and is certified to teach social studies.
It was Potrafka's girlfriend who convinced him to return to his art.
``She's been extremely supportive and influential,'' said Potrafka. ``She's the art liaison person here in town and an art teacher. I'm sure if I had not met her, I probably would not have come back into the arts . . .
``It was just something that I felt that I had given up and didn't have a means of going back into.''
But Potrafka eventually found a way. He used $5,000 earned as part of his side job as a regional director for foreign exchange students to return to his art.
``That was my feed money to get my kilns and my chemicals. All I had left from my previous time was my wheel,'' he said.
As an artist, Potrafka is busier now than he's ever been. And he's loving every minute of it.
``I like the freedom to be doing what I feel like doing,'' he said. ``I'm putting in 80-hour weeks consistently, so there's certainly no freedom from work, but there is an opportunity to make my own decisions, to make my own mistakes and to make my own successes.''
Potrafka's Gallery, located in the space formerly occupied by Waldenbooks at Tower Mall, represents about 30 other artists. He also has a studio in the back of the gallery where shoppers can watch him work.
``It's been a very pleasant surprise that at least half of my sales have come from people that are already in the mall,'' he said. ``But we definitely need to get more people out there.''
Next month, Potrafka will begin offering classes in drawing, painting, hand-forming of clay and raku. From July to December, he has booked a show opening for the first Sunday of each month.
Name: Wayne Potrafka
Nickname: I'm sure I'm called many things, but non-printable and none that I would wish for as a nickname!
Neighborhood: Cypress Point
Number of years in Portsmouth: One year
Birthplace: Petoskey, Mich.
Birthdate: Nov. 1, 1948
Occupation: Potter/sculptor and regional director for foreign exchange students
What other job than your own would you like? Superintendent of schools, Portsmouth
Marital Status: Deeply in love!
Children: Five children (four sons and a daughter)
Grandchildren: One granddaughter
Fondest childhood memory: High school debate team and theater
First concert: Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey in Chicago a long time ago
What song or book title best describes your life? ``I've Got To Be Me''
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? Biggest house available in Olde Towne
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Rush Limbaugh . . . to apologize for all the stupid things I'd said up until this day!
Biggest accomplishment: Raising good kids
Most embarrassing moment: Right, like I would tell you!
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'd be much thinner
Perfect way to spend the day: Gallery and antique shopping with Diana, followed by a slow romantic evening meal, complete with great jazz music
I can't resist: Breyer's Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: Eat in: Scale O'De Whale; take out: Seto (a Chinese place in Elmhurst Square)
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: The Potrafka Gallery at Tower Mall and Pfeiffer's Books and Cards on High Street
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Lack of commitment to quality education
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
End of racial polarization
Loyalty to Portsmouth businesses by Portsmouth residents
Full development of art community
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? The challenge and opportunity to create something special for the city and availability of good and faithful friends
What would you like as your epitaph? He talked the talk and he walked the walk. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
by CNB