Artist's Statement
Earth as a natural body is subject to an immense amount of recurring stress. Seismic activity, erosion, and volcanic eruptions are all catastrophic events that wreak havoc in an instant. Over millennia, these natural catastrophes create mountains, canyons, and unique rock formations. My intent is to celebrate the raw beauty of geological phenomenon, by exploiting clay's ability to replicate these processes. I employ similarly stressful and expressive techniques to explore the relationship between clay and the terrestrial landscape. Beaten, cut, and torn, clay is a unique in its ability to render my abuse into cragged stone fragments. This allows me to fully express my own interpretation of stress while creating surfaces that resemble beautifully weathered landscape. All of my mountainous forms are made from assorted high fired ceramic clay bodies, modified with various aggregate and organic materials. The addition of these materials add to the clay's integral structure and create additional texture. The final finish is developed through the layering of soda and wood ashes which melt into a glaze at during the final firing process.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2018 BFA, Spatial Arts - ceramic sculpture, San Jose State University. San Jose, CA.
2015 AA-T, Studio Art, Shasta College. Redding, CA.
Technician Experience
Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery. San Jose, CA. May 2016 – Present
Community School of Music and Arts. Mountain View, CA. March 2018 – Present
San Jose State University. San Jose, CA. August 2018 – Present
Volunteer
Selected Teaching Experience
Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery. San Jose, CA. May 2016 – Present
Instructor: beginning to advanced pottery wheel and ceramic sculpture.
Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA). Mountain View, CA. March 2018 – Present
Faculty: primary to advanced ceramic sculpture and wheel throwing.
Palo Alto Art Center. Palo Alto, Ca. August 2018 – Present
Teacher: kids and teen summer camps, corporate workshop team building exercises.
Selected Group Exhibitions (*solo exhibition)
2019 SJSU CRMX, California Conference of the Ceramic Arts (CCACA), Davis, CA.
Student and Faculty Art Exhibition, CSMA. Mountain View, CA.
2018 *Orogens, Herbert Sanders Gallery. San Jose, CA.
SJSU Ceramics, CCACA. Davis, CA.
Of Soil and Stars, Black Gallery. San Jose, CA.
Chosen Family, Social Policy Gallery. San Jose, CA.
2017 Sprues, Belcher Gallery. San Jose, CA.
Layers, Black Gallery. San Jose, CA.
Connections, Social Policy Gallery. San Jose, CA.
SJSU Ceramics, CCACA. Davis, CA.
2016 Rare Earth: National Ceramics Exhibition, Cabrillo Gallery. Aptos, CA.
SJSU Ceramics, CCACA. Davis, CA.
2015 Class Showcase, SJSU Gallery 5. San Jose, CA.
Student Art Show, Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA.
Class Display Case, Shasta College Library. Redding, CA.
2014 Student Art Show, Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA.
*Student Display Case, Shasta College Administration building. Redding, CA.
2013 Student Art Show, Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA.
*Student Display Case, Shasta College Library. Redding, CA.
2012 NCECA K-12, Seattle, WA.
Shasta County Art Show, City Hall. Redding, CA.
Selected Awards and Honors
2018 Simon & Engrace Gorostordoy Scholarship Recipient. San Jose State University, CA.
Dean's Scholar Award, San Jose State University, CA.
2017 Ceramics Guild Treasurer. San Jose State University, CA.
Ceramics Guild Vice President. San Jose State University, CA.
2016 Ceramics Guild Event Coordinator. San Jose State University, CA.
2015 Ceramics Guild Committee Officer. San Jose State University, CA.
Elise T. Johnson Scholarship recipient. Clayfolk Potter’s Association, OR.
Blue Dog award recipient. Student Art Show. Shasta College, CA.
Relevant Skills and Interests
Ceramics
Metal work
Woodworking
Computers
Earth as a natural body is subject to an immense amount of recurring stress. Seismic activity, erosion, and volcanic eruptions are all catastrophic events that wreak havoc in an instant. Over millennia, these natural catastrophes create mountains, canyons, and unique rock formations. My intent is to celebrate the raw beauty of geological phenomenon, by exploiting clay's ability to replicate these processes. I employ similarly stressful and expressive techniques to explore the relationship between clay and the terrestrial landscape. Beaten, cut, and torn, clay is a unique in its ability to render my abuse into cragged stone fragments. This allows me to fully express my own interpretation of stress while creating surfaces that resemble beautifully weathered landscape. All of my mountainous forms are made from assorted high fired ceramic clay bodies, modified with various aggregate and organic materials. The addition of these materials add to the clay's integral structure and create additional texture. The final finish is developed through the layering of soda and wood ashes which melt into a glaze at during the final firing process.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2018 BFA, Spatial Arts - ceramic sculpture, San Jose State University. San Jose, CA.
2015 AA-T, Studio Art, Shasta College. Redding, CA.
Technician Experience
Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery. San Jose, CA. May 2016 – Present
- Kilns: repair, load, unload, program, fire, electric, gas, reduction, oxidation, raku, and soda.
- Wheels: repair and maintain electric pottery wheels.
- Clay: organize commercial clay bodies, recycle reclaim, operate, and maintain pugmill.
- Glazes: formulate, mix, prepare, and maintain over 40 glazes.
- Services and maintains all other equipment: slab rollers, spray booth and clay extruder.
Community School of Music and Arts. Mountain View, CA. March 2018 – Present
- Fire, program, and operate bisque, low, and mid-fire glaze electric kilns.
- Upkeep, request and stock required tools and materials.
- Recycle, prep, and dispose of clay and glaze materials.
San Jose State University. San Jose, CA. August 2018 – Present
Volunteer
- Load, fire and unload student bisque, low-fire glaze, high-fire reduction, and soda kilns.
- Formulate, test, and mix various high-fire and raku glazes.
- Maintain and operate power tools, large clay mixer and slip mixer.
- Stock and organize dry materials in lab.
Selected Teaching Experience
Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery. San Jose, CA. May 2016 – Present
Instructor: beginning to advanced pottery wheel and ceramic sculpture.
- Demonstrative lessons on fundamental to innovative pottery wheel and hand building.
- Six week classes average 12 to 16 participants, age ranging 10 to 70 years.
- Private lessons, two hour events, and corporate workshops have included up to 40 participants.
Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA). Mountain View, CA. March 2018 – Present
Faculty: primary to advanced ceramic sculpture and wheel throwing.
- Ten week classes include grades k-2, 3-6, 7-12, and adults.
- Create diverse lesson plans for individual class types.
- Organize and maintain classroom setting for up to 12 students.
Palo Alto Art Center. Palo Alto, Ca. August 2018 – Present
Teacher: kids and teen summer camps, corporate workshop team building exercises.
- Kid and teen summer camps last 8 to 10 days.
- Unique lessons and projects for a variety of ages.
- Fire work for bisque, glaze, and raku.
Selected Group Exhibitions (*solo exhibition)
2019 SJSU CRMX, California Conference of the Ceramic Arts (CCACA), Davis, CA.
Student and Faculty Art Exhibition, CSMA. Mountain View, CA.
2018 *Orogens, Herbert Sanders Gallery. San Jose, CA.
SJSU Ceramics, CCACA. Davis, CA.
Of Soil and Stars, Black Gallery. San Jose, CA.
Chosen Family, Social Policy Gallery. San Jose, CA.
2017 Sprues, Belcher Gallery. San Jose, CA.
Layers, Black Gallery. San Jose, CA.
Connections, Social Policy Gallery. San Jose, CA.
SJSU Ceramics, CCACA. Davis, CA.
2016 Rare Earth: National Ceramics Exhibition, Cabrillo Gallery. Aptos, CA.
SJSU Ceramics, CCACA. Davis, CA.
2015 Class Showcase, SJSU Gallery 5. San Jose, CA.
Student Art Show, Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA.
Class Display Case, Shasta College Library. Redding, CA.
2014 Student Art Show, Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA.
*Student Display Case, Shasta College Administration building. Redding, CA.
2013 Student Art Show, Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA.
*Student Display Case, Shasta College Library. Redding, CA.
2012 NCECA K-12, Seattle, WA.
Shasta County Art Show, City Hall. Redding, CA.
Selected Awards and Honors
2018 Simon & Engrace Gorostordoy Scholarship Recipient. San Jose State University, CA.
Dean's Scholar Award, San Jose State University, CA.
2017 Ceramics Guild Treasurer. San Jose State University, CA.
Ceramics Guild Vice President. San Jose State University, CA.
2016 Ceramics Guild Event Coordinator. San Jose State University, CA.
2015 Ceramics Guild Committee Officer. San Jose State University, CA.
Elise T. Johnson Scholarship recipient. Clayfolk Potter’s Association, OR.
Blue Dog award recipient. Student Art Show. Shasta College, CA.
Relevant Skills and Interests
Ceramics
- Wheel throwing and sculpting since 2010.
- Glaze mixing, formulating, and testing.
- Kiln firing: electric, reduction, raku, soda, and wood.
- Mold making and casting.
Metal work
- Rod and sheet fabrication.
- Mig welding and plasma cutting.
- Lost-wax and investment casting.
Woodworking
- Power tools: hand drills, sanders, and dremels.
- Table saw, band saw, and compound miter saw.
- Planer, jointer, drill press and lathe.
Computers
- Windows and Mac.
- Microsoft Office.
- Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.