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ARTIST STATEMENT
I was born into a family that uses their hands to create objects...crafters...painters, illustrators, wood-carvers, furniture makers & quilters. It was natural to be drawn to Art. I was always an artist...drawing 'Folly Monsters' and cartoon strips with my sisters on free end rolls of newsprint from the Independence Examiner, creating one-of-a-kind birthday & Christmas cards, building Barbie houses & furniture from cardboard boxes, tin cans and left-over wall paper. |
My real creative life began when I touched CLAY as an undergrad in my Ceramics class. There was something about the feel of this malleable material, the smell of it as I created a barrel full in the clay mixer. The clay studio at the University of Missouri became my favorite space...it was casual, full of light & free from judgement. There were soothing sounds (clicking of the handmade kick wheels meshing with progressive rock wafting through the windows to the outside where thrown pieces were slowly drying in the warmth of the sun.)
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Viewers will see uneven edges and finger marks. These marks are intentional. As a handbuilder, I prefer the look of the 'hand', the entity that forms the entire piece. There is an intimacy and immediacy to this method of forming...a personal relationship with my material. I work with molds...vintage molds or ones I make from old and random objects from thrift and hardware stores. When done, I usually donate those objects back to be purchased again by someone else.
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I used to think that I, obviously, knew more than the clay, but CLAY is the real BOSS. I think of CLAY as a living thing, with a personality and feelings. It can be my friend, but it can be my arch enemy. CLAY gives me permission and tells me how it wants to move, to manipulate it to make what is in my head and what comes out of my fingertips. CLAY has given me many friends & given me a creative outlet. The CLAY-LIFE has saved my sanity given me freedom.
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Viewers will see uneven edges and finger marks. These marks are intentional. As a handbuilder, I prefer the look of the 'hand', the entity that forms the entire piece. There is an intimacy and immediacy to this method of forming...a personal relationship with my material. I work with molds...vintage molds or ones I make from old and random objects from thrift and hardware stores. When done, I usually donate those objects back to be purchased again by someone else.
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I used to think that I, obviously, knew more than the clay, but CLAY is the real BOSS. I think of CLAY as a living thing, with a personality and feelings. It can be my friend, but it can be my arch enemy. CLAY gives me permission and tells me how it wants to move, to manipulate it to make what is in my head and what comes out of my fingertips. CLAY has given me many friends & given me a creative outlet. The CLAY-LIFE has saved my sanity given me freedom.
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I am a founding member & logo designer for KC Clay Guild. I spent 18 years serving on the directing board...working as President, chairman of Residents, Workshops (starting the '2nd Wednesday Workshops') and the Gallery. I founded and ran the exhibit 'KC Clay Guild Teabowl National' for 11 years. I share my life with my Scotty dogs, Duncan, Gemma and Malcolm, plus a backyard family of wild chipmunks.
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I have also been fortunate enough to have images of my work published in several books
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HUMOR IN CRAFT by Brigette Martin
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FROM A SLAB OF CLAY by Daryl E. Baird
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education~
-BS in Education, 1976, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
-MS in Education, 2001, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
teaching~
-1977 to 2009- Visual Arts instructor, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
-classes at KC Clay Guild, "Handmade Stamps", "Beginning Handbuilding"
-Fall 2008 to 2011- adjunct Ceramics instructor, Longview Community. College
-2012 to 2017-adjunct Ceramics instructor, William Jewell, College, Liberty, Missouri
-2014 to 2015- adjunct Art instructor, Mid-America Nazarene University, Olathe, Kansas
-2018 to 2022- adjunct instructor, Kansas City, Kansas Community College, KCKS
-2022 to present- Ceramics teacher at the 'J', Overland Park, Kansas
collections~
-Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery, Lindsborg, Kansas
-Bracker family Cone Box collection, Lawrence, Kansas
-Marilyn Higgins, Overland Park, Kansas
-Sharon Moreland-Sender, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
-Kimberly Winter Stern, Overland Park, Kansas
-Mark Giersch, Gladstone, Missouri
-Daniel Shead, Kansas City, Missouri
-Fred Treese and Joe Ballus, Kansas, City, Missouri
-Carolyn Harris, Kansas City, Missouri
workshops~
-2017- 'My Big, Fat, Hollow Bottoms', Process Room - 2017 NCECA conference, Portland, Oregon
-2016-June- 2nd Wednesday Workshop, KC Clay guild
-2010- October- 2nd Saturday Workshop, Bracker's Good Earth Clays, Lawrence, Ks.
-2009- December- 2nd Wednesday Workshop, KC Clay Guild
-2005- February-“When You Don’t Have the Proper Clay Equipment…Making Do”, Bracker’s Good Earth Clays, Lawrence, Kansas
-2004- Handbuilding, Harmon High School, Kansas City, Kansas
-2004- April- Handle workshop, KC Clay Guild, KCMO
currently represented by~
Blue Stem Missouri Crafts, Columbia, Missouri
Phoenix Galleries, Lawrence, Kansas & Kansas City, Missouri
Craft Alliance, St. Louis, Missouri
bibliography~
-NCECA program (2016)
-"From a Slab of Clay", by Daryl E. Baird
-"Humor In Craft", by Brigette Martin, published 2012
-Columbia Flier, Baltimore, Maryland, January 29, 2004, photo, “Clayworks Tempestuous Return to Teapots”, Mike Guiliano
-Review Magazine, KCMO, September, 2004
-Kansas City Star, KCMO, September 22, 2004
-Kansas City Star, article in “House and Home”, KCMO, August 14, 2005
-eReview, Spring 2010
professional~
-1988 to present- founding and long-time member, KC Clay Guild, (logo designer), board member(2002-2016), Workshop chairman (2005 to 2010),
-KC Clay Guild President (2008 to 2011), Gallery Chair (2014-present), Residency Chair, KCCG 'Teabowl National' Exhibit Chair (2010-present),
-2003-to present- member of iCAN & NCECA
-BS in Education, 1976, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
-MS in Education, 2001, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
teaching~
-1977 to 2009- Visual Arts instructor, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
-classes at KC Clay Guild, "Handmade Stamps", "Beginning Handbuilding"
-Fall 2008 to 2011- adjunct Ceramics instructor, Longview Community. College
-2012 to 2017-adjunct Ceramics instructor, William Jewell, College, Liberty, Missouri
-2014 to 2015- adjunct Art instructor, Mid-America Nazarene University, Olathe, Kansas
-2018 to 2022- adjunct instructor, Kansas City, Kansas Community College, KCKS
-2022 to present- Ceramics teacher at the 'J', Overland Park, Kansas
collections~
-Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery, Lindsborg, Kansas
-Bracker family Cone Box collection, Lawrence, Kansas
-Marilyn Higgins, Overland Park, Kansas
-Sharon Moreland-Sender, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
-Kimberly Winter Stern, Overland Park, Kansas
-Mark Giersch, Gladstone, Missouri
-Daniel Shead, Kansas City, Missouri
-Fred Treese and Joe Ballus, Kansas, City, Missouri
-Carolyn Harris, Kansas City, Missouri
workshops~
-2017- 'My Big, Fat, Hollow Bottoms', Process Room - 2017 NCECA conference, Portland, Oregon
-2016-June- 2nd Wednesday Workshop, KC Clay guild
-2010- October- 2nd Saturday Workshop, Bracker's Good Earth Clays, Lawrence, Ks.
-2009- December- 2nd Wednesday Workshop, KC Clay Guild
-2005- February-“When You Don’t Have the Proper Clay Equipment…Making Do”, Bracker’s Good Earth Clays, Lawrence, Kansas
-2004- Handbuilding, Harmon High School, Kansas City, Kansas
-2004- April- Handle workshop, KC Clay Guild, KCMO
currently represented by~
Blue Stem Missouri Crafts, Columbia, Missouri
Phoenix Galleries, Lawrence, Kansas & Kansas City, Missouri
Craft Alliance, St. Louis, Missouri
bibliography~
-NCECA program (2016)
-"From a Slab of Clay", by Daryl E. Baird
-"Humor In Craft", by Brigette Martin, published 2012
-Columbia Flier, Baltimore, Maryland, January 29, 2004, photo, “Clayworks Tempestuous Return to Teapots”, Mike Guiliano
-Review Magazine, KCMO, September, 2004
-Kansas City Star, KCMO, September 22, 2004
-Kansas City Star, article in “House and Home”, KCMO, August 14, 2005
-eReview, Spring 2010
professional~
-1988 to present- founding and long-time member, KC Clay Guild, (logo designer), board member(2002-2016), Workshop chairman (2005 to 2010),
-KC Clay Guild President (2008 to 2011), Gallery Chair (2014-present), Residency Chair, KCCG 'Teabowl National' Exhibit Chair (2010-present),
-2003-to present- member of iCAN & NCECA
selected shows and exhibitions~
2023-
small works, Big Ideas: Clay Studio of Missoula, Richard Notkin, juror www.theclaystudioofmissoula.org/current-upcoming-exhibits
2022-
ArtsKC Winter Market
Cup Show, Gulf Coast State College, Mike Stumbras juror
Art Westport
2021-
KCCG Spring Sale
Art Westport
KCCG Teabowl National
2018 - 2020-
KCCG Teabowl National, chair
KCCG Spring Sale
2017-
KCCG Teabowl National, chair
NCECA Process Room presenter, "My Big, Fat, Hollow Bottoms", Portland, Oregon
2016-
Makers As Mentors (KC Clay Guild NCECA show, co-chair and exhibitor), KCMO
3 Degrees of Separation: Ceramic Relationships, (organizer and exhibitor, NCECA show), KCMO
Orton International Cone Box Show, (NCECA), KCMO
Kansas Connections Invitational, Lawrence, Kansas
EARTH>WATER>FIRE The Art of the Mug, Phoenix Underground, Lawrence, Kansas
William Jewell Faculty Exhibit, Liberty, Missouri
KCCG Teabowl National, chair
2015-
Pour, Belger-Red Star Studios, KCMO http://redstarstudios.org/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.browse&category_id=414
MunGyeong Traditional Chasabal Festival, Honorable Mention, South Korea
Twin Cups, Missouri Western University, St. Joseph, MO
2010-2020, curator, KC Clay Guild Teabowl National
2014-
juror, 'Twin Cups', Missouri Western State College, St. Joseph, Missouri
Da Yu Xiao Hu: International Small Teapot competition 5, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA http://bigfishsmallpot.com/shows/2014_virtualshow/
Concordia Continental Ceramics Competition #5, Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota
Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Strictly Functional Pottery National, Market House Crafts Center, Lancaster Pennsylvania
2013-
Art Westport, KCMO
Faculty/Alumni Exhibition, William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri
2012-
Da Yu Xiao Hu: International Small Teapot competition 5, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
Art Westport, KCMO
2011-
Faculty Exhibit, Longview Community College
solo show, West Wyandotte Library, KC, KS
Brookside Art Annual, KCMO
2010-
Cherry Creek Art Fair, Denver, CO
Orton International Cone Box Show, Lawrence, Kansas) http://www.coneboxshow.com/2010-award-winners/)
2009-
Art Faculty Biennial, Longview Community College, Lee’s Summit, MO
Laumeier Art Fair, St. Louis, Missouri, *Award of Excellence
Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina, KS, *Purchase Award
Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis, MI
Lill Street 2nd International, Drink: Functional Forms for Every Libation, Chicago, IL
St. James Court Art Fair, Belgravia, Louisville, KY
2008-
Da Yu Xiao Hu: International Small Teapot competition 3, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
Mad Hatters Tea Party, FL
Orton International Cone Box Show, Baker University, Baldwin City, KS
2007-
current work: susan speck', solo show, KC Clay Guild, KCMO
Silent Conversations, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
By the Ounce, NCECA, Louisville,KY
Strictly Functional, market house craft center, Lancaster, PA
'From Traditions', Solo show, Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery, Lindsborg, KS
2006-
Da Yu Xiao Hu: International Small Teapot Competition 2, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
First Biennial Concordia Continental Ceramics Competition, Concordia University, St. Paul, MI
Feats of Clay, Lincoln Arts, Lincoln, CA
Smoky Hill River Festival Fine Art Fair, Salina,KS
Pleasures: Teapots, Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS
2005-
1st Annual Florida Teapot Show, In Bloom Gallery, Ft. Myers, FL
16th Annual Teapot Show: On the Road Again, Chiaroscuro Galleries, Chicago, IL
Smoky Hill Regional Exhibit, Hays State University, Hays, KS
Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, invitational dinnerware show, KCCG, KCMO
2004-
100 Teapots 2, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
Potter to Potter, the Club Mud National Juried Show, Maude Kerns Art Center, Eugene,OR
Vitrified Clay National: Form and Content, Rockport Center for the Arts, Rockport, TX
Solo Show, West Wyandotte Library, Kansas City, KS
Gigantic: Ceramic Figurines, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA
Da Yu Xiao Hu: International Small Teapot Competition, 2nd place, -Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
Plaza Art Fair, KCMO
Funk-tion National, Stretch Gallery, Pineville, NC
2003-
Brookside Art Annual, KCMO
Smoky Hill Exhibit, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, cash award, “Bone Daddy and Mama”
Founders Show, KC Clay Guild, KCMO
Teapots to Still Lives, Spring Street Gallery, Galena,IL
Hair of the Dog, featured artist, Eclectics Gallery, KCMO
La Petite XI, National Small Works Exhibit, Alder Art Gallery, Coberg, OR
Bones and Flowers, solo show, KC Clay Guild, KCMO
2002-
Orton International Cone Box Show, Baker University, Baldwin City, KS (then travels worldwide, 2002-2003)
NCECA: KC Clay Guild Members Show, KCMO
Funk to Functional Teapot Show, KC Clay Guild, KCMO, 2nd place “funk”
2002 to 2022-
KC Clay Guild Holiday Tour, KCMO
1988-
Founding member, KC Clay Guild (KCCG), logo designer
1977, 80’s-
Tri-Delta Art Auction, 1st place amateur category, KCMO
1977-2009- Kansas City, Kansas Art faculty exhibit, KC,KS
2023-
small works, Big Ideas: Clay Studio of Missoula, Richard Notkin, juror www.theclaystudioofmissoula.org/current-upcoming-exhibits
2022-
ArtsKC Winter Market
Cup Show, Gulf Coast State College, Mike Stumbras juror
Art Westport
2021-
KCCG Spring Sale
Art Westport
KCCG Teabowl National
2018 - 2020-
KCCG Teabowl National, chair
KCCG Spring Sale
2017-
KCCG Teabowl National, chair
NCECA Process Room presenter, "My Big, Fat, Hollow Bottoms", Portland, Oregon
2016-
Makers As Mentors (KC Clay Guild NCECA show, co-chair and exhibitor), KCMO
3 Degrees of Separation: Ceramic Relationships, (organizer and exhibitor, NCECA show), KCMO
Orton International Cone Box Show, (NCECA), KCMO
Kansas Connections Invitational, Lawrence, Kansas
EARTH>WATER>FIRE The Art of the Mug, Phoenix Underground, Lawrence, Kansas
William Jewell Faculty Exhibit, Liberty, Missouri
KCCG Teabowl National, chair
2015-
Pour, Belger-Red Star Studios, KCMO http://redstarstudios.org/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.browse&category_id=414
MunGyeong Traditional Chasabal Festival, Honorable Mention, South Korea
Twin Cups, Missouri Western University, St. Joseph, MO
2010-2020, curator, KC Clay Guild Teabowl National
2014-
juror, 'Twin Cups', Missouri Western State College, St. Joseph, Missouri
Da Yu Xiao Hu: International Small Teapot competition 5, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA http://bigfishsmallpot.com/shows/2014_virtualshow/
Concordia Continental Ceramics Competition #5, Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota
Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Strictly Functional Pottery National, Market House Crafts Center, Lancaster Pennsylvania
2013-
Art Westport, KCMO
Faculty/Alumni Exhibition, William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri
2012-
Da Yu Xiao Hu: International Small Teapot competition 5, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
Art Westport, KCMO
2011-
Faculty Exhibit, Longview Community College
solo show, West Wyandotte Library, KC, KS
Brookside Art Annual, KCMO
2010-
Cherry Creek Art Fair, Denver, CO
Orton International Cone Box Show, Lawrence, Kansas) http://www.coneboxshow.com/2010-award-winners/)
2009-
Art Faculty Biennial, Longview Community College, Lee’s Summit, MO
Laumeier Art Fair, St. Louis, Missouri, *Award of Excellence
Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina, KS, *Purchase Award
Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis, MI
Lill Street 2nd International, Drink: Functional Forms for Every Libation, Chicago, IL
St. James Court Art Fair, Belgravia, Louisville, KY
2008-
Da Yu Xiao Hu: International Small Teapot competition 3, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
Mad Hatters Tea Party, FL
Orton International Cone Box Show, Baker University, Baldwin City, KS
2007-
current work: susan speck', solo show, KC Clay Guild, KCMO
Silent Conversations, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
By the Ounce, NCECA, Louisville,KY
Strictly Functional, market house craft center, Lancaster, PA
'From Traditions', Solo show, Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery, Lindsborg, KS
2006-
Da Yu Xiao Hu: International Small Teapot Competition 2, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
First Biennial Concordia Continental Ceramics Competition, Concordia University, St. Paul, MI
Feats of Clay, Lincoln Arts, Lincoln, CA
Smoky Hill River Festival Fine Art Fair, Salina,KS
Pleasures: Teapots, Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS
2005-
1st Annual Florida Teapot Show, In Bloom Gallery, Ft. Myers, FL
16th Annual Teapot Show: On the Road Again, Chiaroscuro Galleries, Chicago, IL
Smoky Hill Regional Exhibit, Hays State University, Hays, KS
Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, invitational dinnerware show, KCCG, KCMO
2004-
100 Teapots 2, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
Potter to Potter, the Club Mud National Juried Show, Maude Kerns Art Center, Eugene,OR
Vitrified Clay National: Form and Content, Rockport Center for the Arts, Rockport, TX
Solo Show, West Wyandotte Library, Kansas City, KS
Gigantic: Ceramic Figurines, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA
Da Yu Xiao Hu: International Small Teapot Competition, 2nd place, -Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
Plaza Art Fair, KCMO
Funk-tion National, Stretch Gallery, Pineville, NC
2003-
Brookside Art Annual, KCMO
Smoky Hill Exhibit, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, cash award, “Bone Daddy and Mama”
Founders Show, KC Clay Guild, KCMO
Teapots to Still Lives, Spring Street Gallery, Galena,IL
Hair of the Dog, featured artist, Eclectics Gallery, KCMO
La Petite XI, National Small Works Exhibit, Alder Art Gallery, Coberg, OR
Bones and Flowers, solo show, KC Clay Guild, KCMO
2002-
Orton International Cone Box Show, Baker University, Baldwin City, KS (then travels worldwide, 2002-2003)
NCECA: KC Clay Guild Members Show, KCMO
Funk to Functional Teapot Show, KC Clay Guild, KCMO, 2nd place “funk”
2002 to 2022-
KC Clay Guild Holiday Tour, KCMO
1988-
Founding member, KC Clay Guild (KCCG), logo designer
1977, 80’s-
Tri-Delta Art Auction, 1st place amateur category, KCMO
1977-2009- Kansas City, Kansas Art faculty exhibit, KC,KS
