At Sunrise Stoneware, we create and produce hand crafted unique, functional and decorative pottery in our two studios on Grand Traverse Bay in Omena, Michigan and in Islamorada, Florida in the Florida Keys.  We are definitely morning people.  We love to watch the sunrise We have situated ourselves in studios facing the Eastern horizon. Just as each day begins anew, Sunrise Stoneware is the most recent manifestation of our collective creative juices and contributions to feeding the senses visually and gastronomically. 

There is nothing we enjoy more than preparing and eating a nutritious meal from ingredients produced on local farms and fisheries and serving it to our family and friends on hand made dishes we have created in our studios.  In addition to creating artisanal dinnerware, we also embrace our Jewish spirituality by creating sacred objects that are used for ritual purposes. 

Oran B Hesterman, Ph.D has spent forty plus years in agriculture and food systems as a professor, farmer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and nonprofit leader He threw his first pots as a student in Berkley High School  in California and keeping his hands in clay has helped to ground him throughout his varied and far reaching career.  He recently retired as CEO of Fair Food Network and is now devoting his core energy to developing the Sunrise Studio and works.  Oran is a member of both the Northport Arts Association (northportartsassociation.org)  and Morada Way Clay in the Florida Keys (moradaway.org)

Lucinda Kurtz, M.A. is a clay artist, writer, Barbara Brennan certified Energy Healer, former professor of Women’s Studies, and nonprofit leader.  In addition to working with Oran on the textual and decorative aspects of dinnerware, Lucinda feeds her creative juices by developing innovative jewelry and decorative art pieces.

In spring 2023, both Oran and Lucinda studied ceramics with master artists at La Meridiana Ceramics School in Tuscany, Italy