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 material's. 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 cum laude, Spatial Arts emphasis - ceramic sculpture, San Jose State University. San Jose, CA.
2015 AA-T, Studio Art, Shasta College. Redding, CA.
Teaching Experience
Present- Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery. San Jose, CA.
2016 Instructor: beginning, intermediate, advanced pottery wheel, ceramic sculpture.
- Courses include demonstration and instruction of basic to advanced pottery wheel and handbuilding techniques.
- Six week classes average 12 to 18 participants age ranging age from 8 to 80.
- Private lessons and two hour workshops may included up to 40 participants.
Present- Community School of Music and Arts. Mountain View, CA.
2018 Instructor: elementary to advanced ceramic sculpture and wheel throwing
- Wide age range variation per class, children to adults.
- Creates diverse lesson plans for individual class types.
- Fires bisque, low, mid fire glaze electric kilns.
Technician Experience
Present- Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery. San Jose, CA. 2016
2016 Kilns: load, unload, program, fire, electric, gas, reduction, oxidation, raku, soda, and wood firing.
Clays: recycle clay bodies, operate pugmill.
Glazes: formulate, mix, prepare, and maintain over 40 glazes.
Selected Exhibitions
2018 Orogens. Solo. Herbert Sanders Gallery. San Jose, CA. Series of ten geological formations. Ceramics.
CCACA (California Conference for the Advancement of the Ceramics Arts.) Davis, CA. Spire and Glacial Horn. Ceramics.
Of Soil and Stars. Black Gallery. San Jose, CA. Glacial Horn, Pyramidal Peak, and Spire. Ceramics.
Choosen Family. Social Policy Gallery. San Jose, CA. Inselberg, Cavern, and Ore. Ceramics.
2017 Sprues. SJSU Belcher Gallery. San Jose, CA. Little White Hairs. Fabricated Steel.
Layers. SJSU Black Gallery. San Jose, CA. Little White Hairs. Fabricated Steel.
Connections. Social Policy Gallery. San Jose, CA. Lagan and Derelict, Ceramics.
CCACA. Davis, CA. Tectonic Uplift, Ceramics.
2016 Rare Earth: National Ceramics Exhibition. Cabrillo Gallery. Aptos, CA. Elemental Seedpod, Ceramics.
CCACA. Davis, CA. Series of Elemental Seedpods, Ceramics.
2015 Class Showcase. SJSU Gallery 5. San Jose, CA. Seaside Remnants, Ceramics.
Shasta College Art Show. Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA. Series of Iron Oxide and Celadon Vessels, Ceramics.
2014 Shasta College Art Show. Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA. Copper Raku Vessel, Ceramics.
2013 Shasta College Art Show. Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA. Crackle Raku Bottle, Ceramics.
2012 NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) K-12. Seattle, WA. Greek Vessel with Handles, Ceramics.
Shasta County Art Show. City Hall. Redding, CA. Raku Vessel, Ceramics.
Selected Awards and Honors
2018 Simon & Engrace Gorostordoy Scholarship. San Jose State University, CA.
Dean's Scholar Award. San Jose State University, CA.
Ceramic Arts Guild Vice President. San Jose State University, CA.
2017 Ceramic Arts Guild Treasurer. San Jose State University, CA.
2016 Ceramic Arts Guild Event Coordinator. San Jose State University. CA.
2015 Ceramic Arts Guild Committee Officer. San Jose State University. CA.
Elise T. Johnson Scholarship recipient. Clayfolk Potter’s Association, OR.
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 material's. 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 cum laude, Spatial Arts emphasis - ceramic sculpture, San Jose State University. San Jose, CA.
2015 AA-T, Studio Art, Shasta College. Redding, CA.
Teaching Experience
Present- Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery. San Jose, CA.
2016 Instructor: beginning, intermediate, advanced pottery wheel, ceramic sculpture.
- Courses include demonstration and instruction of basic to advanced pottery wheel and handbuilding techniques.
- Six week classes average 12 to 18 participants age ranging age from 8 to 80.
- Private lessons and two hour workshops may included up to 40 participants.
Present- Community School of Music and Arts. Mountain View, CA.
2018 Instructor: elementary to advanced ceramic sculpture and wheel throwing
- Wide age range variation per class, children to adults.
- Creates diverse lesson plans for individual class types.
- Fires bisque, low, mid fire glaze electric kilns.
Technician Experience
Present- Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery. San Jose, CA. 2016
2016 Kilns: load, unload, program, fire, electric, gas, reduction, oxidation, raku, soda, and wood firing.
Clays: recycle clay bodies, operate pugmill.
Glazes: formulate, mix, prepare, and maintain over 40 glazes.
Selected Exhibitions
2018 Orogens. Solo. Herbert Sanders Gallery. San Jose, CA. Series of ten geological formations. Ceramics.
CCACA (California Conference for the Advancement of the Ceramics Arts.) Davis, CA. Spire and Glacial Horn. Ceramics.
Of Soil and Stars. Black Gallery. San Jose, CA. Glacial Horn, Pyramidal Peak, and Spire. Ceramics.
Choosen Family. Social Policy Gallery. San Jose, CA. Inselberg, Cavern, and Ore. Ceramics.
2017 Sprues. SJSU Belcher Gallery. San Jose, CA. Little White Hairs. Fabricated Steel.
Layers. SJSU Black Gallery. San Jose, CA. Little White Hairs. Fabricated Steel.
Connections. Social Policy Gallery. San Jose, CA. Lagan and Derelict, Ceramics.
CCACA. Davis, CA. Tectonic Uplift, Ceramics.
2016 Rare Earth: National Ceramics Exhibition. Cabrillo Gallery. Aptos, CA. Elemental Seedpod, Ceramics.
CCACA. Davis, CA. Series of Elemental Seedpods, Ceramics.
2015 Class Showcase. SJSU Gallery 5. San Jose, CA. Seaside Remnants, Ceramics.
Shasta College Art Show. Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA. Series of Iron Oxide and Celadon Vessels, Ceramics.
2014 Shasta College Art Show. Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA. Copper Raku Vessel, Ceramics.
2013 Shasta College Art Show. Shasta College Art Gallery. Redding, CA. Crackle Raku Bottle, Ceramics.
2012 NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) K-12. Seattle, WA. Greek Vessel with Handles, Ceramics.
Shasta County Art Show. City Hall. Redding, CA. Raku Vessel, Ceramics.
Selected Awards and Honors
2018 Simon & Engrace Gorostordoy Scholarship. San Jose State University, CA.
Dean's Scholar Award. San Jose State University, CA.
Ceramic Arts Guild Vice President. San Jose State University, CA.
2017 Ceramic Arts Guild Treasurer. San Jose State University, CA.
2016 Ceramic Arts Guild Event Coordinator. San Jose State University. CA.
2015 Ceramic Arts Guild Committee Officer. San Jose State University. CA.
Elise T. Johnson Scholarship recipient. Clayfolk Potter’s Association, OR.