Made In Saskatchewan: Peter Rupchan, Ukrainian Pioneer and Potter

“Innovative, eccentric and industrious, Peter Rupchan was more than just another pioneer trying to survive the hardships and personal tragedies of early settlement. Considered a folk hero by some, by others as a genius in his own time, Rupchan worked his clay with a passion, fulfilled a dream and left behind a meaningful historical legacy. It is this character and those experiences that Judith Silverthorne brings to life in this remarkable portrayal of his life.” (Book cover quote)

Peter Rupchan was more than just another pioneer trying to survive the hardships and personal tragedies of early settlement on the prairies. Born in Ukraine in 1883, Rupchan immigrated to Saskatchewan in 1905 to pursue a dream and left behind a meaningful historical legacy.

He was one of the earliest potters in the province and the only one to travel with his wares. Innovative and industrious Rupchan use the local clay found on his farm to throw his pots, captured the wind to grind his clay and glazes, and utilized a variety of other natural means to produce what are today considered works of art.

Follow the adventurous life story of Peter Rupchan as revealed by Judith Silverthorne. Discover how, through his ingenuity and creativity, he was able to establish a viable pottery industry in the bleakest of times, overcoming numerous tragedies and disasters that plagued him until his untimely death in 1944. Learn why today his pottery is collected and displayed in galleries and museums throughout the country.

Three years of research and writing, focusing on the life of Peter Rupchan and reflecting on the life of Peter Rupchan and reflecting the historical context of the times, it was fitting that Made in Saskatchewan: Peter Rupchan, Ukrainian Pioneer and Potter, be published and released during the centennial years of Ukrainian settlement of Canada.