Janet Bruneau was born and raised in Alamogordo and discovered ceramics, arts, and crafts at an early age. Her mother, Faye, started Whaley’s Ceramics in 1958 and, quite naturally, Janet became involved in the family business. Her grandmother, Naomi Beal, was also a large part of that business.
With a mother and grandmother as devoted teachers, Janet became an apt student, learning such things as mixing slip, pouring molds, the care of molds, cleaning greenware, paint applications and how to use a kiln for firing. She learned glass fusing, enameling on copper, beading, tole painting, macramae, reverse oil painting, making molds and hand-building with clay. Talented, and encouraged by family, her career in ceramics took off.
Janet received her ceramic teachers certificate from the National Ceramics Manufacturers Association via Montclair State College. For the next 10 years, she continued to help in the family business, teaching students the wonderful art of ceramics.
When her mother decided to close her operation, Janet bought the business and opened her shop on North Florida Ave. She branched in to pottery, taking classes from Don Ellis, a well known potter from Cloudcroft. She soon became a teaching tech at the college, keeping up with the latest techniques and ideas. She traveled around the country to special workshops whenever she could, learning Raku, horse-hair, and kiln building.
Today, she works out of her workshop in Boles Acres and continues to teach throwing pots, handbuilding, and structuring. Custom orders are welcome and she often does wall lights and Southwestern tile work for individual homes. Currently, she and her sister have a shop at 2749 N. Florida, in Alamogordo, called “ Family Treasures Antiques and Collectibles”.
A reception to meet this talented artist will be held on Friday, July 11th, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Eagle Ranch Gallery. Easy to find, Eagle Ranch is located at 7288 Hwy 54-70 (mid-point between Alamogordo and Tularosa). Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday thru’ Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.