Marsha Foutz
Uniquely Themed Chess Sets with a Satirical Twist
ABOUT MARSHA
A light-hearted approach
is at the heart of Marsha Foutz's unique chess sets.
Marsha’s interest in ceramics began during her art studies at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Her inability to "throw" a pot that weighed less than five pounds did not dampen her interest in working in the "mud." In 1984, she entered her first chess set in a local art show. Since then, Marsha has created a new and unique set each year. Her work has been sold throughout the Southwest and has been collected by avid chess collector and former Getty Museum CEO, Barry Munitz.
Marsha makes her home in the quaint town of Clarkdale nestled amongst the mountains of her native state of Arizona. This sleepy town once was home to a huge copper-smelting operation built to process the ore from the sometimes rich and notorious mining town of Jerome.
If not found working in her ceramics studio, Marsha is busy teaching art at a local school, gardening, or river running. Her passion for rivers has led her to organize volunteers in support of her local Verde River. Creating trails along the river has been a long time passion of hers as well as a creative outlet.
Marsha’s favorite part of the year comes in summer when she can load up her camper and head to the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. Here she is free to sculpt her chess figures amongst the pine trees and mountain vistas.
When asked about the origin of her ironic sense of humor, Marsha explains that it must lie in surviving more than twenty-five years "in the trenches" teaching students. She still throws the occasional pot, but finds much more enjoyment in the creation of these humorous and intriguing thought-provoking statements on society.