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Teaching Philosophy - Education - Exhibitions - Personal Experience - Workshops - Honors and Awards - Collections and Commissions - Memberships - References During the past thirty years, the art of Ceramics has experienced a renaissance due to technical and conceptual innovations. I have witnessed my discipline successfully shed its functional pottery past and become increasingly accepted by the other "high art" disciplines such as painting, sculpture, photography, etc. When I began my study of the medium, academia placed great emphasis upon technical and aesthetic aspects with little regard for the conceptual. In the 1980s and 1990s, the conceptualist approach reigned supreme, oftentimes subjugating the importance of the technical and the aesthetic. Luckily, ceramics has weathered its revolutions and counter-revolutions to strike a holistic balance in the past decade. I, like my discipline, have benefited from exposure to these philosophical extremes. The three warring camps of the technical, aesthetic, and conceptual aspects inform my art-making and my teaching style. I believe that a foundations program should encompass a broad range of topics including subject matter and content investigation, media exploration, formal analysis and expressive aesthetic issues. I know that foundation-level ceramics classes work best when the technical and aesthetic aspects are emphasized. The manipulation of clay is intimidating enough without having instructors further complicate the experience with heavy conceptual aspects. Toward orienting students to the medium, simple throwing and hand-building make for a comfortable beginning experience. When presented in an enthusiastic and inspirational manner, these techniques will provide students with the crucial tools for a lifetime of idea development and refinement. Intermediate and advanced classes would then emphasize individual stylistic and conceptual development. Beyond teaching the discipline, I try to instill within my students life-long critical skills and the ability to teach themselves beyond the classroom. I stress to them the importance of staying informed of the latest developments in the field. In three-dimensional design courses I follow a format that addresses formal analysis, problem solving and the application of principles through production assignments. It is very important to me to interrelate the three-dimensional arts with the real world. I constantly address issues universal to the visual arts. With regard to the art appreciation classes I teach, I attempt to provide the non-art majors with the broadest range of issues and experiences possible. I begin with a thorough introduction to the basic elements of design, stylistic diversity and technical considerations of the various mediums. I follow this with a chronological survey of the history of visual art, including the art of indigenous peoples and outsider art. I end the semester with lectures on the nature of art criticism and contemporary aesthetics. All of my classes, whether foundation, intermediate or advanced, are supported by hands-on demonstrations, lectures and reading assignments. I pride myself in being sensitive to each student's level of aptitude and interest. I target these individual levels by presenting information in the three styles of learning stated by Edward T. Hall in The Silent Language: the formal, informal and technical. My teaching effectiveness has been greatly increased by learning to present information relative to each student's receptivity to the "right/wrong" binary system, a modeling method, or step-by-step instruction. Consequently, my studio instruction yields a variety of directions that reinforce student inclination and diversity while accomplishing curricular goals. Ultimately, Ceramics and Sculpture are fundamentally related as the three-dimensional arts, and any academic program that acknowledges and interrelates these disciplines will result in students who can produce mature art works regardless of medium. Unlike many ceramic instructors, I am not centric to the discipline. I don't want my students to think of themselves as ceramic artists as much as I want them to think of themselves as artists who happen to work in clay. Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics 1992 British Studies Program, Watercolor Painting, London,
England, 2003 A Regional View: Art in the Southeast, the Atlanta Artists Center, Atlanta Georgia (juried) Mobile Art Association Annual Juried Exhibition, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile Alabama (juried) George Ohr Festival of Art, Biloxi, Mississippi (juried) National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried) Kentuck Folk Art Festival, Northport, Alabama (juried) Mobile Outdoor Art and Craft, Mobile, Alabama (juried) Peter Anderson Festival, Ocean Springs Mississippi (juried) Three Rivers Festival of Art,
Covington, Louisiana
(juried) 2002 Mobile Art Association Annual Juried Exhibition, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, Alabama (juried) Three Rivers Festival of Art, Covington, Louisiana (juried) Peter Anderson Festival, Ocean Springs, Mississippi (juried) Mobile Outdoor Art and Craft, Mobile, Alabama (juried) Grand Festival of Art, Fairhope, Alabama (juried) National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried) Fairhope Spring Show,
Fairhope, Alabama (juried) 2001 Peter Anderson Festival, Ocean Springs, Mississippi (juried) Mobile Outdoor Art and Craft, Mobile, Alabama (juried) Kentuck Folk Art Festival, Northport, Alabama (juried) National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried) Fairhope Spring Show, Fairhope, Alabama (juried)
2000 Slide Presentation and Lecture, School for American English, Parana, Entree Rios, Argentina (solo) Three Rivers Festival of Art, Covington, Louisiana (juried) Peter Anderson Festival, Ocean Springs, Mississippi (juried) Mobile Outdoor Art and Craft, Mobile, Alabama (juried) National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried) Fairhope Spring Show, Fairhope, Alabama (juried) 1999 The Best of Mobile, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, Alabama (juried) A Bunch of Guys Named Steve, Cathedral Square Gallery, Mobile, Alabama (invitational) Alabama Clay Conference, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama (invitational) Peter Anderson Festival, Ocean Springs, Mississippi (juried) National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried) Fiesta Arts Fair, San Antonio, Texas (juried) 1998 The Best of Mobile, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, Alabama (juried) Alabama Clay Conference, Jefferson Davis Community College, Brewton, Alabama (invitational) Peter Anderson Festival, Ocean Springs, Mississippi (juried) National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried) Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Atlanta, Georgia (juried) Magic City Art Connection, Birmingham, Alabama (juried)
1997 Kentuck Folk Art Festival, Northport, Alabama (juried) National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried) Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival, Fairhope, Alabama (juried) Pleasure Island Art Association, Spring Show, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried)
1996 Kentuck Folk Art Festival, Northport, Alabama (juried) National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried) Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival, Fairhope, Alabama (juried) Pleasure Island Art Association, Spring Show, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried)
1995 National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried) Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival, Fairhope, Alabama (juried) Pleasure Island Art Association, Spring Show, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried)
1994 Kentuck Folk Art Festival, Northport, Alabama (juried) National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried) Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival, Fairhope, Alabama (juried) Pleasure Island Art Association, Spring Show, Gulf Shores, Alabama (juried)
1993 Southeastern-Juried Exhibition, Fine Arts Museum of the South, Mobile, Alabama (juried)
1992 Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Student Art Exhibition, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, Pennsylvania (group)
National Conference on Education for the Ceramic Arts, Juried
Student Exhibition,
1991 Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Clay Club, Bates Gallery, Edinboro, Pennsylvania (group) October Evenings, Meadville Council on the Arts, Marketplace Gallery, Meadville, Pennsylvania (group)
Erie Art Exposition International,
Tulio Center,
Erie, Pennsylvania (juried)
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Student Art
Exhibition,
Edinboro University,
1989
September Celebration/Best of Mobile, Fine Arts Museum of the South, Mobile, Alabama (group) Alabama Clay Conference, Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Alabama Adjunct Art Instructor, Faulkner State Community College, 1999- present Art Instructor, Continuing Education, through Faulkner State Community College, Tile Glazing Chairperson, Visiting Artist Program, Cathedral Square Gallery 1998-2002
Curator, A Bunch of Guys Named Steve, an exhibition of eight
Alabama potters, Owner, Manager, and Resident Guru, Pottery Central, Gulf Shores, Alabama, 1993 present
Co-Owner and Exhibitor, Cathedral Square Gallery, Mobile,
Alabama, 1996 present Studio Technician, Ceramic Department, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, Pennsylvania, 1990-1992 Slide Librarian, Art History, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, Pennsylvania. 1990-1992 Mold Maker for working production molds, Campbell's Factory Studios, Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, 1991 Ceramics Teacher, Eastern Shore Academy of Art, Fairhope, Alabama, 1989
Studio Technician Undergraduate Assistantship, Summer Apprentice, Sea Oat Studio, Gulf Shores, Alabama, 1986
2003
2002 First Lady's Children's Art Festival, Four-day workshop, teaching fourth and fifth grade children of rural Alabama how to throw on the potter's wheel: Lori Allen Siegelman, First Lady, Founder and Chair, Montgomery, Alabama Patron Purchase Award, Kentuck Folk Art Festival, Northport, Alabama 2003 Award of Merit, Mobile Outdoor Art and Craft, Mobile Alabama 2003 First Place in Fine Art, National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama 2003 Award of Merit Azalea City Outdoor Art and Craft Festival Mobile Alabama2002 First place in Three-Dimensional Design National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama200 1 Technical Assistant Grant, Alabama Craft Council, Montgomery, Alabama 1999 First Place in Three-Dimensional and Mixed Media, Mobile Area
Chamber of Commerce Showcase of the Arts, Second Place in Three-Dimensional a Day in the Park, Laurel, Mississippi 1998 First Place in Three-Dimensional, Pleasure Island Festival of Art, Gulf Shores, Alabama 1997 Patron Award, Art Patrons League, Outdoor Art and Craft Fair, Mobile, Alabama 1997 Second Place in Three-Dimensional, Art Patrons League, Outdoor Art and Craft Fair, Mobile, Alabama, 1997 Purchase Award, National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama 1996 Purchase Awards (Two), Pleasure Island Festival of Art, Gulf Shores, Alabama 1996 Merit Award, National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama, 1996 Art Patron Award, National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama 1996 Purchase Awards (Two) Pleasure Island Festival of Art, Gulf Shores, Alabama 1995 Holiday Inn Art Patron Award, National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama 1994 Art Buyers Award, Art Patrons League, Outdoor Art and Craft Fair, Mobile, Alabama 1994 Award of Merit, The Outdoor Art and Craft Fair, Mobile, Alabama 1994 First Place in Pottery and Raku, Art on the Green, Ft. Myers, Florida 1993 Museum Purchase Award, Mobile Museum of Fine Art, Mobile, Alabama 1993 First Place in Ceramics, Art in the Park, Edison Festival of Light, Ft. Myers, Florida 1993 Third Place in Three-Dimensional, Allegheny West, Erie, Pennsylvania 1992 Bruce Manville Morrison Memorial Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement, 1991 Best of Show, University of South Alabama Student Art Association Spring Art Show and Sale, 1989 Merit Award, University of South Alabama Student Art Association Fall Art Show and Sale 1988 Achievement Award, University of South Alabama Student Art
Purchase Awards (Three), University of South Alabama Student Art Association
Fall Art Show and Sales 1988 Merit Award, University of South Alabama Student Art Association Fall Art Show and Sale, 1988 Purchase Award, University of South Alabama Student Art Association Fall Art Show and Sale 1988 Merit Award, University of South Alabama Student Art Association Fall Art Show and Sale 1987 Purchase Award, University of South Alabama Student Art Association Spring Art Show and Sale 1987 "Altar Piece in Copper Red", National Collection, Mino, Japan "Amphora" Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, Alabama
Pleasure Island Art Association, Gulf Shores, Alabama, member and board member 1997 -present Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Shores, Alabama 1997 -present Cathedral Square Gallery co-op, Mobile, Alabama 1996-present Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Mobile, Alabama 1996-present American Ceramics Society, 1990-1994 Erie Art Association, 1991-1993 Mobile Art Association, Mobile, Alabama, 1986-1989 Student Art Association, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 1985-1989 Grievance Committee, University of South Alabama Art Department, Mobile, Alabama 1988-1989 Dr. Nancy Chandler,
Vice-president of Instruction Georgine Clarke, Director of Visual
Arts Joe Schenk, Director Mobile Museum
of Art Professor Donna Nicholas Post Office Box 4691 Gulf Shores, Alabama 36547-4691 sadark-2000@yahoo.com
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