Artist Statement
Many things influence my work including the long history of pottery traditions in different cultures, but I design with the contemporary table in mind. I look to Japanese folk pottery as well as designers from the Arts and Crafts Movement and Modernism periods. But I also enjoy looking at all kinds of objects in antique flea markets, and have old fabricated metal pouring pots such as oil cans, teapots, and watering cans lined up on shelves above windows in my studio. Architecture plays a role in the underlying structure of my forms with a blend of angles and curves. I apply carved, impressed or raised textures for glaze to play against, with an eye to textiles as a resource. Small details are used for emphasis or focus, in an attempt to use embellishment while aiming for quiet, subtle restraint. I work slowly in a series, varying shape and proportions and changing details. The progression is gradual, but by creating different combinations my hope is the work continues to evolve while also recording where I am in time. My pots are one way I define myself and connect with other people. They are about touch and use, the life of the kitchen and the pleasures of the table. They are also about the potential to enrich and awaken the routines and rhythms of our domestic environment and bring art, beauty, and intelligence to our daily private lives.
Education
MFA, in Ceramics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1974.
BA , cum laude, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 1970.
Selected Recent National Juried, Invitational, and Curated Exhibition
“American Pottery Festival”, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN: 2010, and 2009.
“Porcelain”, invitational exhibition, MudFire Gallery, Decatur, GA, 2010.
“Cups”, invitational exhibition, Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville, NC, 2010.
“La Mesa”, Santa Fe Clay in conjunction with the annual national conference of NCECA: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005.
“Yunomi Invitational”, AKAR Design, Iowa City, IA: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007.
“MacKenzie Legacy”, invitational exhibition, San Francisco Folk Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, 2009.
“Cups”, Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO, 2008.
“potPOURri: pots that POUR”, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY, 2008.
“Strictly Functional National Juried Exhibition”, Market House Craft Center, Lancaster, PA: 2008, 2007, and 2005. Purchase Award, 2005.
“Transformations: 6” x 6”, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY, 2008
“Eat With Your Eyes”, The Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN, 2007
Awards, Published Articles and Images
1989-present, awarded for “Recognition of outstanding contribution to the Council and notable commitment to education in the ceramic arts.”Image of work, 500 Vases, Lark Books, 2010.
Image of work, 500 Plates and Chargers, Lark Books, 2008.
Featured Artist, Cover of Ceramics Monthly, and article “A Balanced Hand”, December issue 2005.
Purchase Award for permanent collection of Ceramics Monthly, juror John Glick, “13th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National Exhibition”, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 2005.
Purchase for permanent collection, The Clay Arts Guild, Walnut Creek Civic Arts Center, Walnut Creek, California, 2005.
Purchase Award, “Feats of Clay XV”, national juried exhibition, Lincoln Arts and Culture Foundation, Gladding McBean Factory Studio, Lincoln, California, 2002.
Purchase for permanent collection, Minneapolis Institute of
the Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2000.
Courses
ART 327 Ceramics: HandbuildingART 328 Ceramics: Throwing
ART 416 Advanced Ceramics
ART 443-04 Advanced Independent Study Ceramics,
ART 460 Senior Exhibition Seminar
ART 212 Three-Dimensional Foundations.