Roy and Barbara Strassberg are ceramic artists who live in Davidson, NC. After decades of teaching, they retired in 2013 and now work in their studio at home. Working in their studio became an everyday experience and continues to make retirement productive and satisfying. The journey began years ago, in the ceramic studio of the art department at SUCO Oswego where they met in 1970 and married in 1971. Roy’s career evolved from student, to instructor to academic administrator as art department chair at three state universities, before he finally left academia and retired in 2013 — Oswego, NY to Ann Arbor, MI to Memphis, TN to Mankato, MN to Charlotte and Boone, NC — 43 years in university art departments. Barbara started teaching as an adjunct faculty in 1988 and continued until 2013.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
We have two beautiful grown children, David and Jennifer…a professional violinist/teacher and massage therapist…and our Ethiopian grandson Jascha, named after violinist Jascha Heifetz.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
We are ceramic sculptors/potters and have an oversized studio in our home in Davidson…working on our art is a addiction, a healthy one…we try to get down there every day without fail…always excited about the new art emerging from our kilns.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Lake Norman?*
Brick House
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Lake Norman?*
15 years
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?*
Anywhere…we haven’t left the house in a year…but my original home of NYC is always on our minds.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Follow your passion, don’t tell your best ideas to a negative person, everyone has the potential for serious creative contemplation and action.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
To be able to continue to do what I do until they find me in the studio.
Q: Do you have any pets? Tell us about them!
Bibi and Bella, 10 month old Austrailian Shepherds…Bibi survived a terrible case of Parvo…he is our now thriving miracle pup…Bella is the sweetest dog in the world…we are biased.
Q: If someone was visiting Lake Norman for the first time, what’s one thing you would tell them they HAVE to do here on their trip?
I would tell them to wander the streets of charming Davidson and eat at the Brick House Tavern.
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?*
Hopeless introvert.
Q: What is your favorite pizza topping?
As a (mostly) non meat eater, I should say vegetables, but sausage and pepperoni are great.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Barbara.
Q: Finally, what would be your #1 “wish list” feature for your dream house?
A giant 10,000 square ft outbuilding/studio/kiln house/storage…on a few private acres.