KATHRYN FINNERTY I OREGON
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I am a functional potter. I make objects that are intended for use, it is my hope that my work enlivens the experience of the user. To me pottery enhances domestic rituals with the potential to enrich our daily lives. The historical traditions of European decorative ceramics, particularly English pottery, have been influential in the development of my form and surface vocabulary and I look to nature to inspire my color palette. My forms are created by altering wheel thrown components and combining them with various hand-built and press molded elements. I carve plaster tablets with imagery and when transferred to the clay creates a raise-line motif on the surface of clay slabs from which I then construct my forms. In addition, I tray to create depth in the surface of my pieces through layering of glazes upon slipped, etched, sprigged and textured clay surfaces. Though not exclusively, I usually work in terra cotta clay and glaze fire to cone 05/04.

Education

Master of Fine Arts, Degree 1993; Major in Studio Arts - Ceramics at Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Degree 1989; Major in Studio Arts - Ceramics at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

One Year Special Studies, 1987 Majored in Ceramics and Design at Sheridan College of Applied Arts in Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Commercial Industrial Arts, Diploma 1986, Major in Ceramics and Design, George Brown College of Applied Arts, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Professional Experience

2000-Present Studio Potter/Owner, Pleasant Hill Pottery, Pleasant Hill, Oregon
1997-2000 University of Manitoba, Associate Professor, Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada
1998 Ohio State University, Visiting Artist/Lecturer, Columbus, Ohio
1997 University of Alaska, Visiting Lecturer, Fairbanks, Alaska
1994-97 Red Deer College, Ceramics Instructor, Summer "Series Workshops", Red Deer, Alberta, Canada; Calgary Board of Education, Ceramics Instructor, Calgary, Alberta
1994-95 Alberta College of Art and Design, Sabbatical replacement Lecturer, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1993-94 Alberta College of Art adn Design, Visting Artist/Lecturer, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Selected Exhibitions

2001

Pewabic Pottery, "Earthly Treasures", Invitational, Detroit, MI
Santa Fe Clay Gallery, "For the Table", Invitational, Santa Fe, NM
Fifth Element Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Portland, OR
Lill Street Gallery, "25 Select 25", Invitational, Chicago, IL
Pewabic Potter, "The Garden Show", Detroit, MI

2000

Fifth Element Gallery, Group Show, Portland, OR
Pewabic Pottery, Gallery Show, Detroit, MI
The Croft Gallery, Two-person show, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

1999

McDermit/Adelaide Gallery, Group Show, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Site Gallery, Group Invitational, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Gallery 111, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Pewabic Pottery, Group Exibition, Detroit, MI

1998

American Craft Museum, Group Invitational Show, New York, NY
Craftspace Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Hopkins Hall Gallery, Visiting Artist Solo Exhibition

1997

NCECA Community College of Southern Nevada, Group Exhibition, "Another Group of Seven", Las Vegas, NV
Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

1996

NCECA, Canadian Consulate, Wymen Building, Group Exhibition, " North by Northwest:Clay in Canada", traveling exhibition

Related Professional Experience

1998 Juror, Manitoba Craft Council Exhibition, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
1997 Presenter/Demo, International Ceramics Symposium, Calgary, Alberta
1996 - 97 Co-owner/Designer of Handmade Tiles, Tulip Tileworks, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Western Heritage Foundation, Commemorative Commision, Hand-made carved brick wall dedicated to the supporters and sponsers of the center.
1994 - 95 Director, Board of Directors, Alberta Potter's Association, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Editorial Board, CONTACT Magazine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Juror, ACC/APA Exhibition, "Made in Alberta", Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1991 Juror, NSDCC, Summitt Park Corporate Collection, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Publications

2001

"Ceramic Spectrum" by Robin Hopper. Krause Publications
"The Art of Contemporary American Pottery" by Kevin Hulch. Krause Publcations.

2000

"Functional Pottery" by Robin Hopper. Krause Publicatoins.

1996

"Profile: Kathryn Finnerty" by Amy Gogarty. CONTACT Magazine.

1995

"The Best of Pottery" by Jonathan Fairbanks and Angela Fina. Rockport Publishers, Inc.

Awards/Grants

1997 Project Grant, Calgary Regional Arts Foundation, Group Exhibition, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art.
1994 - 95 Project Grant for Solo Exhibition, Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
1991 & 1989 Ontario Craft Council Scholarship Award.
1989 Endowment Scholarship Award, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.

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