For 30 years Mary Weisgram has looked to clay as “a versatile medium of expression.”

As the Octagon Center for the Arts’ potter-in-residence, Weisgram will present an exhibition to showcase the many vessels of her artistic career Nov. 9 through Dec. 7 in the Octagon’s north gallery.

A native from southern Minnesota, Weisgram earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1965 from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn.

While working toward her master of arts with an emphasis in painting at Mankato State University in 1969, Weisgram said she had to choose between taking a clay or print-making class.

She chose clay because she “had never worked with it before.” It was at that point when she switched her emphasis to clay and glass and “hasn’t quit since.”

Since both of Weisgram’s grandmothers are artistic in drawing and crafts, Weisgram said she was destined to become an artist.

Weisgram described herself as “a functional potter, producing work that is both beautiful and useful.”

Much of her work is heavily decorated, a style she believes comes from her early interest in painting. She keeps her shapes simple to avoid overpowering the glaze surface.

She said the most unique piece she has created was a bathroom sink. It was made because normal sinks could not fit into the small bathroom that was once a closet, she said.

Weisgram also has crafted many church pieces, including baptismal fonts and the usual dinnerware.

Teapots are Weisgram’s signature pieces. “They test all of my skills,” she said. “A teapot requires the artist to throw three different pieces and make them work together as one. It’s a virtuoso piece because it requires so much skill and coordination.”

Weisgram would like those who view the exhibition to see how versatile a material clay is and how personally it can be handled. She said working with clay is always difficult.

“Anyone can work with clay and find a good material for expression,” she said. “The use of a vessel is just simply a format, like a square canvas.”

Most of the work Weisgram produces is sold, but she said she has accumulated about “eight banana boxes” worth of stuff since beginning her pottery career.

Some of the work in the exhibition dates back to 1967 when she first began working with clay.

As potter-in-residence at the Octagon, Weisgram maintains equipment and teaches beginning through advanced pottery to adults.

“It’s a way of sharing my passion for the material,” she said. “Showing people what I do and how to do things very often focuses my thoughts on what I am doing myself.”

She also wanted to stress that her work covers a variety of techniques used in making her artwork. She said she does “everything except wood.”

Weisgram has been affiliated with the Octagon intermittently from 1973 to 1985 and from that year until the present.

During her career, Weisgram also has been resident ceramist at the Des Moines Art Center, a visiting artist at the Kansas City Art Institute and a full-time studio potter in Des Moines, Kansas City, Ogden and Ames.

Weisgram’s work has been featured in numerous shows and has been honored with many awards. She has presented solo shows at the Blanden Art Gallery in Fort Dodge, the Des Moines Art Center and the Octagon.

An opening reception and gallery walk will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 16 in conjunction with the opening of the “Community of Artists,” a biannual exhibition in the main gallery.

The hours at The Octagon Center for the Arts Gallery are 10 to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.