Maple Crest residents caught a glimpse of an artist at work recently during a tour of Gallery 323, an art gallery and shop operated by Gregg Luginbuhl on Main Street, Bluffton.

During the visit, they discovered artistic items - created for the most part by Luginbuhl - from white porcelain clay. Additional  pieces, including paintings and jewelry, are for sale by other artists in Bluffton.

Gregg's artistic talent came down through the genes, in a sense, as his father, Darvin Luginbuhl, was a former art professor at Bluffton University.

Although Gregg did not enter college with an art major in mind, eventually he realized that the one thing he loved to do was ceramics.

And so began his 38-year career in teaching art and ceramics, with 30 of those years at Bluffton University, beginning when his father retired from that position. 

Maple Crest residents touring the shop watched a demonstration by Gregg, and witnessed a bowl “come to life”  from a lump of clay.

That was only the beginning of the process, with time yet needed for drying and firing and glazing.

Gregg’s wife, Karen, showed off her favorite glaze color, an iron red, and Gregg’s new favorite color, which is a blue with lavender overlapped.

PHOTO IDs:
• Gregg Luginbuhl at the wheel
• Gregg with his mother, Evelyn, a Maple Crest resident
• Maple Crest resident Joan Bauman with daughter, Maureen Noe