Artist: Chris Alveshere

Chris Alveshere, Montana
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My pots are an investigation of items I find curious, feel sentimental towards, or objects I find humor in. This investigation could come from the object’s surface, form, or most often from intriguing proportion or scale. Inflated swells, large knobs, and enamel-like sheens from sanded surfaces and glazes create exaggerated, vibrant pieces.

My work is made in long, continuous runs of production, altering commonalities of the forms, while adapting parts, proportions, and attachments. Forms, parts, and clay and glaze colors are curated to be strong and inventive. I prefer to work through repetition, replication, and multiples.

I visualize pots in everyday objects and places, seeing the potential of form and color in everything from vintage wooden toys, a pile of Skittles, or wandering thrift stores. This inspiration has steered me into making pots other than traditional dinner ware. I am making work for the countertop, and pots that allow for a vast range of function. The size of my work allows an intimacy between vessel and user, and stems from my eternal love for cups. A love for cups that has led me to make other forms that are meant to be held, experienced, and appreciated from all angles.

Foremost is an intention to make pots that have a sense of whimsy, humor, and color. Audacious, lively, and cheeky, pieces with attitude and intention; a task I tackle through working both symmetrically and asymmetrically. Juicers that peek at you from a shelf in the corner, or through a cracked dishwasher door. Cups that operate daily, are convenient to store, and worth displaying in the open. Jars to arrange and enhance the presentation of food preparation or novelty keepsakes. Small jars that suggest endless possibilities for peculiar use, from storing saffron, a single Twizzler, or your collection of found cat whiskers. Ceramic vessels need to serve their purpose and be visually compelling if they are taking up precious space.

 

Education

2020 Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics

New York State College of Ceramics (NYSCC) at Alfred University, Alfred, NY

2015 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education & Bachelor of Arts in Ceramics
Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM), Moorhead, MN

Summa cum laude; Dean’s List 6 semesters

2012 Associate of Arts in Visual Arts
Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND

Phi Theta Kappa Society 2 years

 

Teaching Experience

2020-Current Community Education Instructor, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Beginning Pottery, Mold Making, Lidded Vessels, Pouring Vessels, Open Instruction, Private Lessons, Youth Programming  

2018-2020 Instructor, Beginning Ceramics
Teaching Assistant, Sophomore Wheel Throwing, John Gill, Instructor
Teaching Assistant, Junior Pottery, Matt Kelleher, Instructor

Teaching Assistant, Kiln Construction and Design, Shawn Murray, Instructor

2019-2020 Summer Camp Ceramics Instructor, Belvoir Terrace, Lenox, MA

2016-2018 Art Teacher, Shanley High School & Sullivan Middle School, Fargo, ND

2015-2016 Long-Term Substitute Art Teacher, Davies High School, Fargo, ND

Teaching Artist, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND

2014-2018   College for Kids & Teens Ceramics Instructor, MSUM, Moorhead, MN

 

Professional Experience

2021 Short-Term Artist in Residence, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

Visiting Artist Workshop, MSUM, Moorhead, MN

2020-Current Artist in Residence, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT 

2014-2015 Student Worker, Ceramics Department, MSUM, Moorhead, MN

Visiting Artist Lecture Series Assistant, School of Art, MSUM, Moorhead, MN

2013-15 Ceramics Guild Executive Director and President, MSUM, Moorhead, MN                            

 

Selected Exhibitions

2021

Clay Studio of Missoula: Trackside Gallery, Spokane, WA

Form and Function: Gulf Coast State College, Panama City, FL

Hella Cups, Applied Contemporary, Oakland, CA

Artist Feature, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL

Artist Feature, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA

Playground, Wildfire Ceramic Studio, Missoula, MT

Last Call VI, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN, Juried

Above Board 2021, Online NCECA exhibition, Invitational

High Fired, Wildfire Ceramic Studio, Missoula, MT

Dirty South Mug Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA, Juried

Yunomi Invitational 2020, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA

2020

Student Juried Exhibition, NCECA Conference, Richmond, VA 

Lip Service, Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY, Juried

In Through the Out Door, Robert C. Turner Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

Double Take, Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred, NY

Grand Valley Exhibition and Forum, Richmond, VA

Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, Juried

Last Call V, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN, Juried

Confluence, NYSCC Robert C. Turner Gallery, Alfred, NY

Cup: The Intimate Object XVI, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL, Juried

Yunomi Invitational 2020, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA

Thanksgiving Table: The Butter Dish, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA (forthcoming)

Americano Invitational, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA (forthcoming)

Strictly Functional Pottery National, online, www.strictlyfunctionalpottery.net, Juried

Hold Me, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, FL

2019

Inter-Disciplinary, Robert C. Turner Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

2018

A Place at the Table, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND

Pop Up Show, NYSCC Paining Studios, Alfred, NY

2017

Soda2, Mantle Gallery, Louisville, KY, Juried

Friends of Make Room Exhibition, Make Room, Fargo, ND, Invitational

Art Educators’ Exhibition, APT- The Arts Partnership, Fargo, ND, Juried

3rd Annual Dirty South Cup Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA Juried

Pace, Solo Exhibition, Make Room, Fargo, ND

Diptych/Triptych, Bismarck Downtown Artist Coop (BDAC), Bismarck, ND

2016

Art Educators’ Exhibition, Rourke Art Museum, Moorhead, MN, Juried

2015  

Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition, Roland Dille Center for the Arts Gallery (RDCA Gallery), MSUM, Moorhead, MN

Dirty South Mug Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA Juried 

Art Educators’ Exhibition, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND

America’s ClayFest III, Art League of Lincoln, Lincoln, CA

Student Juried Show, RDCA Gallery, MSUM, Juried

2014

Student Juried Show, RDCA Gallery, MSUM, Juried

Mini Madness: A Mini Exhibition, RDCA Gallery, MSUM, Moorhead, MN

Banded, Fargo North High School, Fargo, ND            

2013

3rd Annual Foot in the Door Show, Bismarck Downtown Artist Co-op (BDAC), Bismarck, ND         

Black & White, Fargo North High School, Fargo, ND  

2012

2nd Annual Foot in the Door Show, BDAC, Bismarck, ND

Art in Bloom, BDAC, Bismarck, ND   

2011

Foot in the Door Show, BDAC, Bismarck, ND         

Living Masterpieces, Dakota Stage Ltd., Bismarck, ND

Curator, artist, and presenter of Dogs Playing Poker            

              

Awards and Honors

2021 Excellence in Craft Fellowship, Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT

Best in Show, Form and Function: Gulf Coast State College, Panama City, FL, Juror: Molly Bishop 

Best in Show, 7th Annual Dirty South Cup Call and Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA, Juror: Dan Anderson

Juror, Playground, Juried show, Wildfire Ceramic Studio, Missoula, MT

2017 Juror’s Choice Award, 3rd Annual Dirty South Cup Call and Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA, Juror: Matt Long

2015 Recipient of School of Art Excellence Scholarship, MSUM, Moorhead, MN

2014 Student Award, Student Juried Show, Roland Dille Center for the Arts Gallery, MSUM, Hilary Wilder, Juror

2011 Outstanding Student Award, BSC Bismarck, ND

Visual Arts Foundation Scholarship, BSC, Bismarck, ND

Bismarck State College Foundation Academic Scholarship, Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND

2010 Bismarck State College Foundation Academic Scholarship, Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND

 

Representation

2020-Current The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT

2020-Current L’Atelier, San Diego, CA

2017-2018 Revland Gallery, Fargo ND

2016-2018 Make Room, Fargo, ND

2013-Current Bismarck Downtown Artist Co-op, Bismarck, ND

 

Skills

Kilns: Firing electric, gas, salt, soda, wood, and raku kilns, electric kiln repair, kiln building and maintenance.

Ceramic Materials: Formulating and mixing clay bodies, glazes, slips, and terra sigillatas, material testing and research.

Ceramic Processes: Fusion 360, 3D printing, mold making, plaster lathing.  

Gallery: Art handling, installation, lighting, graphic design: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Lightroom

Collections

Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred University, Alfred, NY