Artist: Dawn Dishaw
DAWN DISHAW, NEW YORK
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ARTIST BIO
Dawn Dishaw received her BFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. She has exhibited her work at ceramic galleries across the country including The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA the Archie Bray in Helena, MT and Vessel in Saratoga Springs, NY. She was one of Ceramic Monthly’s Emerging Artists in 2014. Dawn has presented demonstrations of her work and taught classes at various studios and institutions including Skidmore College. Dawn has had residencies at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Morean Workshop Space and Red Lodge Clay Center. She is the founder and director of Paper City Clay, a community ceramics space where she teaches ceramic classes and has her own studio. She currently lives and works in Mechanicville, NY with her husband, Michael Van Winkle.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Using clay as a material to express form and function, my work captures the intimacy between the maker and clay. I am attracted to the way clay passes through the hands of the artist, making it seem effortless, as if it were moving on its own, capturing movement and moments in time. My work is about generosity and relationships; generosity of materials and mark making and the generosity between people. In the functional ceramic world you often hear the phrase “generosity of material” to describe the breadth and volume of a piece. But it also describes the material itself. Here is a material that bends to your every whim and records your every mark. In my work, pattern, color and shape lead the user around and through the form. Functional ceramics require the give and take of the artist and the user, both parties engaging with the piece, though at different times during the life of the pot, each contributing to the significance of the work. My intention is that the marks, form and energy express that shared participation and intimacy. Using hand-made ceramic stamps while the clay is still very wet, I press in texture and pattern, altering the surface of the form. This process also affects the inside of the form, leaving my fingerprints and undulations on the surface caused by the stamps behind. These marks and moments captured in the clay are a form of generosity. The softness of the clay, recording the moment of creation, is a moment captured and shared with the user, who then extends the life of the pot with use.
EDUCATION
BFA – 2003, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University - Alfred, NY
EXHIBITIONS
2026
Interconnection - Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
Clay Endearments - Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
2025
Functional Canvas X - Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Ceramic Botanica - Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
2020
Clayfest - Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY
Lip Service - Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY
2018
Think Outside The Jar - 100 Jars, 100 Artists 100 Years - Amaco Brent, NCECA 2019 Minneapolis, MN
2017
Pattern and Process - Erin Elizabeth and Dawn Dishaw - Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY
27th Annual “For the House and Garden Show” - Pewabic, Detroit, MI
2016
The Cup Show - Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
The Bowl Show - Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
The Fourth Annual "Steinfest: Present Day Interpretations" - Claymakers, Durham, NC
26th Annual “For the House and Garden Show” - Pewabic, Detroit, MI
2016 Yunomi Invitational - AKAR, Iowa City, IA
Featured Artist - AKAR, Iowa, IA
2015
The Third Annual "Steinfest: Present Day Interpretations" - Claymakers, Durham, NC
25th Annual For the House and Garden Show” - Pewabic, Detroit, MI
2015 Yunomi Invitational - AKAR, Iowa City, IA
Top Emerging Artists Show - 18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX
POW! 100 Best Potters - POW! Truck Outside NCECA, Providence, RI
2014
13th Annual Craftland Show - Craftland, Providence, RI
One & Only - John Michael Kohler Arts Center: ARTspace, Sheboygan, WI
WRAPPABLE: Art for Giving (& getting!) - LUX Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
22nd Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National - Kevin Lehman’s Pottery, Lancaster, PA
The Second Annual "Steinfest: Present Day Interpretations" - Claymakers, Durham, NC
Small Favors IX - The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2014 Yunomi Invitational - AKAR, Iowa City, IA
Beyond the Brickyard—Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition - Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MO
2013
12th Annual Craftland Show - Craftland, Providence, RI
The Cup Show - Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
Holiday 2013 Spectacular - MudFire Gallery, Decatur, GA
The Bowl Show - Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
2012
New Work (Solo) - MudFire Gallery, Decatur, GA
WRAPPABLE: Art for Giving (& getting!) - LUX Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
The Cup Show – The Artisan Gallery, Northampton MA
Cups of Fire – The Clay Gallery, Ann Arbor MI
2011
Barrett Clay Works, Third National Cup Show – Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie NY
The Cup Show – The Artisan Gallery, Northampton MA
2003
Senior Exhibition - Alfred University, Alfred NY
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESS
2020
Ceramics Monthly (Magazine) - Exposure Section
2017
“Making Pottery You Can Use” (Book) - Quarto Publishing PLC. London UK
2016
Saratoga Mama (Magazine) - Adore Alert
2014
Ceramics Monthly (Magazine) - Emerging Artist Feature
Ceramics Monthly (Magazine) - Exposure (selected works from “Beyond the Brickyard”)
2013
Women in Art 278 - (Digital Magazine)
The Guardian Newspaper (Online Edition)- Life and Style - Beautiful homewares from The Simple Things - in pictures
Simple Things (Magazine) - Things to Wake Up and Want
Real Simple (Website) - 8 Unique Coffee Mugs
2012
Ceramics Monthly (Magazine) - Exposure (select pieces from Artisan Gallery “Cup Show”)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2025 - Present- Founder / Director - Paper City Clay, Mechanicville, NY
Teacher, Adult Ceramics - Paper City Clay, Mechanicville, NY
2024 - Present- Co-Teacher - The Round Lake School, Round Lake, NY
2023- Lecturer/Adjunct Professor, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
2019 - 2024- Director / Teacher, The After School Arts at the Studio, Round Lake, NY
2018- Visiting Artist, Ceramics Dept. - University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Let’s Face It! - Kids & Clay Summer Camp, Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY
Ice Cream You Scream! - Kids & Clay Summer Camp, Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY
2017 - 2019- Co-Teacher - The Round Lake School, Round Lake, NY
2016- 2 Days/4 Potters - (Demo) Wesleyan Potters, Middletown, CT
2016- Let’s Face It! - Kids & Clay Summer Camp, Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY
Monsters and Minions - Kids & Clay Summer Camp, Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY
2012 – Present, Studio Potter, Various Locations, Currently Easthampton MA
2003 – 2013, Various Part-time Employment
2004 – 2005, Associate Volunteer – The Clay Studio, Philadelphia PA
RESIDENCIES
2026
Morean Workshop Space - RSVP, St. Petersburg, FL
Red Lodge Clay Center - AIA Block 3, Red Lodge, MT
2024
Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts - Session V - Cross Pollination, Edgecomb, ME