|
|
|
POTTERY - CERAMICS
Pete
Robinson Pete
Robinson has been a Maumee, Ohio resident since 1967 and graduated from the Toledo School of Design in 1976. He is currently
working in terra cotta and stoneware and is in the process of building a new studio. His works have been in galleries across
the US, including the Toledo Museum of Art.  Joyce Donahue The easiest way to explain why I create pottery is to acknowledge
that from my earliest memories I have been a maker of all types of things. I have always enjoyed the process of creating.
Along the way I have learned to love what I make & make what I love. My love of gardening led to finding a true sense
of comfort & serenity whenever I have my hands surrounded by the warm rich humus of the earth. It is no wonder that after
dabbling in photography & following several years of watercolor, pastel & drawing classes, I found myself in ceramic
classes at the 577 Foundation. I left a career as
a R.N. Medical-Legal Consultant to pursue my ceramic studies & became a full time studio ceramic artist. I have no formal
art degree, but have attended numerous workshops & seminars, including summer sessions at Arrowmont School of Arts &
Crafts in Tennessee, studying clay techniques, theory & design. The making of something that is beautiful, functional
& desirable, while using the elements of the earth, has enhanced my sense of worth as a maker and as a human being.  I hold a Bachelor of Education Degree
from the University of Toledo and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Bowling Green State University. I began as a painter,
drawer, and collage artist but about ten years ago I turned to ceramics after taking clay workshops and classes, mainly at
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Recently I retired from Springfield Local Schools in Holland,
Ohio where I was and elementary art specialist. I now devote my entire time to clay production. I work primarily in clay and produce tiles, platters,
bowls, mirrors, trays, key and pencil boxes and wall sculptures. I also design and make tile tables, kitchen island counter
and bathroom tile installations. Texture, pattern, architectural shapes, and color are the design elements I employ. Making
clay stamps and pressing these designs in soft clay is a process I love, with additional hand-building and textural techniques.
Rich red terracotta clay with low fire glazes are my main materials. I enjoy all the stages of ceramic production: designing,
making (hand-building), bisque firing, glazing, and final firing. I create small objects with rich textures, repeat patterns and colorful glazed surfaces. My
clay pieces celebrate a love of nature (leaves, fish, birds, animals, sun, moon, stars). I also like to incorporate interesting
found object shapes into my stamped designs: keys, old jewelry pieces, wire, abstract shapes and repeat patterns. Experimenting
with new designs, glazes, and ceramic forms leads me on a path of continual discovery.  Amy Dilday Amy Dilday is a Sylvania, Ohio native who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics and Print-making
from the University of Toledo where she served as Studio Assistant in the Ceramics Department. She currently teaches ceramic
classes at the Toledo Museum of Art in their youth program. Amy’s medium features translucent porcelain slip
casting with incised surface and/or under glazed decoration. She uses high fire oxidation glazes. Amy explains: My work is cast in plaster molds that I create.
The castings are meant to be as thin as possible (eggshell casting). This makes the piece very fragile
to work on. I am always trying to cast thinner or put more holes in my piece to create a “lace”
effect. Once the pieces are glaze fired to 2300 degrees, they are very hard and durable. They
can be used for decoration, candles, pencil holders or food items. They are top shelf dishwasher safe.
Each piece is unique.  |
||
|
Jennifer Dilday Jennifer Dilday is a Sylvania, Ohio
native who has worked in Customer Service at at Johnson’s Fine Furniture and served a floral designer at Churchill’s
Flower Shop. She is currently employed at a local dentist's office. She works with low fire clay and glaze to create handmade
figurines, usually animals, either as ornaments or standing figures. Each piece is glazed with three coats
and kiln fired. Jennifer
shares: I started making
dog figurines out of Sculpey which I still do create. My sister, Amy, teaches
ceramics at the Toledo Museum of Art and she taught me how to use clay. If I have a photo, I can make just
about any animal. When Amy and I were kids, we collected bone china animals – mostly dogs.
Now I make them!
Meghan YarnellMeghan Yarnell graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s of fine art in 3D studies in 2005. She is currently an art teacher at Perrysburg Junior High. She is inspired by the values and priorities of our society and works in porcelain.  |
