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Lauren Sanzi Ritchie has been a potter for 25 years. Thirty years ago she moved next door to a potter who offered classes. After learning to center the clay, passion for the medium set in. She makes many functional pieces for the home use such as bowls, platters, and mugs She also makes lanterns for the garden, deck and home and garden dragons and bugs fround in gardens around the country.

Lanterns are Lauren's signature pieces. The lanterns incorporate architectural elements at once in conflict with and in harmony with their environment. Influences for her designs come form Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Frank Lloyd Wright and Antonio Gaudi and other natural forms. One lantern design was influenced by the faceplate of a helmet.

Gardening is another passion. Her garden dragons and bugs reflect the whimsy found in her gardens. There are five ponds, tons of frogs, hundreds of perennials, and lots of art pieces.

In addition to being a founding member of Gallery 54, she has helped organize art shows including the Pottery Fair for the Syracuse Ceramic Guild, Garden and Holiday shows as a partner in Clay Group IV, and recently as one organizer and founder of the Westcott Art Trail.