Artist: Ann Ruel
Ann Ruel, VIRGINIA
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STATEMENT
This body of work is a tribute to the tradition and dynamics of the family. In my own family, it is the role of the woman to guard the family unit. Each family matriarch has passed down their own traditions to the next generation based on her unique talents. As my talent is to create pottery, I pass on my stories through this particular medium. It is fitting that I gravitate toward functional pottery as the traits of purpose, responsibility and province are very highly valued traits in my family. The images that I carefully hand draw are limited to birds, bees, floral images and at times accentuated with a man made item. Many birds are associated with motherly love and, of course, when paired with the bees, they are a natural symbol of courtship and maternity. The man made objects represent the infiltration of the outside world symbolizing the beginning of the separation between the mother and children.The parent birds are painted with a more mature painterly technique. The younger birds are decorated with a style resembling a child’s“coloring book”.
WORK EXPERIENCE
2008-Present
Owner, Operator and Potter for Little Street Pottery, LLC in Suffolk, VA.
2014-Present
Pottery Instructor and Workshop Presenter for City of Norfolk, VA.
2012
Volunteered in Pottery Studio at Visual Arts Center, Tidewater Community College.
EDUCATION
2004-2006
University of Texas at Tyler Painting, Art History I and II, Aquamedia, Sculpture I and II, Ceramics
2003-2006
Tyler Junior College Design I, Design II, Pottery
1992-1996
Virginia Western Community College Drawing I, Drawing II, Drawing III, Watercolor
1982-1986
Radford University; Bachelor of Science
HONORS/AWARDS
2017
Juried into Starbrick Clay National Salt and Pepper Shaker Show 2017, Starbrick Gallery,
Nelsonville, OH.Juried into "The Almighty Cup" National Exhibition, Gandee Gallery, Fabius, NY.
Juried into The Battle of the Bowls Juried National Exhibition, Lynchburg, VA.
Juried into the Kansas City Clay Guild Teabowl National Exhibition
Won 2nd Place in "From the Earth" Exhibition, Ceramic Designer's Association, Tidewater, VA.
Juried into "Dirty South" Exhibition, River Oaks Art Center, Alexandria, LA.
Juried into the Hudgens Center for the Arts Cup Show, Duluth, GA.
Won 1st Place in "Save the River" Exhibition Lynnehaven River NOW, Virginia Beach, VA
Won 1st place in Daughters of the American Revolution American Heritage Craft Competition- Crafts, Washington D.C.
Juried into the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community Art Exhibition, Harrisonburg, VA.
Juried into "Serve It Up" Exhibition, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV.
"For Pitcher or Pourer: Pouring Vessel Show, Worcester Center for Crafts, MA.
Won Second Place in the "From the Earth" Show, sponsored by Ceramic Designers Association, Tidewater, VA.
Juried into the "SIP" A Ceramic Cup Show in Savannah, GA.
Into the Clay Arts Vegas 2017 Cup Show in Las Vegas, NV.
Juried into Gimme Shelter Exhibit at the Ciel Gallery in Charlotte, NC.
2016
Won the Jane Butler Memorial Award during the Suffolk Art League Juried Art Exhibition in Suffolk, VA.
5x5x5 Exhibition at the River Oaks Square Arts Center in Alexandria, LA.
Image Juried for acceptance to be included in the Potter's Council 2017 Kitchen Calendar.
Juried and Accepted to the Artaxis website: www.artaxis.org .
Won Suffolk Art League Award at Handle with Care Exhibit, Suffolk, VA.
Accepted into the Nationally Juried Dirty South Mug Competition, Alexandria, LA. 2016
Accepted into MWSU Twin Cups National Ceramics Exhibition, St. Joseph, MO.
Accepted into the 2nd Biennial Wings and Water Nationally Juried Exhibit, Prairie du Sac, WI.
Accepted into Nationally Juried Exhibit: Sip A Ceramic Cup Show. Savannah, GA.
2015
Won $100 Picot Award with Suffolk Art League at Suffolk Art Gallery, Suffolk, VA.
Won Honorable Mention at Ceramic Designers Association Exhibit at Artist's Gallery. VA Beach, VA.
Accepted into Nationally Juried Show at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, VA: "Super Bowls"
2014
Accepted into Missouri Western State University Clay Guild National Twin Cup Exhibit
Accepted into 9th Annual Vasefinder International Exhibit. http://www.vasefinder.com/vi.2014.home.html
2013
Accepted into Nationally Juried Show at 18 Hands Gallery in Houston, TX called “Dining In: An Artful Experience.
Accepted into the 8th Annual Vasefinder International Exhibit. http://www.vasefinder.com/vi.2013.home.html
2012
Accepted and won a Purchase Award. Starbrick National Pottery Exhibition. Ohio.
Accepted into Nationally Juried Show at 18 Hands Gallery in Houston, TX called “Dining In: An Artful Experience.
2011
Honorable Mention Ceramic Designer's Association Members Open Exhibition Virginia Beach, VA.
Accepted in Nationally Juried Show at 18 Hands Gallery in Houston, TX called "Dining In: An Artful Experience.
First Place Tidewater Art Alliance Exhibition Honoring the Red Cross, Norfolk, VA.
2010
Selected to participate in Old Friends/New Faces Invitational Show hosted by Award Winning Ceramic Artist Lesley Hildreth. Virginia Beach, VA
Accepted into Tidewater Art Association at Contemporary Art Center, Virginia Beach, VA
- Second Place. All Fire Up Show at Blue Skies Gallery in Hampton, VA
- Third Place. Lake Festival in Clarksville, VA. with Eve Butts.
- First Place. Air and Water Show at Blue Skies Gallery in Hampton, VA.
- Second Place. Juried Student Exhibition at University of Texas at Tyler, TX.
- Honorable Mention. Juried Student Exhibition at University of Texas at Tyler, TX.
- Director’s Choice Award. Viewpoints All-State Juried Show out of 225 submitted works. Tarrant County, TX.
RELATED EXPERIENCES
2015
Juried into Suffolk Art League Show at Suffolk Art Gallery.
Invited to participate in Artfully Done Exhibit at Suffolk Cultural Art Center, Suffolk, VA.
Invited to participate in Waterways Heritage Festival, Chesapeake, VA.
Participated in "Mug Show" at Paul Gallery in Norfolk, VA.
Juried into Ceramic Designers Association Exhibit at Artist's Gallery in Virginia Beach, VA.
Juried into the Norfolk Academy Show, Norfolk, VA
2014
Juried into Artfully Yours: Art Show, Suffolk Cultural Arts Center, Suffolk, VA
Pottery Instructor for Norfolk Parks and Recreation, Norfolk, VA
Invited to participate in Norfolk Academy Show, Norfolk, VA.
2013
Participated in Deep Creek Festival. Chesapeake, VA.
Participated in Hickory Festival. Chesapeake, VA.
Participated in National Honeybee Day Festival at Norfolk Botanical Gardens, Norfolk, VA
Participated in Great Bridge Waterways Festival, Chesapeake, VA
Juried into Norfolk Academy Art Exhibit
2012
CDA Library Show, Virginia Beach, VA.
Hickory Festival, Chesapeake, VA.2012 Great Bridge Festival, Chesapeake VA
Honey Bee Festival, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, Norfolk VA.
Volunteered in Pottery Studio at Visual Arts Center, Tidewater Community College.
Virginia Beach Festival of the Arts, Town Center, Virginia Beach, VA.
Eagle Festival. Norfolk Botanical Garden, Norfolk VA.
Participated in Cherry Blossom Festival in Virginia Beach, VA.
Juried in Tidewater Art Alliance Courthouse Gallery Art Exhibit “The Child”Show.
Juried in Norfolk Collegiate Art Exhibit.
2011
Participated in CBN 50th Anniversary Event as Pottery Vendor, Virginia Beach, VA
Participated in Artisans in the Park Festival, Virginia Beach, VA
Participated in Honey Bee Festival at Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
Participated in Weston Manor Show, Culpeper, VA
2010
Participated in Ceramic Designer's Association Chesapeake Library Show.
2009
Invited to participate in Governor's School Silent Auction.
2009-2011
Volunteer for Empty Bowls Dinner.
Invited to participate in the Norfolk Academy Art Exhibit and fundraiser.
Juried into Norfolk Collegiate Art Exhibit.
2006
Juror for Tyler Junior College Student Exhibit.
Selected to participate in collaborative 6"x7" paintings for Citizen's First Bank Lobby; Tyler, TX
2004
Artwork selected to appear on the cover of the 2004-05 Tyler Junior College Catalog.
2002-2003
Asked to participate on gigantic mural project for Sunday School wing of Trinity Methodist Church in Gainesville, FL
2001
Women’s Work Exhibit, High Springs Gallery.
Work represented in Art Cafe in Gainesville, FL.
PUBLICATIONS
2017
July/August Issue of Pottery Making Illustrated. Flat-Top Salt and Pepper Shakers
2016
March/April issue of Pottery Making Illustrated. Simple 8-Sided Casserole Dish. pages 36-37.
2015
Book: Ceramic Arts Handbook Series: Image and Design Transfer Techniques. Edited by Paul Andrew Wandless. The American Ceramic Society, pages 69-70 and 99-101.
2014
Book: Studio Ceramics:Surface Decoration Techniques. Edited by Anderson Turner. The American Ceramic Society, pages 108-110
2011
November/December issue of Pottery Making Illustrated. Instructors File" Piercing by Design. pages 39-42.
Book: Studio Ceramics:Advanced Techniques. Edited by Anderson Turner. The American Ceramic Society.
2010
September/October issue of Pottery Making Illustrated. Tools of the Trade: Etch a Sketch.
Pottery Making Illustrated. Tips From the Pros: Block Printing.
2009
July Published on Vicki Hardin's Clay Art Web Guide. Show and Sell
Ceramic Arts Daily. How to Carve Low Relief Surface Designs Into Wet Clay.
Pottery Making Illustrated. Adding Dimension to Stenciled Imagery on Pottery
January/February issue of Pottery Making Illustrated Magazine. Tips From the Pros: What a Relief.
Pottery Making Illustrated Magazine. Tools of the Trade: Canvas Solutions.
2008
November/December issue of Pottery Making Illustrated Magazine. Tips From the Pros: Out of Round.
AFFILIATION
Ceramic Designer’s Association of Hampton Roads.
Potter's Council Member
Featured in the Artists Portfolios on www.ceramicartsdaily.org