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Artist: Betsy Morningstar


 

Betsy Morningstar, MARYLAND
View Artist's Current Work

 

Artist Statement:

Lined paper has been in my life for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I drew all over it. I scrawled lists and scribbles. I have carefully folded it into love letters, wrinkled it with use, and torn bits for silly notes and gum wrappers. I use it to organize life, and store memories. Lined paper is familiar, nostalgic, comfortable, but often unacknowledged in day to day life. 
I enjoy the magic of trompe l'oeil as I manipulate porcelain to mimic the normalcy of notebook paper, creating the comfort of blue and red lines, the placement of binder holes, and the inevitable frayed edge. I find beauty in the folds, wrinkles and waviness of used paper.
I started creating porcelain notebook papers out of a need to find and see  importance in each day, and communicate outside of myself in a physical way. Each porcelain paper features journal notes and fleeting moments from a day in my life, now forever special and permanent. The notes vary on the emotional spectrum of life, but all are significant moments I never want to forget. They are my brain and my heart in physical form.
Bio:
Betsy Morningstar, the artist behind Morningstar Mud, has always lived a creatively busy lifestyle. She has earned a Bachelors in Art Education, a Masters in Education and a Masters of Ceramics at Hood College. She is a full time high school art teacher in Columbia, Maryland, and creates her artwork with her sweet cat Vesper in her home.

Betsy has always been a journal writing person - chronicling her travels, explorations, thoughts, and happy memories in notebooks for years. She started crafting porcelain notebook paper because the lines are familiar, nostalgic, and perfect to write her personal journals on. Each piece of paper features genuine journaled notes, thoughts and moments from her life, capturing small moments in permanent porcelain form. They are her head and her heart in physical form.
EDUCATION
2017 - 23 — Hood College, Frederick, MD —
Master of Arts Degree in Ceramics
Degree Completed January 2023 CGPA: 3.9
2013-16 — Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, CA —
Masters of Art Degree in Curriculum & Teaching
Degree Completed May 2016 CGPA: 4.0
2006-10 — Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA —
Bachelor of Art Degree in Art Education, Certification: K-12
Degree Completed May 2010 CGPA: 3.817

2008 — University of Richmond, Florence, Italy —
Study Abroad Program for Fine Art Studies

EXHIBITIONS
2024 — Ceci N’est Pas Du Papier - This is not Paper, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
2024 — NCECA Pot Stars Pop Up Exhibition, Richmond, VA
2024 — Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2024 — Featured Artist, In Tandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC
2024 — The Simple Cup Show, KOBO Gallery, Seattle, WA
2024 — Yunomi Invitational, ClayAKAR, Seattle, WA
2024 — Cup: The Intimate Objects XX, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
2023 — Cup: The Intimate Objects XIX, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
2023 — Last Call VIII, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
2023 — Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2023 — theTABLE2023, Above Board Ceramics, New Haven, CT
2023 — Celebrating Women, Kavanagh Gallery, St. Charles, IL
2022 — Mimic, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2022 — Sip: A Ceramic Cup Show 2022, Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA
2022 — American Craft Council Show, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
2022 — Say Something: Tactile Voices In Clay, Saratoga Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY
2022 — Mug Madness, Saltstone Ceramics, Seattle, WA
2022 — Creative Catalyst, Slayton House, Columbia, MD
2021 — Notes, Master of Ceramics Exhibition, Hood College, Frederick, MD
2021 — HCPSS Teachers As Artists Show, Columbia, MD
2021 — Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2021 — Sip: A Ceramic Cup Show 2021, Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA
2012 — Action [Re]Action Art Show, Harrisburg, PA
2010 — Mind Mapping, Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2019- P — Howard County Public School System, Columbia, MD — High School Art Teacher

2012-19 — Waynesboro Area School District, Waynesboro, PA — Senior High & Middle School Art Teacher, Courseload - Advanced Placement 2-D Studio Art, Drawing & Painting, Sculpture, Yearbook, Photography & Learning Support.

2010-12 — Central Dauphin School District, Harrisburg, PA — Elementary Art Teacher

GALLERY AFFILIATIONS
— InTandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC
— Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
— The Muse, Frederick, MD
— Shop Made Maryland, College Park, MD
— Tatem Arts Center, Hood College, Frederick, MD
— Locally Crafted, Gaithersburg, MD
— Gallery 50, Waynesboro, PA
— Nicodemus Center for Ceramic Arts, Waynesboro, PA

SPECIAL EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
2025 — Featured Artist, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL— Invited Artist
2024 — NCECA PotStars Pop Up, Richmond, VA— Invited Artist
2024 — Featured Artist, In Tandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC— Invited Artist
2023 — NCECA Pop Up, Cincinnati, OH— Invited Artist
2022 — Esme Chicago, Chicago, IL— Commissioned Artist
2022 — Featured Artist, The Muse, Frederick, MD— Artist Demonstration
2020 — Porcelain Workshop, Hood College, Frederick, MD— Teaching Artist
2017-18 — The Potters Bowl, Hagerstown, MD— Contributing Artist
2014-18 — The Nicodemus Center for Ceramic Studies — Guild Member

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