My current work reflects a careful balance of form and surface. Strong forms with crisp edges and lines that are carefully refined contrast with the irregular and dramatic markings that come from wood firing. I choose to fire my ceramic stoneware and porcelain forms in a wood and soda kiln, fueled by discarded waste wood. The constant attention the wood firing requires is an important part of the process as it allows my complete interaction with fueling the fire. Submitting these strong and deliberate forms to the whim of the wood ash, flame, and soda vapor invites a wide range of surfaces from the subtle to the bold. For me it is through this combination of preparation and observation, uncontrolled atmosphere, and ultimately chance, that a strong form is brought to life.
ARTIST RESIDENCIES/EXPERIENCE
2010-Present
Resident Artist, EnergyXchange, Burnsville, NC
2005-Present
Studio Potter, Bakersville, NC
2002-2004
Resident Artist, Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, Asheville, NC
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2012
Ceramics Instructor, Soda Firing, Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts, Asheville, NC
2010
Visiting Artist, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
-Two-day demonstrations of forming techniques, public presentation
2010
Kiln Building
-designed and built a cross draft soda kiln for the Odyssey Center
2010
Ceramics Instructor, Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts, Asheville, NC
-A nine week course on kiln building theories and practices, learning to fire a soda kiln
2003-2005
Ceramics Instructor, Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts
-designed and taught several 9 week courses at various levels, including beginning and intermediate wheel-throwing, as well as courses on the process of pit-firing
and on the process of salt-glazing.
ASSISTANTSHIPS
Studio assistant, Penland School of Crafts:
2011
Kiln Building Workshop with Shane Mickey
2009
Kiln Building Workshop with Shane Mickey
2007
Soda-Glazing Summer Workshop with Gay Smith and Ruthanne Tudball
2006
Kiln Building Workshop with Shane Mickey
2005
Fall Clay Concentration, Salt and Soda Firing with Linda McFarling and Gay Smith
EDUCATION
2000
Bachelor of Arts with Honors, International Political Economy University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington
SELECTED EXHIBITION
2012
"Generosity of Spirit: The Gifts of Penland Artists", Signature Shop and Gallery, Atlanta, GA
"Yunomi Invitational", AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
2011
"Mark of the Fire", dual exhibition with Joy Tanner, Pottery 101 Gallery, Salisbury, NC
"Shared Spaces", dual exhibition with Joy Tanner, Roswell Art Center, Roswell, GA
"Atmopspheric Fired", juried exhibition, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
"Dining with Frank", invitational exhibition, FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC
"Yunomi Invitational", AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
“Models of Sustainability”, invitational exhibition, Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design, NC
“Current Residence”, invitational exhibition, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
"Fresh", invitational exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Benton Harbor, MI
"Spruce Pine Potters Market Invitational", Spruce Pine, NC
2010
"Burnt" invitational exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Red Lodge, MT.
"Winter Show" invitational exhibition, Green Hill Center for NC Art, Greensboro, NC.
“Strictly Functional Pottery National”, juried exhibition, Lancaster, PA.
"Salt/Soda National", juried exhibition, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
“Four By Four”, invitational exhibition, Pottery NorthWest, Seattle, WA
“Asheville in the Bull City”, invitational exhibition at Claymakers, Durham, NC.
“Containment” A Group Exhibition of Ceramic Boxes, Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
“North Carolina Pottery Show and Sale”, invitational exhibition, Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA
"MudFire Holiday Studio Sale”, invitational exhibition, MudFire Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2009
"Spruce Pine Potters Market Invitational", Spruce Pine, NC
“Art of the Cup: Functional Comfort” invitational exhibition, Ogden Museum of the South, New Orleans, LA.
2008
“Wood-Fired Clay From the NC Mountains” invitational exhibition, Hand in Hand Gallery, NC.
“Contemporary Clay Biennial 2008” juried exhibition, Western Colorado Center for the Arts.
“17th National Ceramic Competition”, juried exhibition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, San Angelo, TX.
2007
“Clay: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth”, juried exhibition, Xiem Gallery, Pasadena, CA.
“Asheville In Atlanta” invitational exhibition, MudFire Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
“Strictly Functional Pottery National”, Lancaster, PA, juried exhibit.
“Put A Lid On It”, juried exhibit, MudFire Gallery, Atlanta, GA,.
2005
“Salt, Soda, and Slip”, invitational exhibition, Baltimore Clayworks in conjunction with the annual NCECA conference.
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2012
Merit Award, Fall Celebration for the Arts Exhibition, Toe River Arts Council, Spruce Pine, NC
2009
Best of Show, Weaverville Art in Autumn, Weaverville, NC
2007
Regional Project Artist Grant, Toe River Arts Council, Burnsville, NC
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Southern Highland Craft Guild
Toe River Arts Council
ARTIST RESIDENCIES/EXPERIENCE
2010-Present
Resident Artist, EnergyXchange, Burnsville, NC
2005-Present
Studio Potter, Bakersville, NC
2002-2004
Resident Artist, Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, Asheville, NC
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2012
Ceramics Instructor, Soda Firing, Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts, Asheville, NC
2010
Visiting Artist, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
-Two-day demonstrations of forming techniques, public presentation
2010
Kiln Building
-designed and built a cross draft soda kiln for the Odyssey Center
2010
Ceramics Instructor, Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts, Asheville, NC
-A nine week course on kiln building theories and practices, learning to fire a soda kiln
2003-2005
Ceramics Instructor, Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts
-designed and taught several 9 week courses at various levels, including beginning and intermediate wheel-throwing, as well as courses on the process of pit-firing
and on the process of salt-glazing.
ASSISTANTSHIPS
Studio assistant, Penland School of Crafts:
2011
Kiln Building Workshop with Shane Mickey
2009
Kiln Building Workshop with Shane Mickey
2007
Soda-Glazing Summer Workshop with Gay Smith and Ruthanne Tudball
2006
Kiln Building Workshop with Shane Mickey
2005
Fall Clay Concentration, Salt and Soda Firing with Linda McFarling and Gay Smith
EDUCATION
2000
Bachelor of Arts with Honors, International Political Economy University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington
SELECTED EXHIBITION
2012
"Generosity of Spirit: The Gifts of Penland Artists", Signature Shop and Gallery, Atlanta, GA
"Yunomi Invitational", AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
2011
"Mark of the Fire", dual exhibition with Joy Tanner, Pottery 101 Gallery, Salisbury, NC
"Shared Spaces", dual exhibition with Joy Tanner, Roswell Art Center, Roswell, GA
"Atmopspheric Fired", juried exhibition, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
"Dining with Frank", invitational exhibition, FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC
"Yunomi Invitational", AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
“Models of Sustainability”, invitational exhibition, Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design, NC
“Current Residence”, invitational exhibition, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
"Fresh", invitational exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Benton Harbor, MI
"Spruce Pine Potters Market Invitational", Spruce Pine, NC
2010
"Burnt" invitational exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Red Lodge, MT.
"Winter Show" invitational exhibition, Green Hill Center for NC Art, Greensboro, NC.
“Strictly Functional Pottery National”, juried exhibition, Lancaster, PA.
"Salt/Soda National", juried exhibition, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
“Four By Four”, invitational exhibition, Pottery NorthWest, Seattle, WA
“Asheville in the Bull City”, invitational exhibition at Claymakers, Durham, NC.
“Containment” A Group Exhibition of Ceramic Boxes, Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
“North Carolina Pottery Show and Sale”, invitational exhibition, Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA
"MudFire Holiday Studio Sale”, invitational exhibition, MudFire Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2009
"Spruce Pine Potters Market Invitational", Spruce Pine, NC
“Art of the Cup: Functional Comfort” invitational exhibition, Ogden Museum of the South, New Orleans, LA.
2008
“Wood-Fired Clay From the NC Mountains” invitational exhibition, Hand in Hand Gallery, NC.
“Contemporary Clay Biennial 2008” juried exhibition, Western Colorado Center for the Arts.
“17th National Ceramic Competition”, juried exhibition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, San Angelo, TX.
2007
“Clay: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth”, juried exhibition, Xiem Gallery, Pasadena, CA.
“Asheville In Atlanta” invitational exhibition, MudFire Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
“Strictly Functional Pottery National”, Lancaster, PA, juried exhibit.
“Put A Lid On It”, juried exhibit, MudFire Gallery, Atlanta, GA,.
2005
“Salt, Soda, and Slip”, invitational exhibition, Baltimore Clayworks in conjunction with the annual NCECA conference.
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2012
Merit Award, Fall Celebration for the Arts Exhibition, Toe River Arts Council, Spruce Pine, NC
2009
Best of Show, Weaverville Art in Autumn, Weaverville, NC
2007
Regional Project Artist Grant, Toe River Arts Council, Burnsville, NC
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Southern Highland Craft Guild
Toe River Arts Council
