JIL FRANKE I MINNESOTA
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"Using slabs of stoneware clay, I hand build each piece. I then decorate the work using wax resist to apply patterns and surface designs. I like the natural textures and subtle variations found on each piece after the firing. The colors achieved are the direct result of the firing playing on the pots. Most of the interiors are glazed. Patterns are created using different kinds of slip on the surface of the vessels. Additional spots and textures are the result of ash or salt deposits. The sheen on some of the surfaces is the result of the salt, which is added towards the end of the firing when the temperature in the kiln was between Cone 7-10.
I grew up on a farm in Minnesota and I am influenced by oilcans, funnels, grain bins, farm implements, and objects found in this rural environment. I like chopping wood, wadding the pots, bricking up the door, and stoking the fire. Wood firing can be full of surprises. I enjoy unpredictability and the unexpected when firing my work in a wood fired kiln."

Employment
1984-present Breck School
123 Ottawa Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN
Middle and Upper School Art Teacher, Ceramic Specialist

Educational Background
Mankato State University
Mankato, MN
Bachelor of Science, Art Education, Cum Laude, 1974
Concentration: Printmaking and Sculpture

Description of Work
Slip decorated stoneware, wood-fired in a double chamber bourry-box kiln

Ceramic Exhibitions

2004
"The Tour No. Twelve," Annual St. Croix Valley Pottery Sale Tour and Sale , Guest of Linda Christianson, 35703 Vibo Trail, Lindstrom, MN
"Forms and Shapes: The Box," Akar Design, 4 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA. Juror: Maren Kloppmann
"Jersey Shore National," M. T. Burton Gallery, 1819 Long Beach Blvd., Surf City, New Jersey. Juror: Jimmy Clark
"For the Table," Santa Fe Clay, 1615 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Featured Artist of the Month, Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
"Bottles and Bowls," The Saratoga Clay Company, Hall's Peppermill, 165 High Rock Avenue, Saratoga Springs, New York. Juror: D. Leslie
2003
"Holiday Exhibition," Lill Street Art Center, 4401 North Ravenswood, Chicago, Illinois
"Cup: The Intimate Object II," Charlie Cummings Clay Studio, 4130 South Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Juror: Julia Galloway
"Holiday Exhibition," Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
The Clay Studio Shop, 139 North Second Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"Ceramics USA 2003," University of North Texas, Art Gallery, School of Visual Arts, 1201 W. Mulberry Street, Denton, Texas. Juror: Doug Casebeer
"The Wichita National 2003," Wichita Center For The Arts, 9112 East Central, Wichita, Kansas. Juror: Josh DeWeese
"Lancaster Museum of Art's Crafts National 2003," Lancaster Museum of Art, 135 North Lime Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Juror: Holly Hotcher
"Crafts National 37," Zoller Gallery, 102 Visual Arts Building, on the University Park campus of The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania. Juror: Ruth Summers. Award of Merit
"Forms and Shapes: Cups," Akar Design, 4 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA. Juror: Clary Illian
"The Tour No. Eleven," Annual St. Croix Valley Pottery Studio Tour and Sale, Guest of Linda Christianson, 35703 Vibo Trail, Lindstrom, MN
"Tea for Two – or Twenty," Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
"Centering: Clay and the Midwest," by Elaine Levin, Featured Artist, "Ceramics Monthly," 735 Ceramic Place, Westerville, Ohio
“NCECA 2003 Clay National Exhibition,” R. B. Stevenson Gallery, 2400 Kettner, Suite 103, San Diego, California. Jurors: Joe Bova, Jeff Oestreich, Patti Warashina
“Snowbirds” exhibition, Santa Fe Clay, 1615 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, New Mexico
"Minnesota Art Teacher's Exhibition," Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Gallery 146, 2501 Stevens Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
Featured Artist for the Saint Paul City Hall Exhibition Program, Saint Paul City Hall, 4th and Wabasha Street, Saint Paul, MN
2002
“Holiday Exhibition,” Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
“Centering: Clay and the Midwest,’’ Freehand Gallery, 8413 West Third Street, Los Angeles, California
Recipient of the “Jean Wigley Teaching Excellence Award,” Breck School, Golden Valley, MN
“Bowl O’ Rama,” National Juried Exhibition of Ceramic Bowls, Leyshon Gallery, Laguna Clay Company, 61020 Leyshon Drive, Byesville, Ohio. Juror: Kirk Mangos
“Fourteenth San Angelo National Ceramic Competition,” San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts,
One Love Street, San Angelo, Texas. Juror: Jimmy Clark
Featured Artist of the Month, Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
Tenth Annual Pottery Studio Tour and Sale, St. Croix Valley Potters, Guest artist of Linda Christianson, 35703 Vibo Trail, Lindstrom, MN
“Utilitarian Ceramic National,” Nicholls State University, Department of Art, P.O. Box 2025, Thibodaux, LA., Juror: Ron Meyers
2001
“Strictly Functional Pottery National,” Presented by Market House Craft Center, hosted by Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA
“Holiday Show,” Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
“The Art of Tea, A National Competition,” The Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood, Colorado. Juror: Linda Sikora
Ninth Annual Pottery Studio Tour and Sale, St. Croix Valley Potters, Guest artist of Linda Christianson, 35703 Vibo Trail, Lindstrom, MN
2000
Featured Artist of the Month, Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
“25th Anniversary Holiday Show,” Lill Street Gallery, 1021 West Lill Street, Chicago, Ill
“Holiday Show,” Akar Architecture and Design, 341 E, College St., Iowa City, IA
“10th Anniversary Holiday Show,” Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
“Focus on Function,” The University of Minnesota National Ceramics Biennial 2000, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, 216 21st Ave. South Hall, U.M., Jurors: Sandy Simon, Linda Sikora. Purchase Award from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Annual Pottery Studio Tour and Sale, St. Croix Valley Potters, Guest artist of Linda Christianson, 35703 Vibo Trail, Lindstrom, MN
“Stoneware Construction,” Solo show, Akar Architecture and Design, 341 E, College St., Iowa City, IA
“The 2000 International Orton Cone Box Show,” Jurors: Jeff Oestreich, Richard Notkin, Nina Hole, Baker University, Baldwin City, KS
Ceramics Art Gallery, 35 William St., Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
1999
“Wood-fired Tableware,” Solo show. Sydney Grammar School, College Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
Artist in Residence, Sydney Grammar School, College Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia, fired with Janet Mansfield in Gulgong, NSW
“Functional Fire: Wood-fired Cup Show,” Held in conjunction with “Different Stokes: The 1999 International Wood-fire Conference,” Potters Choice Award, Artisans Gallery, 117 College St., Iowa City, IA
“1999 NCECA Clay National Exhibition.” Jurors: Tre’ Arenz, Robert Brady, Ron Meyers. Biennial showcase exhibition held in conjunction with the Thirty-third Annual National Council on Education For The Ceramic Arts. The Columbus Cultural Arts Center, 139 West Main Street, Columbus, OH
“Clay Makers, Visiting Artists Exhibition,” Edina Art Center, 4701 West 64th Street, Edina, MN.
Annual Pottery Studio Tour and Sale, St. Croix Valley Potters, Guest artist of Linda Christianson, 35703 Vibo Trail, Lindstrom, MN
Featured Artist of the Month, Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
1998
Visiting artist workshop: lecture and demonstration, Edina Art Center, 4701 West 64th Street,Edina, MN
Holiday Exhibition, Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
Featured Artist of the Month, Northern Clay Center, 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN
“Still Alluring,” Appalachian Center for Crafts, 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville, TN. An exhibition of hand made lures dedicated to the mystery of attraction. “Hooked on Rootbeer.” Mixed-Media
Annual Pottery Studio Tour and Sale, St. Croix Valley Potters, Guest artist of Linda Christianson, 35703 Vibo trail, Lindstrom, MN
1997
"All Fired Up," National Clay Juried Exhibition. Hosted by Boise State University, Boise, Idaho. Juror: Josh DeWeese
1996
Wood-Fired Clay Exhibition with husband, Kirk Lyttle, George R. A. Johnson Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
85th Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN
1995
84th Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN
“Minnesota Hot Dish Show,” A juried exhibition of ceramic baking and serving dishes by artists from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Ontario. Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN
1993
Professional Opportunity Program Grant recipient to build a raku kiln at Breck School, Minnesota Center for Arts Education Resource Program, Golden Valley, MN
Breck School Faculty Art Show, George R.A. Johnson Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Emphasis on Firing: Blackware firing instructor, Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN
1991
80th Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, Honor Award, Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN
Breck School Faculty Art Show, George R. A. Johnson Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
1990
“Clay Work,” exhibition by Jil Franke and Kirk Lyttle, George R. A. Johnson Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
1988
Minnesota Crafts Council Show, Contemporary Crafts for the Home, International Design Center, Minneapolis, MN
1987
76th Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN
Breck School Faculty Art Show, George R. A. Johnson Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
1986
75th Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN

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