Artist Statement
Creating a simple coffee mug comes from my desire to use something everyday that strikes up a warm conversation with me. Making pots allows me to be a formalist who loves the symbolic results of a shape, color and texture combinations. I can be an engineer who develops a refreshing approach to something we have seen or used before. I have the freedom to design work to compliment a space or a table. With these attributes, I intend to raise the importance of the mug from mundane to meaningful, from words to poetry.

My choices of pots to make are based on the food and drink I prepare and consume everyday. The shapes present themselves during the making process. Formal decisions happen quickly, fueled by intuitive information. The forms originate from inspirations I receive historical ceramics. Pots from ancient Persia and Sung Dynasty China speak of clear intention and purpose. They have become symbols of purity and and visual harmony. My interpretations of these forms are small in size, which beckon intimate contact. The subtleties of stretched volume, soft curves, and organic textures create sensations reminiscent of human form. The resulting feel can swing from being humorous to serious, from sexy to sedate.

I use specific glazes to unify the variations of line quality and texture that exist in one piece. I have chosen soft colors that give a delicate but flamboyant edge to the grounded stature of the work. Glazes pool in the recesses of the markings giving depth to the surface. The process of firing to a hot temperature further melts the glazing giving the pots a glowing, gemlike surface. The manner in which I choose and combine materials leads to work that balances between the images of ornate "Sunday dinner" ware and the trustworthy "coffee mug in the car" ware.

I strive to be a designer of useful objects that are thoughtful in terms of my approach to form, selecting glazes, applying surface textures, and overall presentation. Presently, I see my work being a part of eating and drinking rituals of the every day. Involvement in a routine generates familiarity, understanding, and closeness. I hope for my pots to speak to people beyond their functionality and to tell a provoking story through the symbolism of form and color. I wish for them to be used and understood as objects that are testaments to observations of beauty.

Education
1996 New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred NY
        Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics
1994 Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City MO
        Special Student in Ceramics
1993 The Hartford Art School, West Hartford CT
        Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics

Teaching Experience
2004-Present University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage AK
                    Assistant Professor of Art
1999-2003     University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage AK
                    Visiting Professor of Art
1998             Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena MT
                    Instructor of Ceramics
1996-97        The Hartford Art School, West Hartford CT
                   Adjunct Faculty in Ceramics

Workshops
2005 Ohio State university, Bowling Green, OH "Ceramic Design"
        University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK "Detail"

2004 Ohio University, Athens, OH "Lecture & Critique"

2003 Seward Park Art Center, Seattle, WA "Creative Surfaces"

2001 OHM Pottery Institute, Anchorage, AK "Kiln Building"
        Girdwood Center for the Arts, Girdwood, AK "Pit Firing"

1999 University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK "Altered Pots"

1998 Hartford Art School, West Hartford, CT "Wood Firing"

1997 Westchester Community Art Center, White Plains, NY "Utilitarian Pots"

1996 Salve Regina College, Providence, RI "Utilitarian Pots"
        University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT "Basic Wheel Throwing Techniques"

Solo Exhibitions
2003 Kobo Gallery, Seattle WA

2002 Girdwood Center for the Arts, Girdwood AK

2000 Decker Morris Gallery, Anchorage AK

1999 Edgewater Gallery, Seward AK
        Holter Museum of Art, Helena MT

1997 Westchester Community Art Center, White Plains NY

1996 Fosdick Nelson Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred NY

Group Exhibitions
2005 Anchorage Museum of Art, Anchorage AK "Earth, Fire and Fiber"
       Clay Studio, Philadelphia PA "Gifted: The Clay Studio's Holiday Exhibition"
       Gallery One, Ellensburgh WA "Featured Artist"
       Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe NM "Cups, Cups, Cups"
       Kobo Gallery, Seattle WA "Cups and Mugs"
       Flux gallery, Rhinebeck NY "Gallery Opening Exhibition"
       Artique, Anchorage AK "Exhibiting Artist"
       Tho Art Gallery, Seoul Art Fair, Seoul Korea "Three American Potters"
       Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis MN "North American Pottery Festival"
       Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore MD "Winterfest 2004"
       Fly by Night Club, Anchorage AK "Annual Pottery Show & Sale"

2004 Anchorage Museum of Art, Anchorage AK "UAA Faculty Exhibition"
        Anchorage Museum of Art, Anchorage AK "Masters of Mud"
       Clay Studio, Philadelphia PA "Winter Exhibition"
       Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore MD "Winterfest"
       Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Newcastle PA "Salad Days"

2003 The Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento CA "An Affinity for the Cup"
        Art and Industry Gallery, San Diego CA "Generations: Impending Lineage"
        Pewabic Pottery, Detroit MI "For the House and Garden"
        Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster PA "Craft National"
        Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA "Holiday Exhibition"
        Artique, Anchorage AK "Exhibiting Artist"

2002 Bunnell Street Gallery, Homer AK "Three Alaskan Potters"
        MPress, Kansas City MO "The Kansas City Pot"
        Giles Gallery, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond KY "Four Potters"
        Performing Arts Center, Anchorage AK "Holiday Show and Sale"
        Botanical Gardens, Anchorage AK "Summer Sale and Exhibition"

2001 Pewabic Pottery, Detroit MI "Ewers"
        Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford CT "Ceramics 2001"
        Pewabic Pottery, Detroit MI "Spring Show"
        Market House Craft Center, East Petersburg PA "Strictly Functional"
        Ryan and McLain, Helena MT "National Teapot Exhibition"
        Esmay Fine Art, Rochester NY "Porcelain 2000"
        Vermont Clay Studio, Waterbury VT "Porcelain Revisited"
        The Clay Studio, Philadelphia PA "Couplets: Duality in Clay"

2000 Red Rocks Community College, Denver CO "A Touch of Porcelain"    
        Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston MA "Our Cups Runneth Over"
        Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore MD "Winterfest 2000"
        University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN "Focus on Function"
        The Clay Studio, Philadelphia PA "Couplets, A Duality in Clay
        Bunnell Street Gallery, Homer AK "Alaska Clay Exhibition"
        Market House Craft Center, Lancaster PA "Strictly Functional"

1999 Anchorage Museum of Art, Anchorage AK "Holiday Sale"
        Kimura Gallery, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage AK "Faculty         Exhibition"
        Campus Gallery, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage AK "Visions of         Structure"
        Guilford Hand Craft Center, Guilford CT "Guilford 99"

1998 Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs PA "Working with Function"
        Middletown Fine Arts Center, Middletown OH "Crossroads in Clay"
        Whitefish Gallery, Whitefish MT "Resident Artist Exhibition"
        Archie Bray Foundation, Helena MT "Resident Exhibition"
        Behl Park Center, Bozeman MT "Resident Artists Exhibition"
        Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston MA "Emerging Artists

1997 Silvermine Guild Arts Center, New Canaan CT "USA Craft Today 97"
        Hartford Art School, West Hartford CT "Faculty Exhibition"
        Nancy Margolis Gallery, Portland ME "Summer Artists"
        Craft Alliance, St. Louis MO "Teapots Invitational Exhibition"
        Freehand Gallery, Los Angeles CA "Exhibiting Artist"
        Market House Craft Center, Lancaster PA "Strictly Functional"

1996 Hartford Art School, West Hartford CT "Faculty Exhibition"
        Nancy Margolis Gallery, Portland ME "Summer Artists"
        Coffee Germanow Gallery, Rochester NY "Alfred Graduate Student         Exhibition"
        University of Rochester, Rochester NY "NCECA Student Exhibition"
        Turner Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred NY "The Works"
        Strong Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester NY "Exhibiting Artist"

1994 Turner Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred NY "First year Graduate Exhibition"
        Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City MO "Graduating Student Exhibition"

1993 Hartford Art School, West Hartford CT "BFA Exhibition"
        Market House Craft Center, Lancaster PA "Strictly Functional"
        New Britain Art League, New Britain CT "Clay Today"

Awards
2000 Bunnell Street Gallery, Homer AK, Best in Show, Alaska Clay Exhibition
1999 University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage AK, University of Alaska Travel         Grant
1996 Alfred University, Alfred NY, Graduate Fellowship
1993 Hartford Art School, West Hartford CT, Helen Cheney Martin Award of         Excellence

Juror
2005 Fairbanks Arts Association, Fairbanks AK "Interior Artisans"
2004 Ohio University, Athens OH "Brat Off Bratwurst Competition"
2001 Girdwood Center for the Arts, Girdwood AK "Cup Show II"
2000 Kenai Potters Guild, Kenai AK "Kenai Clay Exhibition"

Collections
Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena MT
Museum for Ceramic Arts at Alfred University, Alfred NY
Wayne Higby, Alfred NY
Robert Phannebecker, Lancaster PA
Joseloff Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford CT
Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale CO