Artist: Eric Haagensen
Eric Haagensen, GEORGIA
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Clay is an amazing media with unmatched potential for varied form, texture, surface, and artistic intent. It is timeless, enduring, archetypal, seductive and mysterious to work with. With clay, there is more than a lifetime’s worth to experiment with.
My art work is guided by interests in human evolution and history, the force of faith and ideas in shaping our reality, and our collective future. The unbroken chain of our species as it plays out over time, and how the aliens view us millions of years from now. Right now, I think it is very important to both be playful and to produce finely crafted objects.
In America, we work too hard and don’t value play enough…to the point of being uncivilized, to the detriment of our families and our own psychological health. We need to retreat from the sound-byte infotainment of our plastic McCulture. We need to slow down, sacrifice for the future, and make difficult choices in this culture of convenience.
To make things by hand from clay is an act of rebellion, of intentional inefficiency, of retro and reflection, of refusing to cede it all to the machines. I want to make things that make people laugh or be amused or playfully confused or quietly delighted. I want to make things that make people slow down and appreciate the everyday, to reflect on their surroundings, and to think about where we are heading.
BIOGRAPHY
Through all of my adult life, I have been experimenting in the arts. My work has included books of poetry, small-scale metal sculpture photocopy art, outdoor sculptural installations, radio broadcast performances, handmade books, collage, digital art, and photography. Much of this has been rather silly and absurd, or Dada as they would have taught me to say in grad school.
I graduated form a liberal arts university where I studied theology, philosophy, and business. It was a course of study that was perfect training for a young tel-Evangelist, although this was not my intent. I also took some art history and studio art and enjoyed the many fine art museums of Washington DC. Then, for most of the 90's, I had an exhilarating day job in the fascinating world of enterprise software applications. When done waiting on the senior executives (not tables) all day, I would go home and make art. Sadly my oodles of stock options were never worth anything.
In 2001 my principal focus shifted to clay, as my sweetie and I began to chase the dream of creating a large community art studio dedicated to clay. We now share space at MudFire Clayworks with 150 artists and students, teach every day, produce monthly gallery exhibits, and host artists from around the world for workshops. This large public studio environment provides a constant stream of new influences and an incredibly wide range of equipment, clay, and firings to experiment with. My clay work reflects the diversity of this environment. I currently make functional ware, abstract and figurative sculpture, and paintings on clay, while continuing to explore other media.
EDUCATION
Georgetown University, Washington DC, B.S. in Business Administration, with additional coursework in Art History, Studio Arts, Psychology, Philosophy, and Theology
The Ween Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark, PhD in Weasel Studies
Classes and workshops taken: Adrian Arleo, Wally Asselberghs, Susan Beiner, Rick Berman, Steven Branfman, John Britt, Joy Brown, Kyle Carpenter, Lisa Clague, Tony Clennell, Arlene Cohen, Cynthia Consentino, Cristina Cordova, Judith Duff, Debra Fritts, Gwen Fryar, Erin Furimsky, Annette Gates, Silvie Granatelli, Molly Hatch, Niel Hora, Ken Horvath, Mark Issenberg, Mel Jacobson, Tom Kerrigan, Kristen Kieffer, Kathy King, Yosuke Koizume, Leah Leitson, Forrest Lesch-Middelton, Paul Lewing, Po-Wen Liu, Jennifer Martin, Jenny Mendes, Ron Meyers, Andy Nasisse, Sandra Nissen, Richard Notkin, Jeff Oestreich, Lisa Orr, Vicki Paulet, Mark Peters, Ronan Peterson, Sandi Pierantozzi, Liz Quackenbush, Kari Radasch, Louise Radochonski, Charlie & Linda Riggs, Ron Roy, Akira Satake, Michael Schmidt, Nancy Selvin, Mark Shapiro, Paul Soldner, Gay Smith, Kevin Snipes, Stacey Stanhope, Liz Zlot Summerfield, Tip Toland, Rimas VisGirda, Paul Andrew Wandless, Janis Mars Wunderlich
EXHIBITS
Yunomi Invitational, Clay Akar, Iowa City, IA, 2017
National Teapot Show X, Invitational, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC, 2017
Cupful, Invitational, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC, 2017
Featured Artist, Invitational Solo Show, FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC, 2016
Featured Artist, Invitational Solo Show, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL 2016
Unresolved, Invitational, Cabarrus Arts Council, Cabarrus, NC, 2016
3 Artists 3 Worlds, Featured Artist Show, FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC, 2015
Fired Works: Regional Ceramics Exhibition, Invitational, Macon Arts Alliance, Macon, GA, 2015
Cup: The Intimate Object XI, Juried, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL, 2015
Vessels of Merriment, Invitational, Grovewood Gallery, Asheville, NC, 2015
Garden Show & Potters Market 2015, Invitational, Crow Valley Pottery, Eastsound, WA, 2015
Cupful, Invitational, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC, 2015
Print, Invitational, Jewish Community Center, Chattanooga, TN, 2014
Mugs for Jugs, Invitational, MudFire Clayworks, Decatur, GA, 2014
2014 Winter Show, Invitational, GreenHill, Greensboro, NC , 2014
Talk to Me: Cups that Communicate, Invitational, Signature Gallery, Atlanta, GA, 2014
Bowl Show & Cup Show, Invitationals, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA, 2014
Garden Show & Potters Market 2014, Invitationals, Crow Valley Pottery, Eastsound, WA, 2014
Tomato Art Show 2014, Juried, Art & Invention Gallery, Nashville, TN, 2014
Fired Works: Regional Ceramics Exhibition, Invitational, Macon Arts Alliance, Macon, GA, 2014
Hops and Crafts – A Beer Stein Exhibit, Invitational, Grovewood Gallery, Asheville, NC, 2014
Summer Swan, Invitational, Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA, 2014
National Teapot Show IX, Invitational, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC, 2014
Fired Works: Regional Ceramics Exhibition, Invitational, Macon Arts Alliance, Macon, GA, 2013
Madison County Potters Market, Guest Artist, Marshall High, Marshall, NC, 2013
Perspectives: Georgia Pottery Invitational, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, GA, 2013
One & Only: Gifts Made by Hand, Invitational, John M. Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, MI, 2012
The Clay Cup, Juried by Pete Pinnell, Bingham Gallery, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 2012
Politically Charged, Invitational, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC, 2012
Perspectives: Georgia Pottery Invitational, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, GA, 2012
ATL 'n RDU, 3 person show, Claymakers, Durham, NC, 2012
Image and Form, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA, 2012
Summer Swan, Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA, 2012
Containment 3, Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC, 2012
Fired Works: Regional Ceramics Exhibition, Macon Arts Alliance, Macon, GA, 2012
Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA, 2012
NCECA Drinking Vessel Exhibition, Invitational, Online Sale & Presented at SOFA, 2011
One & Only: Gifts Made by Hand, John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, MI, 2011
Dining with FRANK, FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC, 2011
2011 Hambidge Invitational, Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA, 2011
Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA, 2011
Containment II, Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC 2011
Georgia Pottery Sale, Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA, 2010
Georgia Clay, Gallery Walk at Terminus, Atlanta, GA, 2010
Containment, Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC, 2010
The Cup, Maralyn Wilson Gallery, Birmingham, AL, 2010
Sharing, Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC, 2009
Circus-Cartoon Madness, Alcove Gallery, Avondale Estates, GA, 2009
Georgia Pottery Sale, Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA, 2009
Fired Clay, Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, Decatur GA, 2009
Hank of Oz, Alcove Gallery, Avondale Estates, GA, 2008
Georgia Pottery Sale, Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA, 2008
Earth, Globe Gallery, Clayton, GA, 2007
Georgia Pottery Sale, Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA, 2007
WORKSHOPS AND COURSES TAUGHT
Pottery & Sculpture Lessons, taught daily at MudFire, 2300+ students, 2002 to 2013
Throwing and Decorating, Dogwood Festival, three day demonstration, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Introduction to Raku, Paideia School, Atlanta, January 2011
Introduction to Raku, Emory University, one day workshop for ceramics students, Atlanta 2008
Thrown and Altered Pottery, American Craft Council Show, three day demonstration, Atlanta 2008
PUBLICATIONS
“Art Walk Set for Friday", show mention with photo published, Cabarrus Independent Tribune, Jun. 15, 2016
Vessels of Merriment, artwork featured in advertisement by Grovewood Gallery, American Craft, October/November 2015
“Artistic Dialog: JCC exhibit celebrates power of written word", show review with photo, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Nov. 16, 2014
“New exhibit at JCC", show review with photo, TheChattanoogan.com, Oct. 27, 2014
“3rd Annual Ceramic Surface Forum”, lecture photo from ceramic decal printer demonstration, Ceramic Arts 2015 Yearbook, December 2014
“Artist of the Day”, in-depth artist overview with multiple images, FrankIsArt.com, Oct. 26, 2014
“MudFire Clayworks Expands Programming”, story on change in MudFire ownership, AtlantaPlanIt.com, March 11, 2013
“New Owner Fires Up Plans”, story on change in MudFire ownership, Atlanta Journal Constitution, April 11, 2013
“Claymakers Gallery...”, show review with featured image, CarolinaArts.com, Sept. 15, 2012
“Interpreting the Cup”, mention in show writeup, The Mountain Express, Nov. 1, 2011
“Top Five Ceramics Exhibits – December 2010”, image of vase, Ceramic Arts Daily, Nov. 29, 2010
#392, image of large platter, A Plate A Day blog, May 6, 2010
“Art Community”, artist and event profile, DeKalb Neighbor Newspaper, February 10, 2010
“Draw + Decal”, editor, profile on group exhibition with quote, Ceramics Monthly, September 2009
“Firing Mid-Range Reduction at MudFire Clayworks”, by John Britt, review of studio glaze research and operations, Ceramics Monthly, October 2008
“Fired Up Over Pottery”, studio and artist profile, The Champion Newspaper, September 2008
“David Eichelberger”, authored cover article feature length artist profile, Ceramics Monthly, April 2008
“Rick Berman: Clayworker”, studio photography provided for retrospective book, October 2007
“Get Mud Fired Up”, studio profile, Sunday Paper newspaper, March 25, 2007
“MudFire Studio Offers New Concept For Those Who Like To Play With Clay”, cover story - artist and studio profile, The Story – Central DeKalb news paper, September 15, 2005.
“Potters Keep an Eye on History”, artist and studio profile, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 31, 2005
“Serve This”, authored four page curators notes and show review, Clay Times magazine, January-February 2005
“Talk of The Town”, quoted in show review, Creative Loafing city paper, May 27, 2004
“Clay Creations”, photo in arts calendar, Season magazine, Spring 2004
“Clear as Mud”, artist and studio profile, Atlanta Buckhead newspaper, February 2004
“Around Town”, vase photo in arts calendar, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine, December 2003
“Starting Over”, artist profile, People magazine, February 3, 2003
“MudFire”, artist and studio profile, Piedmont Review newspaper, November 2002
GALLERY MANAGEMENT - CURATING - JUDGING - JURYING
MudFire Gallery, Gallery Manager and show curator, 90+ group and solo shows, 2002-2013
Summer Swan Invitational, Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, Ceramics Curator, 2011
Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Student Art Show awards judge, 2009
Decatur Arts Festival, 3D applications juror, 2007, 2009
Fired Clay, Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, curator, 2009
Atlanta Arts Festival, 3D applications juror and 3D awards judge, 2007
Atlanta Teapot Festival, Founder, 2006, 2007
Works In Clay, Roswell Visual Arts Center, awards judge, 2004
Atlanta Dogwood Festival, 3D applications juror and 3D awards judge, 2004, 2008
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
MudFire Gallery, Decatur, GA
Frank Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC
Crow Valley Pottery, Eastsound, WA
Surface Craft, Charleston, SC
Signature Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Grovewood Gallery, Asheville, NC
Taupe Gallery, North Wilkesboro, NC
Seven Sisters Gallery, Black Mountain, NC
Ember, Chattanooga, TN
Imprint Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR
Butteroni's Emporium, Charlotte, NC
TELEVISION AND RADIO APPEARANCES
NBC, Fox, & ABC news, live pottery demonstrations & lessons at Dogwood Festival, 2010
Good Day Atlanta, Fox 5 News, studio visit and pottery lesson, July 2009
The Sound of Atlanta / Atlanta Sounds, WABE radio NPR affiliate, artist interview & studio sounds, December 2008, repeat airings through 2010
Best of the City, Comcast on Demand, studio and artist profile, November 2008
Search for the Perfect Girlfriend, Playboy Channel, host for pottery lessons date, October 2008
Morning News, WXIA NBC Atlanta, work featured on three minute segment, February 2007
Blue Collar TV, The WB, on-air appearance with Jeff Foxworthy, teaching pottery, August 2004
Arts In Atlanta, Comcast Community Television, studio and artist profile, May 2003
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Highland Cattle Breeder, 2016-present
Studio Artist, 2003-present
Website Design, 2001-present
MudFire, Co-Owner, Gallery & Workshops Director, 2002-2013
Rail Arts District, neighborhood artist coalition, Founder / Coordinator, 2008-2013
Synchrologic, Director of Marketing, 1999-2002
POINT Information Systems, Marketing Manager, 1996-1999
Gnossos Software, Senior Management Team, 1994-1996
AbramsonEhrlichManes Advertising, Media Coordinator, 1993
WGTB 690 AM, Programming Director and On-Air Personality, 1990-1993
Yacht Snow Belle, First Mate, 1989-1992
Additional Experience: Raspberry Picker, Cobblers Apprentice, and Tennis Coach