Artist: Chris Singewald
Chris Singewald, MINNESOTA
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ARTIST BIO:
Chris Singewald is a studio potter, clay studio director, and teaching artist living in Minneapolis, MN. His pottery is fired to 2350 degrees Fahrenheat in gas kilns, soda kilns, and wood fired kilns. The atmosphere created during these firing processes interact with a piece’s form and volume, resulting in one-of-a-kind surface variation unique to each piece. Singewald wants his pieces to invite contemplation, curiosity, and joy while using his pots.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I create functional vessels with active surfaces that are achieved through layering clay, glazes, and over-glazes. Through atmospheric firing processes, these materials mature and bond with the vessels to bring depth and balance. Edges are highlighted, form is enhanced, microcrystals grow, and materials blend. It is through layers of surface that compliment the form that I encourage touch, interaction, and use of my wares.
My pottery surface influences come from objects that remain through seasons and weathering. These objects can be man-made or natural: brick buildings that reveal layers of painted advertisements from the middle of the century, ridges of land and stone that meet the ocean day-after-day, or a barn placed on the horizon along the highway. The physical surfaces change and record each season, as years blend into decades, the colors, forms, and edges erode but remain. My mind is lured into these surfaces and I look closer to find what other details an object will reveal. I strive for my wares to entice the user towards contemplation and curiosity.
My forms begin with ideas of volume and structure. I envision my pots to be standing tall, ready to be admired, filled, and used. Often, I will add marks to my pieces that push the forms in and soften a curve while maintaining the structure of the piece. This invites gesture to the form and will encourage atmospheric highlights from a wood, soda, or salt glaze firing.
I create objects because of connections within the process. I seek out my own answers to form and surface through explorations in materials and firings that forge a path of expression, accomplishment, and understanding. I join other artists as they seek answers and reference wares from historic potters whose objects remain. My connection with clay comes full circle when I interact, educate, and inform a customer who then finds inherent value in my wares.
EDUCATION:
2010 Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Artisanry, Ceramics, Department of Artisanry, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA.
2009 Apprentice, Gustin Ceramics LLC, Assisted with various aspects of the handmade tile manufacturing and ceramics studio practices, South Dartmouth, MA.
2006 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics, Department of Art, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA.
SCHOLARSHIPS / AWARDS / HONORS:
2025 Guest Artist, lectured about wood firing experience and assisted with a wood firing, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities campus, Minneapolis, MN.
2024 Panelist and Demonstrating Artist, Iowa Clay Conference, Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio, Cedar Rapids Iowa. Guest Artist, demonstrator and Soda Firing Workshop, Carleton College, Northfield, MN.
2023 Juror, Home is where your heart is, Jan Johansen Gallery, Rum River Art Center, Anoka, MN.
2019-2020 Fogelberg Resident Artist, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.
2019 Workshop Technical Assistant, Stacked Forms – Going Vertical, Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Deer Isle, ME. Instructor: Suze Lindsay.
2018 Workshop Technical Assistant, Stacked Forms – Going Vertical – Open Door Program, Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Deer Isle, ME. Instructor: Suze Lindsay.
2011 – 2012 Materials and Glaze Technician/Resident Artist, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.
2011 Juror, Fall Student Exhibition, Minnesota State University Mankato, Mankato, MN Visiting and Demonstrating Artist, on-site demonstration and presentation of my personal techniques and work, Boeckman Middle School, Farmington, MN. Publication, four bowls were purchased by General Mills to be featured in a Green Giant magazine advertisement, Minneapolis, MN.
2007, 2005 Des Moines Art Festival, Emerging Iowa Artist, Displayed, demonstrated, promoted, and sold personally created functional pottery for the three day festival, Des Moines, IA.
2006 Work-Study Scholarship, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC. Instructor: Jeff Oestrich. Full Scholarship, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO. Instructors: Doug Casebeer, Alleghany Meadows, Elizabeth Robbinson, and David Pinto. Dean’s List, Spring Semester, College of Humanity and Fine Arts, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA.
2001-05 Department of Art Scholarship, 4-Year Recipient, Department of Art, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA.
2005 Tim Gerberich Scholarship, Department of Art, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2023 – present Ceramics Director, Rum River Arts Center, Anoka, MN.
2011 – present Teaching Artist, independently contracted teaching artist, Minnesota.
2022 Ceramics Instructor, Student Craft Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Deer Isle, ME.
2017 – 2022 Clay Studio Manager, Artistry, Bloomington, MN. Maintaining all technical and logistical aspects of Ceramics program. Ordering materials, mixing clay/glazes, fixing equipment,
firing bisque and glaze kilns.
2019 Ceramics Technician, Open Studio Residency, Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Deer Isle, ME. Responsible for scheduling and fulfilling all technical processes for participating artists in the ceramics studio during this two week residency.
2018 Clay Studio Manager, Creators Space, Saint Paul, MN. Consulted and maintaining all technical and logistical aspects of Ceramics program. Ordering materials, mixing clay/glazes, fixing equipment, firing bisque and glaze kilns.
2013 – 2017 Outreach Manager, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN. Programmed, onsite and offsite partnerships, oversaw/maintained on-going partnerships, and managing all aspects of the ART@HAND and Outreach Programs at Northern Clay Center.
2012-13 Outreach Technician, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN. Bisque fired, glaze fired, and wrapped all projects for delivery from NCC’s ART@HAND and Outreach Programs. Worked closely with education manager to communicate with instructors, manage logistics, and inventory supplies. Bisque and glaze fired all of the low-fire education studio class projects.
2009-11 Studio Assistant, Karen Snyder Ceramics, New Bedford, MA. Assisting artist in re-establishment of her Studio. Duties: Organizing, basic carpentry, production slip-casting, mold-making, mixing clay, slip, and glazes, and firing electric kilns.
2010 Work Study Student, Artisanry Department, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. Duties: mix department glazes, re-claiming studio clay, kiln firing and maintenance, various construction projects for the department, spackling and painting, and preparation for visiting artists.
2009 Studio Assistant, Nancy Train Smith, Assisted with the creation and installation of “Migration,” 130 terra cotta fish that were installed at the Slocum River Reserve, South Dartmouth, MA.
EXHIBITIONS:
2025
In Hand 2: Group Juried Exhibition, The Art School at Old Church, Demarest, NJ. Juror: Bruce Dehnert
Singewald Brothers: Guess Who’s Back, Schaller Gallery, Boroda, MI.
With a Lid: Boxes, Teapots, Jars, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI.
2024
Chris Singewald, Solo exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI.
Midwestern Humility, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI.
In Hand, Group Juried Exhibition, The Art School at Old Church, Demarest, NJ. Juror: Bruce Dehnert
RRAC Teacher’s Show, Jan Johansen Gallery, RumRiver Art Center, Anoka, MN.
Cup North II, Crossing Arts, Brainerd, MN.
Teaching Artists of NCC, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.
2023
The Brothers Singewald: The Return, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI.
Humility, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI.
Essentials: For the Table, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI.
Teaching Artists, RumRiver Art Center, Anoka, MN.
2022
The Brothers Singewald, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI.
Enduring Surfaces, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI.
On the Rocks, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI.
2021
A New Day Dawning, RumRiver Art Center, Anoka, MN.
Magical Realism/Functional Form, Grand Hand Gallery, St. Paul, MN.
JoAnn Schnabel & UNI Ceramics Alumni 1990-2021, University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art, Cedar Falls, IA.
2020
Solo Exhibition, Gallery 1639, Minneapolis, MN.
2019
NCC Members Exhibition, Group Juried Exhibition, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.
Working Pots IV: Mugs, James May Gallery, Milwaukee, WI. Juror Nick Devries.
Chris Singewald and Audra Smith, Kolman and Pror Gallery, Minneapolis, MN.
Mug Spotlight, Dakota Fine Art, Fargo, ND.
Variations of Shino, Gallery 1639, Minneapolis, MN.
2018
26th Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster, PA. Juror: Ben Carter.
Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Awarded Honorable Mention. Juror: Kate Maury.
2017
25th Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster, PA. Juror: Linda Sikora.
Workhouse Clay International Exhibit 2017, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA. Juror: Chris Gustin.
KC Clay Guild Teabowl National 2017, Bredin-Lee Gallery, Kansas City, MO. Awarded Best Use of Stamping. Juror: Chandra Debuse.
Watershed Benefit Woodfiring and Exhibition, Invitational Group Exhibition, Gustin Gallery, South Dartmouth, MA.
NCC Members Exhibition, Group Juried Exhibition, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.
Carbondale Clay National XII –The Art of Utility, Group Juried Exhibition, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO.
Mugged Exhibition, Northfield Arts Guild, Northfield, MN.
2016
Repetitive Practice, Group invitational sale, Minneapolis, MN.
2015
NCC Members Exhibition, Group Juried Exhibition, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.
2014
Ceramics Biennial, Group Juried Exhibition, New Hampshire Institute of Art, Machester, NH.
12th Annual It’s Only Clay, Group Juried Exhibition, The Watermark Art Center, Bemidji, MN.
Acceleration of Mass, Invitational Group Exhibition, Pettit National Ice Center (NCECA), Milwaukee, WI.
2013
Kansas City Clay Guild Teabowl National 2013, Group Juried Exhibition, juror: Doug Jeppeson, Kansas City Clay Guild, Kansas City, MO.
2012
Weather or Not, Invitational Group Exhibition, NCECA 2012, Seattle, WA.
2011
Watershed Benefit Woodfiring and Exhibition, Invitational Group Exhibition, Gustin Gallery, South Dartmouth, MA.
EarthWorks, Group Juried Exhibition, South County Art Association, Kingston, RI.
2010
Friends of Fire, Invitational Group Exhibition of Woodfired Ceramics, Gustin Gallery, South Dartmouth, MA.
2009
Watershed Benefit Woodfiring and Exhibition, Invitational Group Exhibition, Gustin Gallery, South Dartmouth, MA.
2008
Holiday Exhibition and Sale, Group Juried Exhibition, ArtWorks! Community Center, New Bedford, MA.
Hearst Competitive Exhibit, Group Juried Exhibition, Hearst Center for the Arts, Cedar Falls, IA.
Finding Our Voices, Three Person Exhibition, Ankeny Arts Center, Ankeny, IA.
2007
2007 National Juried/Invitational Cup Show, Group Juried Exhibition, Isadore Gallery, Lancaster, PA.
7th Annual National Juried Cup Show, Group Juried Exhibition, Downtown Gallery, KentState University, Kent, OH. Juror: Bill Jones.
Big Muddy, Regional Group Juried Exhibition, Clarke College Quigley Gallery, Dubuque, IA.
2006
Thirtieth Annual Rock Island Fine Arts Exhibition, Group Juried Exhibition, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL.
2005
In Our Cups, National Juried Group Exhibition, Juror: Ron Meyers, Lockhart Gallery, Geneseo, NY. Award: Robert and Betty Minemier Purchase Award.
Twenty-Ninth Annual Rock Island Fine Arts Exhibition, Group Juried Exhibition, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL.
Annual Department of Art Juried Student Exhibition, University of Northern Iowa Gallery,Cedar Falls, IA. Purchase Award.
2004
Twenty-Eighth Annual Rock Island Fine Arts Exhibition, Group Juried Exhibition, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL. Awarded Honorable Mention.
Annual Department of Art Juried Student Art Exhibition, University of Northern Iowa Gallery, Cedar Falls, IA.
REGIONAL SALES:
2020 – present Purple Door Potters, Member, Annual sale in Minneapolis, MN.
2023 - 24 Cannon River Clay Tour, Invited guest, Annual sale in Northfield, MN.
2023 Fall Sale – Matthew Krousey Ceramics, Invited guest, Annual sale in Harris, MN.
2019 – 22 Western Wisconsin Pottery Tour, Invited guest, Annual sale in River Falls, WI.
2017 – 19 Minnesota Pottery Festival, Artist, Hutchinson, MN.
2017 St. Anthony Park Arts Festival, Artist, St. Anthony Park, MN