Artist Statement
I believe ceramics or any artwork should work on many levels. It should be visually stimulating, but it should also have layers of meaning. Even if it is not apparent to the viewer there should be some underlying intent or philosophy that could be understood after viewing and reflecting on the work. In my work I address modern issues in a traditional medium. Through functional pottery, I deal with ideas of what is and what is not natural and the conflicts that occur with the use of both. In this day of labor saving machines come hard choices between the things we appreciate and find important. We depend on our machines and their products, but we also hold what is natural as unexpendable and precious. Living in the city, one gives up the open unspoiled countryside for an industrial environment where culture thrives but nature is reduced to parks, niches, and potted plants. The manufacture, maintenance, and use of machines edge away at the natural world. The choice to use our machines is made subconsciously by all of us. My work evokes my personal dilemma within myself as a lover of things made and things natural.

Education
- 1994 MFA in Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- 1991 BFA in Art from the University of Evansville, Evansville, IN

NATIONAL COMPETITIVE EXHIBITIONS
- 2002 Fourteenth San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, Annual Juried Competition and Exhibition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX, juror: Director Emeritus Jimmy Clark of the Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA
- 2001 Feats of Clay XIV, Lincoln Arts & Culture Foundation, Gladding McBean Pottery, Lincoln, CA, juror: Baylor University Associate Professor Paul McCoy, (Purchase Award) Photograph of “Lock Box” published in Clay Times November/December 2001
- 1999 USA Craft Today Third National Juried Biennial, Silvermine Guild Arts Center, New Canaan, CT, juror: Senior Curator Jeremy Adamson of the Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC (Award), Positive review in New York Times September 19, 1999
- 1994 Eight by Eight National Juried Exhibition, Schneider Gallery, Chicago, IL
- 1994 New Generation: Habatat/Shaw Gallery’s Second Annual National Graduate Student Exhibition, Farmington Hills, MI
- 1993 New Generation: Habatat/Shaw Gallery’s First Annual National Graduate Student Exhibition, Farmington Hills, MI (Third Place Purchase Award)
- 1993 National Grad Show at the Farrell Collection, Washington, DC, juror: Professor Val Cushing, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University

Juried National Invitational Exhibitions
- 2003 Functional Ceramics, (National Juried Invitational with Randy Johnston, Liz Quackenbush, Lee Rexrode, and others), Wooster, OH, curator: Phyllis Blair Clark
- 2002 DinnerWorks, Water Tower, Louisville Arts Association, Louisville, KY, curator: Associate Professor John Guenther, Indiana University Southeast

Regional Competitive Exhibitions
- 2002 21st Annual MPA Traveling Ceramics Exhibition Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI, Dennos Museum, Traverse City, MI, and Space 237, Toledo, OH, jurors: Associate Professor Georgia Strange and Professor John Goodheart from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN (Merit Award)
- 2001 Celebrate Clay, Lawrence Street Gallery, Pontiac, MI, juror: Ceramic Artist Mark Chatterly
- 2001 All Media Show Studio 23, Bay City, MI
- 2000 All Media Show Studio 23, Bay City, MI (Two Honorable Mentions)
- 1996 52nd Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition, Terre Haute, IN
- 1995 Mid-states Craft Exhibition, Evansville Museum, Evansville, IN
- 1993 49th Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition, Terre Haute, IN
- 1992 48th Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition, Terre Haute, IN (Purchase Award)
- 1991 Mid-states Craft Exhibition, Evansville Museum, Evansville, IN
- 1991 47th Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition, Terre Haute, IN (Purchase Award)
- 1990 46th Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition, Terre Haute, IN

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
- 2002 Annual Faculty Exhibition, CMU, Mount Pleasant, MI
- 2000 Annual Faculty Exhibition, CMU, Mount Pleasant, MI
- 2000 Conceptual Vision: Three Clay Artists (Group Exhibition with Holly Hanessian, and Marcia Polenberg), Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery, Alma College, Alma, MI
- 2000 New Michigan Clay Artist (Group Exhibition with Sam Chung, Holly Hanessian, Sadashi Inuzuka, Jae Won Lee, and Robert Beishline), Buckham Gallery, Flint, MI, Photograph of “Locked Stacking Canister” published in Ceramics Monthly, April 2000
- 1999 Annual Faculty Exhibition, Annual Faculty Exhibition, CMU, Mount Pleasant, MI
- 1999 Alumni Exhibition, University of Evansville, Evansville, IN
- 1998 Teapot Exhibition, Native Soil, Evanston, IL
- 1994 Alumni Exhibition, University of Evansville, Evansville, IN
- 1994 SAIC MFA Exhibition, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- 1993 Ceramic Graduate Student Exhibition, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Selected Publications
- 2002 500 Teapots, editor: Suzanne J. E. Tourtillott, Three teapots featured in book published by Sterling Publications
- 2001 Photograph of “Lock Box” published in Clay Times November/December 2001
- 2000 Photograph of “Locked Stacking Canister” published in Ceramics Monthly April 2000
- 1999 Positive review of “Stacking Teapot” in New York Times September 19, 1999

Honors and Awards
- 2002 Merit Award, 21st Annual MPA Traveling Ceramics Exhibition Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI, Dennos Museum, Traverse City, MI, and Space 237, Toledo, OH
- 1999 The Ethan Harry Ross Award for Ceramics, USA Craft Today Third National Juried Biennial, Silvermine Guild Arts Center, New Canaan, CT
- 1996 Nominee for Au Kurant Exhibition - SOFA, Chicago
- 1993 Third Place Purchase Award Habatat/Shaw Gallery’s First Annual National Graduate Student Exhibition, Farmington Hills, MI
- 1993 Nominee of Ceramics Department for School of the Art Institute of Chicago Graduate Merit Scholarship
- 1991 Gumberts Award for Excellence, University of Evansville, Evansville, IN

Public Collections
- “Nightwoods Teapot,” Vincennes University, Vincennes, IN
- “Three Lock Box,” Sheldon Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute, IN

Teaching Experience
- November 1998 to present North Arts Studio Coordinator (Ceramics & Sculpture Studio Coordinator), Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI
- Duties at Central Michigan University
- Teach Classes and Seminars
- Manage Ceramic and Sculpture Facilities
- Oversee Graduate Assistants and Work-study Students
- Service on Graduate Critique Panels
- Classes taught at Central Michigan University
- Spring 2000 - Present Beginning Ceramics
- Fall 2001 Glaze Calculation
- Summer 2000 Wood Kiln Building and Firing
- Spring 1999 - Fall 1999 Beginning Sculpture
- Committee Service at Central Michigan University
- Spring 2002 – Present Safety Committee
- Fall 2002 – Present National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) Accreditation Committee
- Fall 2000 – Fall 2001 Gallery Committee
- Spring 2003 Art Department Advisory Board Member, Alma College, Alma, MI
- January 2001 Visiting Artist, Incline Village High School, Incline Village, NV
- August 1996 to July 1998 Kiln Firing and Installation Seminar Instructor, Alpine Kilns, Elk Grove Village, IL
- Winter 1996 Instructor of 6 Week Ceramic Workshop for disabled persons, Missoula Developmental Service Corporation, Missoula, MT
- Summer 1994 Adjunct Professor, Multi-level Ceramics, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- June 1994 Teaching Assistant for two week workshop with Jim Lawton, Penland, NC
- Spring 1994 3-D Design Teaching Assistant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Fall 1993 Ceramics Instructor/Teaching Assistant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- January 1998 Juror, Regional Scholastic Art Contest (High school student art contest), Mount Prospect, IL
- August 1996 to July 1998 Manager, Alpine Kilns, Elk Grove Village, IL
- Duties at Alpine Kiln
- Designed new products, including key contributions to new Alpine downdraft kiln
- Managed production of kilns and pottery equipment
- Serviced kilns and pottery equipment
- August 1994 to July 1995 Kiln Builder, Alpine Kilns, Elk Grove Village, IL
- January 1993 to May 1994 Graduate Assistant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

GRANTS
- 2002 Faculty Research and Creative Endeavors Grant for research and creative work in bronze casting and woodworking, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI s