Richard Bliss Petterson; Ceramics Teacher, Folk Art Promoter

Richard Bliss Petterson, 86, educator and ceramist known for his work in clay, stoneware, plastics and furniture. The son of an engineer, Petterson was born and reared in China where he developed an interest and knowledge of ceramics. He studied at Pei Yang University in China and later at UCLA and the University of Chicago. After teaching at Pasadena City College, he joined the Scripps College faculty at Claremont in 1947, teaching design and ceramics and overseeing the Lang Art Gallery. Petterson co-organized and for 30 years directed art exhibits at the Los Angeles County Fair. He also spent three years as head of a U.S. AID arts program in Taiwan. Convinced that tourism kept folk art alive around the world, Petterson collected pieces during his travels. Beginning in 1968, he began organizing international folk arts and crafts collections gathered by missionaries who came to live at Pilgrim Place, a Claremont retirement community for church professionals. That collection in 1983 evolved into the Petterson Museum of Intercultural Art. On May 4 in Pomona of complications after hip surgery.