2018 Demonstrators and Presenters:

Matt Kelleher, was raised in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  He attended UNI, where he received an MA in printmaking.  He is currently an Assistant Professor at the internationally recognized Ceramics Department at Alfred University in New York with over ten years of experience as a studio potter.  Matt then received his MFA in 1999 from University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he studied with Gail Kendall, Peter Pinnell, and Eddie Dominguez.  He was a resident at Penland School of Crafts, the Archie Bray Foundation and Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in Shigaraki, Japan.  Matt received his BFA at the Kansas City Art Institute under Ken Ferguson and Victor Babu from 1993-1995.  We are excited to welcome Matt back to Iowa for the Iowa Clay Conference!

Artist Statement:  “Pottery is a continuous curiosity; how it’s made, how it feels, its shape, its surface, how it exists in a home as an object, or a tool, or maybe an image. . . I create my surfaces for contemplation. Moods are suggested with warmth, fluidity, and translucency…Pouring and layering slip, I respond intuitively to the qualities of liquid.”

Janis Mars Wunderlich is a contemporary ceramic master. She was born in Akron, Ohio and received her BFA from Brigham Young University and an MFA from The Ohio State University.  She was profiled in a documentary Who Does She Think She Is?  Janis has been the recipient of several awards and grants, including multiple fellowships from the Ohio Arts Council and the Greater Columbus Arts Council.  She teaches Ceramics and Design at Ashland University, and is an assistant professor of art history, ceramics, and art foundations at Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois.

Zachary Wollert received his MFA from Kent State University.  Zachary has completed residencies at both Cobb Mountain Art and Ecology Project Cobb and Firebug Pottery in Elkton, Oregon.  He also worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Ceramics and Assistant/Curator to the Director of Galleries, for Kent State University in Ohio.  Zach is currently head of the Ceramics Department at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids Iowa where he teaches ceramics and sculpture.

Juried Exhibition ‘River to River’:

In conjunction with the Iowa Clay Conference is the Juried Exhibition “River to River”.  This exhibition is in conjunction with Coe College and is juried by Clary Illian and Mitchell Spain– both accomplished ceramic artists creating and working in Iowa.  They had the difficult task of narrowing down all of the entries to 65 works for the show, and then to further chose one best-of-show and 3 honorable mentions.

This exhibit will highlight the richness and diversity of ceramic art within Iowa and across the Midwest.  Participation is open to all artists 18 years of age or older in Iowa and states directly adjacent to Iowa.  This exhibition will open on September 7th and close on October 6th.  There will be a closing reception on October 6th from 5-7pm.

Cost:

Early Registration  – $65.00 until September 15th

Registration – $85.00 after September 15th

*Student Pricing Available Upon Request (must be a enrolled High School or College Student)  Please email [email protected] for more information on registration for students.

Full details here: www.iowaceramicscenter.org/abouttheconference/