PETER PINNELL
NEBRASKA

My work is intended to be both utilitarian and decorative, with both aspects being equally considered. The surfaces are embellished with textures and ornament of a regular, rhythmic nature. The forms, colors and textures are derived from inspired by various aspects of nature, especially botanical forms, and the winter landscape of the American Midwest. I have a lifelong interest in the colors, textures and patterns found in midwest farm fields, such as the way plowing patterns describe the landscape's form. The muted colors of dormant plants, the textures of crop stubble, and the colors of wind-blown snow have all found there way into my work.
I am also intrigued by the look a very old object takes on after years of use, and how repeated handling gives a polish and patina. The surfaces I employ are intended to evoke this feeling: the sense that this is in some way a special object. The ornament acts as a focal point and its sense of detail is intended to entice the viewer to give the work closer scrutiny.
I strive to give a sense of precision to my work, but but not of a cold, mechanical nature. I prefer a more casual, fluid precision- a sense of care, really-that reminds the viewer that the object was made by hand.
My areas of artistic interest are many and varied. Historical pottery, landscape, tile textiles, glass, metalwork, and architecture have all served as sources of inspiration and visual vocabulary.

Abbreviated Curriculum Vitae

Associate Professor of Art, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. June 2001-present
Assistant Professor of Art, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. August 1995- June 2001

Selected Awards & Honors, 1997-2004

2003 Juror, NCECA student exhibition, NCECA National Conference, San Diego, California.
2002 NCECA Endowment Benefit Auction, NCECA National Conference, Kansas City, Missouri,
2001 Featured Artist (Demonstrator), NCECA National conference, Charlotte, North Carolina,
2000 Invited Participant, International Ceramics Symposia in Foshon and Jingdezhen, China,
Research Grant, Nebraska Research Council
1999 Resident Artist, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana.
Shimpo Award of Excellence, NCECA Clay National, Columbus, Ohio.
Juror's Choice Award, 7th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National. Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
1998 Big Twelve Fellowship, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
1997 Juror, Ohio Individual Artist Awards, Columbus Ohio. December 15,16,17
1996 Invited participant, First Yixing Symposium for Western Potters, Yixing, China. November 20-30

Citations in Books (images and text), 1997-present

500 Teapots Suzanne J.E. Tourillott. Lark Books, 2002. p227
Contemporary American Pottery by Kevin Hluch. Krause Publications, 2001
American Shino by Lester Richter. Babcock Galleries, New York. 2001.
Ceramics, A Potter’s Handbook by Richard Burkett and Glen C. Nelson, 6th Edition. Wadsworth Thomson Learning, 2001. p 240 and color plate 3
Clay and Glazes for the Potter By Daniel Rhodes/ Robin Hopper. Krause Publications, 2001.
Ceramics, Mastering the Craft by Richard Zakin, 2nd Edition. Krause Publications, 2001. p182
Handbuilt Tableware by Kathy Triplett. Lark Books, 2001. p. 83
A Potters Workbook by Clary Illian. University of Iowa Press, 1999. p 99
Ceramics: Ways of Creation by Richard Zakin. Krause Publications, 1999. pp 260-267
Creative Pottery by Michelle Coakes. Rockport Publishers, 1998.
pp 66-73, 77
Purple Sands Yearbook (Taiwan) "First Yixing Symposium for Western Potters". 1998
The Best of New Ceramic Art Hand Books Inc, Madison Wisconsin. 1997

Citations in Journals (images and text), 1997-present

Clay Times Magazine Clay Times Magazine Leigh Taylor Mickelson, “Details Make a Difference” May-June 2001, pp 32- 35,50
Ceramics Monthly Magazine Vol. 49, no 4, April, 2001, p 96
Ceramics Monthly Jim Connell, “Evolving legacies: NCECA 2001” (preview)Vol. 49 no3 (Mar. 2001) p. 115-22
Clay Times Magazine Leigh Taylor Mickelson, 100 Teapots at Baltimore Clayworks”. March-April 2001, pp 48-49
Ceramics Art and Perception Leigh Taylor Mickelson, “Sensuous Surfaces”, Vol. 43 2001, p. 103
Ceramics Art and Perception Glenn R. Brown, “Peter Pinnell’s Concept of Quietness”, No. 42 2000, pp 8-13
Ceramics Monthly Ceramics Monthly Marvin Sweet, “The Yixing effect”. Vol. 47 no1 (Jan. '99) p. 66-9
Clay Times Magazine Clay Times Magazine Tony Dubis Marino, "Archie Bray Foundation, Current and Colorado". July-August 2000, page 50-51
Ceramics Monthly Magazine Up Front: “Pete Pinnell”. Vol. 48 no 5, May 2000
Clay Times Magazine Leigh Taylor Mickelson, "Sensuous Surfaces".
January-February 2000, page 51
Review Kate Hackman, "A Meditation on the Functional Object"
November, 1999, page 26
Ceramics Monthly Magazine "Gallery Guide" (photograph) vol. 47 no 8,
October 1999. page 57
Clay Times Magazine "NCECA 1999 Clay National", vol. 5 no 2, March-April 1999.
page 17
American Craft Magazine "Vessels that Pour" . vol. 58 no 4, August-September 1998.
Purple Sands Magazine. (Taiwan) "Peter Pinnell". March 1997: volume 42
Clay Times Magazine. Sharon Lee Clark and Polly Beach, "The Ceramic Insights of Pete Pinnell". Nov.- Dec. 1997: vol. 3, No 6
Ceramics Monthly. "In Celebration of Utilitarian Clay". Vol. 45 no 1, Jan. 1997: 51

Publications

Paul St. Gaudens, Ceramic Artist Chapter 4, Henry J. Duffy, Editor. Saint Gaudens National Historic Site, publisher, 2001.
Clay Times Magazine "As Far As I Know...", (a regular column)
(40 columns since January, 1998)
Clay Times Magazine Question and Answer Vol. 8 no 5 September-October
2002, p 45
Studio Potter Magazine, "Terra Sigilatta and Patina Finishes", vol. 26 no 1
Dec. 1997, pp18-20
"Using Celadons", vol 27 no 1 Dec. 1998, pp35-37
Ceramics Technical Magazine (Australia) "Testing for Basic Glazes and Single and Multiple Oxide Colour", no 6 1998, pp20-29
Ceramics Monthly Magazine "Questions",
vol. 46 no 5, May 1998 p 92,
vol. 46 no 9, November 1998 pp96-98,
vol. 46 no 10, December 1998 pp 93-94

Selected Major exhibitions, 1997-present

Duets, Kentucky Museum of Arts and Design, Louisville, Kentucky. 2004
To Dream the Impossible: the Ceramic Pillow, The Pottery Workshop, Hong Kong, Shanghai, 2003-2004
21st Century Ceramics, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, Ohio. 2003
Anagama, Peck Gallery, Providence, Rhode Island. 2002
Intents, Krikorian Gallery, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, Massachusetts. 2002
Stoneware for Daily Ritual, Red Star Studios, Kansas City, Missouri. 2002
The Yixing Effect, The Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, Massachusetts. 2001
American Shino, Babcock Galleries, New York, New York. 2001
Ceramics Bienalle 2000 Association of Potters of South Africa, Gautang, South Africa 2000
Freewheeling: Five Ceramic Masters from CU, The Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder, Colorado. 2000
Sensuous Surfaces, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, Maryland 1999
NCECA 1999 Clay National, Columbus Cultural Arts Center, Columbus, Ohio 1999
Confluence, Clavigo Atelier, Kyoto, Japan. November 3-10, 1998
1998 Ceramics Biennale, Association of Potters of Southern Africa, Gauteng, South Africa. 1998
Ceremony of Tea, Images Friedman Gallery, Louisville Kentucky. 1998
Put a Lid On It (traveling exhibition), Appalachian Center for Crafts, Tennessee Tech. University, Belmont University Functional Work: American Potters, Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada, Colorado. 1997
Contemporary Utilitarian Ceramics: transmuting tradition, Biggin Gallery, Auburn University, Alabama.1997
Purple Sands: 21 Western Potters in China, invitational exhibition, JBK Gallery, Amsterdam, Holland. 1997

Selected Collections

Frederick R. Wiesman Art Museum, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Jingdexhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdexhen, China
International Museum of Ceramic Art at the New York State College at Alfred University, Alfred, New York.
The Nidec-Shimpo America Corporate Collection, Itaska, Illinois
The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
Collection of the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts.
Purple Sands Magazine, Taipei, Taiwan
San Bao Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen, China