BEN BATES I ILLINOIS
CLICK HERE TO SEE ARTIST'S WORK

ARTIST STATEMENT

As my critical eye matures, I find that my work is increasingly created with an emphasis on the investigation of form. I see the conventional elements of the functional vessel as a challenge to push the boundaries of contemporary ceramics. For me, the ideals of the utilitarian vessel clarify design and are a basis from which I explore how the manipulation of volume and form can effect the overall composition of a piece. A sense of tension and compression is central to my work. Stretching and altering various parts of a vessel to create line, shadow and movement help to achieve this outcome. My goal is to create pieces that are mysterious and open-ended enough to evoke multiple interpretations. Moreover, I would like my work to speak of the utilitarian and aesthetic issues of pottery, such as the ambiguity of the ceramic vessel as a functional container. Although I want my pieces to retain their utilitarian attributes, it is important to me that they attempt to transcend those boundaries and function as containers for emotive and metaphysical expression.

EDUCATION

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Illinois (SIUE) MFA: Studio Arts/Ceramics, 2002
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri (KCAI) BFA: Ceramics, 1995
Long Beach City College, Long Beach, California (LBCC) GPA: 3.85, 1993–94

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Bates Pottery at Crab Tree Farm & Living Museum, Lake Bluff, IL July 1998–Present
Resident Ceramic Artist: Re-established pottery on private estate, restructured studio layout, redesigned and rebuilt gas kiln, founded successful ceramics business

Lake Forest Clay Works, Lake Forest, IL August 1999–2001
Ceramic Program Consultant and Instructor: Designed a ceramic center and program curriculum, created architectural floor plans for building renovation, consulted with city, architects, and builders throughout renovation project, amassed center’s capital equipment, instructed students in hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL August 1995–98
Ceramics Instructor: Instructed and demonstrated hand building, wheel throwing, glazing and firing techniques for consecutive academic semesters

Studio Technician: Provided technical aid to the summer program and assisted guest artist John Neely

Design Instructor: Instructed and demonstrated two-dimensional design theory and techniques

Secretary, Wagner Potters Association: Organized annual holiday and spring sales, coordinated conference trips, scheduled and assisted guest artists, served as liaison between students and university

Kenneth Ferguson, Shawnee Mission, KS May 1994–July 1995
Personal Studio Assistant/Apprentice: Prepared clay, glazes and slips, loaded and unloaded kilns, prepared tools and studio, maintained studio

Johnson County Parks and Recreation, Shawnee, KS Summer 1995
Ceramics Instructor: Instructed and demonstrated hand building, wheel throwing, glazing and firing

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO Summers 1994–1995
Preparer: Prepared, transported and stored permanent collection, hung and dismantled temporary and permanent exhibits which included Keepers of the Flame and Crossing Borders

Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO August 1993–1995
Studio Technician: Instructed, prepared materials, fired student projects for intensive high school summer institute
Clay Room Manager: Arranged materials, conducted inventory, ordered and received ceramic supplies; maintained clay mixers, organized back stock materials, supervised student usage of facility, provided general clean-up

Casting Room Manager: Combined necessary raw materials to make slip for entire ceramics department, provided general clean-up, filled and maintained casting slip barrels

Long Beach City College, Long Beach, CA September 1991–1993
Studio Technician: Organized and maintained kiln and damp rooms, mixed glazes and slips, loaded and unloaded kilns, maintained equipment, installed student gallery shows

AWARDS AND HONORS

2000: “Strictly Functional,” Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA, Award
1997: “Feats of Clay X,” Gladding McBean Factory, Lincoln, CA, Award
1995: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, John Pohlman Memorial Scholarship
1993: Long Beach City College, Memorial Scholarship for Art
1992: Allied Arts Guild Competitive Scholarship for Art

EXHIBITIONS

2003: Deerpath Art Festival, Invited Artist, Lake Forest, IL
2002: “33.32.02: A Retirement Exhibition of Select MFA Graduates: 1970–2002,” Invitational, New
Wagner Gallery, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL (catalogue)
“Contemporary Studio Ceramics,” Invitational, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art,
Kansas City, MO
Biennial Ceramics Invitational, Parkland Art Gallery, Champaign, IL (catalogue)
Deerpath Art Festival, Juried, Lake Forest, IL
2001: “Ben Bates at Deerpath Art Gallery,” Lake Forest, IL
“Earth and Fire,” Invitational, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA
Deerpath Art Festival, Juried, Lake Forest, IL
Artists on the Bluff Exhibition, Invitational, Lake Bluff, IL
2000: “Strictly Functional,” Juried, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA (catalogue)
Deerpath Art Festival, Juried, Lake Forest, IL
1999: “NCECA Clay National,” Juried, Columbus Cultural Art Center, Columbus, OH (catalogue)
“Departures from the Midwest: KCAI Instructors and Alumni,” Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks,
Baltimore, MD
“Clay Cup VII,” Juried, University Museum, SIU Carbondale, IL (poster)
1998: “6th Annual Teapot Show,” Invitational, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO (poster)
“Ben Bates: Recent Works,” MFA Show, New Wagner Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
“E’ville 12,” Invitational, Moraine Community College, Palos Hills, IL
SIUE Annual Juried Graduate Exhibition, New Wagner Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
1997: “Wood Fire Invitational,” Invitational, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
“Feats of Clay X,” Juried, Gladding McBean Factory, Lincoln, CA (catalogue)
“Clay Cup VI,” Juried, University Museum, SIU Carbondale, IL (poster)
SIUE Annual Juried Graduate Exhibition, New Wagner Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
1996: SIUE Annual Juried Graduate Exhibition, New Wagner Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
1995: KCAI Senior Exhibition, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO
1994: LBCC Student Exhibition, LBCC Gallery, Long Beach, CA

WORKSHOPS PRESENTED

2003: Antioch Pottery, Antioch, IL
2001: Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL
1998: Forest Park Community College, St. Louis, MO
Kansas City Academy, Kansas City, MO

COLLECTIONS

University Museum, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL
Daniel and Caroline Bottom Anderson, Edwardsville, IL
Robert Archambeau, Manitoba, Canada
John H. and Neville Bryan, Lake Bluff, IL
George and Marsha Bryan, West Point, MS
Bill Cartwright, Lake Forest, IL
Kenneth and Gertrude Ferguson, Shawnee Mission, KS
Lee and Margaret French, Lake Bluff, IL
Peter S. Reed, New York, NY
James and Lisa Zenni, Lake Bluff, IL

CLICK HERE TO SEE ARTIST'S WORK