Bio
I am a ceramic artist making both sculptures and pottery, often in combination. I have exhibited my work throughout the United States and internationally. I have a studio in Pittsburgh. I taught ceramic art from 1981-2021 at The Ellis School. I have taken my students on many adventures such as to Japan on “The Potter’s Trail” in Tokoname and to study Mayan Ceramics with experimental archeologists in Belize, Central America. In addition to teaching in the United States I taught ceramics to villagers in Belize.
I was given two Heinz Small Arts Initiative Grants in 2008 and 2018 for exhibits during The National Clay Conferences in Pittsburgh. Since 2006 I have donated pieces for the AIDS benefit at The Carnegie Museum of Art, The August Wilson Center and other venues. I have shown my work in several Associated Artists of Pittsburgh annual exhibits at The Carnegie Museum and exhibited award-winning porcelain water dragon teapots at the Society for Contemporary Crafts.
I have also participated in shows in Japan and created installation pieces in Italy and Greece. I exhibited work several times in Shanghai, China at The International Teapot Invitational Exhibitions.
I’ve done residencies in the USA, Canada, Hungary, Italy, Greece, France, Japan and Mexico. At several residencies at The Anderson Ranch Art Center in Colorado I studied with Christine Federighi, Judy Moonellis, Indira Johnson and Stephan De Stabler. Later I organized several residencies called “Artist(Ceil) Ask Artists” groups at Watershed Ceramic Center in Maine.
Retrospective Maine/Watershed 2001 Presentation »
My ceramic sculptures have been featured in the magazines Studio Potter,Ceramic Monthly, American Craft and Clay Times. I have also been featured in two books, The Extruder Book and 500 Figures: Sculptors Explore The Figurative Form by Lark Books.
Many artists teach out of economic necessity. I am fortunate to be able to say that my teaching and my art are my dual passions. Being a teacher since 1978 has been one of the greatest influences on my own development as an artist. Do numerous gallery shows and publications make me an artist? Who knows! My hope is that I am still creating in a fresh and questioning way as I did when I was a child.
Artist Statement
Expressing myself through the making of objects is a privilege and a passion. The human figure has long been a feature in much of my work. Through figurative imagery my wheel and hand-built work explores the relationships between people. It is a conversation, fueled by friendships and travels, a visual diary narrated with an evolving personal vocabulary of images. I have employed different techniques, clay bodies and surface treatments. Recently I have experimented with wheel-throwing different forms in a series, with and without figurative imagery. I have found that altering and sculpting into these thrown vessels significantly affects the interpretation of my work.
I believe that many people today are searching through figurative images for spiritual guidance. Some ancient people thought that icons were alive and had spiritual powers. My own work is inspired by these beliefs and images.