Meet Joel Pisowicz! Joel is a studio Potter who is based in Porter, Indiana. He is a lifelong resident there, where he lives and works in walking distance of Porter Beach. Joel left Porter for a short while to get his degree in Fine Arts with a focus in Ceramics. After that, he came back to Porter to build a studio and a career. When he is not working the usual 12-hour workday, Joel likes to quietly enjoy hidden areas in the Indiana dunes with friends and family.
What brought you to the dunes? My hometown! Porter, Indiana… “Gateway to the Dunes”
How long have you lived here? I have lived in Porter my whole life (except for my time away at college). I would not trade my life in Porter for anything! This is a great place to grow up….and grow old.
What is your favorite thing to do in the area? I like to go out to the fire trails and abandoned roads near Beverly Shores late at night and wander with good friends. This always leads to wholesome, unique experiences.
Tell us a secret about the dunes. In late Summer and early Fall, on dark nights, you can see millions of tiny glowing worms in certain areas of the Dunes.
Give us your top three “hidden treasures” (restaurant, shop, trail, beach, event…really anything!)
a) Burn’em Brewing in Michigan City— It is a great craft brewery that makes beer in the true spirit of our region!! b) Beverly Shores disc golf course– It is a great course tucked in the community park of Beverly shores. c) Artesian well– located in Beverly shores, on a closed road. The constant flowing spring of fresh water is powered by a geological phenomenon!
What would you like to teach people about the dunes? I would like people to learn more about the early dunes enthusiasts and the players that are responsible for this area being recognized, respected and protected. When European settlers came to the area and eventually exploited the local natural resources on a massive scale, many of their peers and neighbors saw the need to monitor and preserve our dunes’ resources. There is really a lot of great information published about dunes history and existence, so go read up on it!! (Save the Dunes is a great place to learn more!)
Anything else? Tune in to WIMS on AM 1420. It is a local radio station and is the best place on the radio to hear about local events, news and other happenings.
Joel also has a few of his pottery pieces featured in our Dig the Dunes Shop – check him out!!
This is the last week to submit photos for our 2017 calendar! Read about the rules here and submit your photos to izzy@digthedunes.com
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