Artist: Gillian Parke
Gillian Parke, NORTH CAROLINA
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Gillian Parke’s work explores the fusion of rough and fine textures and surfaces into complete pieces of ceramics. The roughness is embodied in the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in the natural imperfections that arise when throwing and firing stoneware; the fineness emanates from
traditional western manufactured porcelain ceramics. Feldspar inclusions are added to porcelain and the resulting surfaces are achieved through a combination of an unpredictable atmospheric gas firing and reliable electric firing. The conflict is further explored by incorporating open-stock decals and metallic lusters, which have often been overlooked by modern studio potters as feminine hobby materials.
Gillian Parke graduated from Boston University with a BA in chemistry. Gillian
continues to work in chemistry at the Durham VA Medical Center doing research into quantitating neurosteroids. Her journey with clay began in 1995 with a wheel throwing class offered through the Parks and Recreation Department of Chapel Hill. After spending a year taking courses towards a MFA in ceramics at East Carolina University, Gillian returned to Durham where she currently has a studio. In 2008 she received an Emerging Artist Grant from the Durham Arts Council. She was chosen by Ceramics Monthly Magazine as one of 13 Emerging Artists in 2008 and was featured as a cover artist in the February 2009 issue. Gillian Parke’s work explores the fusion of rough and fine textures and surfaces into complete pieces of ceramics. Her work is in numerous public and private collections including the San Angelo Museum of Art and the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC.
EXHIBITIONS
2018
Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC “Cupful 2018”, invitational
AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA “2018 Yunomi Invitational”
2017
Hillsborough Gallery of Art, Hillsborough, NC, “Resolution 2017”
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL, “Functional Canvas II”, invitational
Peninsula School of Art, Fish Creek, WI, “Beyond Scratching the Surface: Today’s Ceramic Decoration”
Pottery Market Invitational, Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
Claymakers, Durham, NC, “Steinfest 2016”, curator and participating artist
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL, “Cup: The Intimate Object XIII”, invitational
Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC, “Clay”, invitational
2016
FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC “Pots in the Piedmont”, invitational
Claymakers, Durham, NC, “Steinfest 2016”, curator and participating artist
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL, “Cup: The Intimate Object XII”, invitational
Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC, “Clay”, invitational
Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD, “Winterfest”, invitational
2015
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL, “Distilled Essence III”, invitational
Lisa Orr’s Studio, Austin, TX, “Art of the Pot”, invitational
AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA “2015 Yunomi Invitational”
NC Pottery Center, Seagrove NC, “Prized Pieces: The Makers Collection”, invitational
Claymakers, Durham, NC, “Steinfest 2015”, curator and participating artist
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL, “Cup: The Intimate Object XI”, invitational
Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC, “Clay”, invitational
2014
Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD, “Southern Hospitality”, invitational
Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC, “The Orient Express”, invitational
AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA “2014 Yunomi Invitational”
Ackland Museum Store, Chapel Hill, NC “Conversations in Clay: Deborah Harris, Gillian Parke & Evelyn Ward”
Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC “National Teapot Show IX”, invitational
Claymakers, Durham, NC, “Steinfest 2014”, curator and participating artist
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL, “Cup: The Intimate Object X”, invitational
18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX, “Shino On”, invitational
Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD, “Winterfest”, invitational
2013
Lone Star College, North Harris, TX, “Endless Variations II: A Shino Extravaganza”, NCECA Concurrent, Independent Exhibit
AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA “2013 Yunomi Invitational”
Claymakers, Durham, NC, “Copper, Kaolin and Cobalt”, curator and participating artist
Kirby Gallery, Roxboro, NC, “Clay 3 : Works by Deborah Harris, Gillian Parke, & Evelyn Ward”
The Ceramics Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, “River to River”, invitational
Claymakers, Durham, NC, “Steinfest 2013”, curator and participating artist
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL, “Cup: The Intimate Object IX”, invitational
FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC “Artful Giving”, invitational
Green Hill Center for NC Art, Greensboro, NC, “Winter Show 2013”, invitational
Alamance Arts Council, Graham, NC, “Christmas at Captain White’s: 26 th Annual Gift Invitational”
2012
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, “Small Favors VII”, invitational
The Ceramic Guild of the Lexington Arts & Craft Society, Lexington MA, “State of Clay”
Green Hill Center for NC Art, Greensboro, NC, “By Example: NC Potters and their Mentors
American Museum of Ceramic Arts, Pomona, CA, “German Mettlach Ware (1850-1915) and Present Day Translations”, invitational
Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC “Politically Charged: Art Celebrating American Democracy”, invitational
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL, “Cup: The Intimate Object VIII”, invitational
The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA, “Our Cups Runneth Over”, invitational
FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC “Stone Metal Light”, invitational
2011
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, “Small Favors VI”, invitational
Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC, “National Teapot Show VIII”, invitational
Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA, “The Summer Swan Invitational: Contemporary Southern Pottery and Handmade Objects”, invitational
Carbondale Clay, Carbondale, CO, “Decalicious invitational”
Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC, “Interpreting the Cup: Process, Influence and Intent”
Lark and Key, Charlotte, NC, “Table Manners-Functional Pottery for Your Table, A Feast for Your Eyes”, invitational
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL, “Cup: The Intimate Object VII”, invitational
The Preservation Society of Chapel Hill, Horace Williams House, Chapel Hill, NC, “Color and Conflict: Work by Lisa Stroud and Gillian Parke”
SHOWS
2016 Baltimore American Craft Council Retail Show, Baltimore, MD
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS/PUBLICATIONS
Exposure, Ceramics Monthly, October 2017
Exposure, Ceramics Monthly, February 2014
Guest Presenter, NC Museum of Art Iris Porsche Biergarten, Raleigh NC, 2013
The Art of the Beer Stein, by Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, The Durham Herald Sun, 4 Oct 2013
Additions to Clay Bodies, by Kathleen Standen, A&C Black, 2013
Exposure, Ceramics Monthly, December 2012
Ceramics Monthly Annual Poster, 2009, 2010
Workshop Presenter, Mudfire, Decatur, GA, May 2009
The Contrasts of Gillian Parke, by Kathy Norcross Watts, Ceramics Monthly, Feb 2009 (cover artist)
Guest Presenter, Triangle Potters Guild, Raleigh NC, September 2008
Emerging Artists 2008, Ceramics Monthly, May 2008
“An Artist’s Perspective” series, Gallery Talk at Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, NC, 2007
500 Pitchers, Juror Terry Gess, Lark Books, 2006
AWARDS
Purchase Award, Pottery Market Invitational, Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
Durham Arts Council 2008-2009 Emerging Artists Grant Recipient, Durham, NC
2006 - 1 st Prize, 3-D artwork at 33 rd Annual Centerfest Arts Festival, Durham, NC
COLLECTIONS
Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
Rebecca Sives Collection
David and Louise Rosenfield Collection
San Angelo Museum of Art, San Angelo TX
EDUCATION
2004 - Completed one year of graduate studies for MFA-ceramics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
1993 - BA, American Chemical Society Accredited, Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA
Workshop experience includes Linda Christenson, Ruthann Tudball, Susan Filley, Brad Tucker, Fong Choo, Malcolm
Davis, Jeff Oestrich, Rimas VisGirda, John Britt
WORK EXPERIENCE
Claymakers, Durham, NC, “Steinfest” Invitational Curator, 2013-Present
Durham VAMC/Institute for Medical Research, Lab Manager, 2004 to Present
Claymakers, Durham, NC, Instructor, 2011-2014
Durham County Arts Councils, NC, Emerging Artists Grant Panelist in Craft, 2010, 2017
Pitt County Arts Councils, NC, Emerging Artists Grant Panelist in Craft, 2010