Artist: Albion Stafford
Albion Stafford, ILLINOIS
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I make objects for the table. The table exists as a recipient terrain, accepting a range of occurrence and exploits, particularly those of action and interaction. Within this space are the possibilities for composing both a collective image, as well as an instigation of activity.
My functional work draws connections between the disparate. Analogous to landscape and the architecture that inhabits it, the objects present themselves as a disjunctive cast bound together both by the context in which they exist, but also through their collaborative utilities.
Borders and divisions of space, inhabited by polychrome fields, also designate a common denominator between forms. Through an illusionistic vibration of the decoration, the form and surface of the object become elusive, exiting through the back door of visual comprehension. Without our sight, the urge to touch and define form through tactility becomes a guiding force in observation, and, use.
TEACHING
2015-present Associate Professor, College of Fine Arts, Illinois State University, Normal, Il
2009-2015 Assistant Professor, College of Fine Arts, Illinois State University, Normal, Il
2007-09 Visiting Assistant Professor, Division of Ceramic Art, New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred, NY
2004-05 Visiting Instructor, School of Artisanry, University of Massachusettes @ Dartmouth, New Bedford, MA
EDUCATION
2007 Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics, Alfred University, New York College of Ceramics, Alfred, NY
1999 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics, Alfred University, New York College of Ceramics, Alfred, NY
EXHIBITIONS
2016
American Pottery Festival, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Contemporary Clay, Western Carolina University Fine Arts Museum, Collowhee, NC
Ceramics Invitational, University of St. Francis Art Gallery, Ft Wayne, IN
Invitational, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Summer Exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT
NCECA, Kansas City, MO, hosted by Northern Clay Center Galleries
2015
KCUP, (Kansas City Urban Potters) Invitational, Kansas City, MO
Use It, Cinema Gallery, Champaign, IL, also travelled to Milliken University, Decatur ,IL
History in the Making, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
2014
Ready, Set, Contemporary Tableware (Awarded Best in Show), Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, IL
The Art of High Chair Fine Dining, The Dinnerware Museum, Ann Arbor, MI
Taming Nature, NCECA Milwaukee, Pritzlaff Building, Milwaukee, WI
Taming Nature, (travelling) Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO
NCECA Milwaukee, in conjunction with Artstream Nomadic Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
NCECA Milwaukee, in conjunction with Lillstreet Art Center(based in Chicago, IL), Milwaukee, WI
Faculty Biennial, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal,IL
2013
Object Focus: The Bowl, Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland, OR
NCECA Houston, in conjunction with Artstream Nomadic Gallery, Houston, TX
The Art of the Pot, in conjunction with Artstream Nomadic Gallery, Austin, TX
2012
Pots at Rest, curated by Kari Radasch, Reed Smith Gallery, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Guerilla Mug Assault-(handmade mugs given to consumers in lieu of paper. At participating coffee shops throughout the city-hosted by the Clay studio with funding from a Knight Foundation Arts Challenge Grant, Philadelphia, PA
Tinted: Ceramics in a colorful context, curated by Joe Page, Sheehan Gallery, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA
NCECA Seattle, in conjunction with Lill Street Art Center(based in Chicago, IL) Seattle, WA
Faculty Biennial, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal,IL
All Steamed Up, travelled to Parkinson Gallery, Kirkland Fine Arts Center at Milliken University, Decatur, IL
New Work: Claire Hedden and Albion Stafford, The Philadelphia Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2011
Ceramics: Post Digital Design, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
TEA, McClean County Art Center, Bloomington, IL
Cups and Coffee, Harrison Gallery, The Philadelphia Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
All Steamed Up, Cinema Gallery, Champaign, IL
For The Table - Reed Smith Gallery, The Philadelphia Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2010
4th Annual Jingdezhen Contemporary International Ceramics Exhibition, Great China Museum, Jingdezhen, China
There's No "s" in Illinois, Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago,IL
Small Favors- Harrison Gallery, The Philadelphia Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
American Pottery Festival, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Central Time Ceramics, Bradley University, Peoria , IL
Faculty Biennial, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal,IL
2009
American Pottery Festival, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
2009 Tour, Airstream Nomadic Art Gallery, sites various...
Made in Clay, Greenwich House Pottery, New York, NY
2008
Utilitarian Clay V, Celebrate the object, Invited Artist, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg,TN
Solo Exhibition, Bonovitz Gallery, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2010
China-China, Porcelain in Contemporary Discourse, Shanghai International Ceramic Expo, Shanghai, China
Porcelain Now, Artisan Gallery, Northampton, MA
2007
Invitational, Artisan Gallery, Northampton, MA
Gifted, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, Fosdick-Nelson Gallery, Alfred, NY
Alfred on 25thStreet, J. Cacciola Gallery,NEW York, NY
2006 S.U.N.Y. Student Exhibition, Albany, NY
2005
Visiting Artist Exhibition, Tabor Academy, Marion, MA
CraftBoston, World Trade Center Seaport Expo, Boston, MA
2004
Domestic Pottery, Gallery Materia, Scottsdale, AZ
Gifted, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Form Follows Function, Lill Street Art Center, Chicago, IL
Archie Bray Resident Artists, Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spokane, WA
Steamin’, Gallery Materia, Scottsdale, AZ
Farewell Exhibition, Warehouse Gallery, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2003
Winter Exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Billings, and Bozeman, MT
Bray Artists, Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spokane, WA
Archie Bray Foundation, Resident Artists, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Montana Ceramics Now , Exit Gallery, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
2002
Winter Exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Billings, and Bozeman, MT
Archie Bray Exhibition, Lill Street Art Center, Chicago, IL
CCC Resident Artists, Artstream Nomadic Gallery, Carbondale, CO
2001 Studio Days, A View of Contemporary Ceramics, Chester Springs, PA
A Show of Mugs, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmore, NC
The Art of Tea, Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood, CO
Ceramics 2001, Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, CT
Origins in Clay II, University of Texas Art Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster Art Museum, Lancaster, PA
Focus on Function, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
CURATORIAL
2011 TableSpace, co-curated with Linda Sikora. Fosdick-Nelson Gallery, New York state College of Ceramics, School of Art and Design, at Alfred University, Alfred, NY
PUBLICATIONS
2014 Glaze, The Ultimate Ceramic Artist’s Guide to Glaze and Color, Doody and Taylor, Quarto Publishing, London
2013 Ceramics Monthly, January, Pots at Rest, review and article of exhibition of same name at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA
2012 Ceramics: Art and Perception(issue 88), Tablespace, full article and review, Janet Koplos
2012 Ceramics Monthly, January, Exposure, Image for Exhibition, Claire Hedden and Albion Stafford at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA
Ceramics Monthly, November, Details Define Space, full article rooted in both technique and conception of studio work.
2011 Ceramics Monthly, December, Exposure, review in Images of Tablespace curatorial project, in conjunction with Fosdick- Nelson Gallery
Tablespace, full catalog, Kruder, printed by St. Vincent press, Rochester, NY
COLLECTIONS
2016 Kolva and Sullivan, Spokane, WA
2014 The Dinnerware Museum, Ann Arbor, MI
2012 The Rosenfield Collection, of David and Louise Rosenfield, Dallas, TX
2010 Jingdezhen Ceramics Museum, Jingdezhen, Peoples Republic of China
2008 Shanghai Arts and Crafts Museum, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China
2007 Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art at Alfred, Gloryhole Collection, Alfred, NY
Robert D. Pfannebaker Esq. Lancaster, PA
2004 Archie Bray foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Permanent Collection, Helena, MT
Collection of Jim Kolva and Pat Sullivan, Spokane, WA
RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2016 Presenter, American Pottery Festival, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
2010 Invited Artist Summer Program at New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred, NY
2010 Visiting Artist, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
2007-09 Visiting Assistant Professor in Ceramics, New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred, NY
2005-07 Teaching Assistant, New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred, NY
2006 Earth Cloud Installation Crew, Wayne Higby, Miller Performing Arts Center, Alfred, NY
2004-05
Visiting Instructor, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, New Bedford, MA
Studio Technician/Manager, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, New Bedford, MA
Visiting Artist, Tabor Academy, Marion, MA
2004 Visiting Artist, Workshop Instructor, Black Tulip Studio, Billings, MT
2003 Workshop Instructor, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
2002-04
Artist in Residence, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
Instructor, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
Studio Technician, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2000-02
Artist in Residence, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Studio Technician, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Instructor, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
FACULTY SERVICE
2017 College Curriculum Committee
2016 BFA Committee
2015 BFA Committee, Graphic Design Search Committee
2014-2015 College Research Committee
2013-2014 Area Coordinator 3D, Advisory Council
2012-2013 Member, Search Committee- Printmaking (Lithography) , Area Coordinator 3D, Advisory Council
2011-2012 School Faculty Status Committee
2010-2011 School Faculty Status Committee, Chair, Search Committee- Wood and Metals position, 3D Area
2010 Visiting Artist Committee, Chair, BFA Committee