Artist: Karin Kraemer
Karin Kraemer, MINNESOTA
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I grew up in Minneapolis and received a BFA in glass working from St.
Cloud State University in 1986. After blowing glass in Colorado, Minnesota
and Wisconsin, I moved to West Virginia, where I began to work in clay and
pit firing it in my yard. I moved to Carbondale, Illinois and did graduate work
in ceramics, receiving my MFA in 1996. Then I moved to Victoria, British
Columbia and spent two years making pots, gardening and traveling. Duluth
became my new home in 1998. I teach at local colleges, and my studio, the
Duluth Pottery, as well as selling work in galleries and at art fairs. The
Duluth Pottery has moved to 1924 W. Superior Street in Duluth, smack in
the middle of the new Lincoln Park Crafts District on the same block as
Frost River, Bent Paddle Brewery, and the new OMC Smokehouse! We
have a great fine clay gallery, tile showroom, and have more room for
making pots and events of all sorts.
I enjoy working in pottery and tile, because they bring art to the table and
every day use. Clay is a great medium for expression. I love that I get to be
part of a long line of potters through history that our culture.
I make functional pots and tiles that are meant to celebrate the day. They
are Maiolica, an in-glaze hand painted tin glaze technique. My individual
wall pieces and compositions of tiles are hand built and decorated with
colorful, loose brushwork. I draw from every day scenes and objects for my
imagery. Capturing the color and movement of the moment is my aim, from
the garden the room, or out in the woods. The forms are simple, so they
work well in the hand and the kitchen.
EDUCATION
1996 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AT CARBONDALE. MFA. Magna
(Cum Laude).
1987 - 1992 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, RIVER FALLS. Glass-blowing classes.
Pigeon Lake Art Camp. Glassblowing, primitive clay, kiln building, and fiber
courses.
1986 SAINT CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY, BFA (Cum Laude) Glass.
Saint Cloud, MN.
EXHIBITIONS
2018 SUNRISE POTTERY FALL SHOW, Sunrise, MN
2016 ROURKE ART MUSEUM 2016 REGIONAL FUNCTIONAL
CERAMICISTS EXHIBITION. Exhibition. April 29 – June 6, 2016. Rourke Art
Museum, Moorhead, MN.
2015 CHARLIE CUMMINGS GALLERY, Solo Exhibition. Gainesville, FL
2015 MONROE ARTS CENTER, FREHNER GALLERY. December. Monroe,
Illinois. Solo Exhibition.
2014 - 2015 RESURFACED AND REFORMED: EVOLUTION IN STUDIO CERAMICS, Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MN.
2012 – 2019 ST. CROIX VALLEY POTTERY TOUR, MN. Will Swanson and Janel
Jacobson’s studio. May.
2014 - 2017 CROSSING BORDERS STUDIO TOUR. Two Harbors, MN En of September and
first week of October.
2015 LOCALS, Lill Street Gallery. NCECA, Milwaukee, WI. Exhibition Hall
showcase of Clay galleries.
2012 LIZZARDS GALLERY, Duluth, MN April- May. New works in Clay, with
Adam McCauley New Paintings.
2010 MAIOLICA GARDEN, McCrostie Arts Center, Solo exhibit, February.
Grand Rapids, MN.
2009 ART IN BLOOM spring art market celebrating the garden in conjunction
with Minneapolis Institute of Art’s yearly spring exhibit. Minneapolis, MN.
2009 VIEWING FROM THE VAULT, Ceramic exhibit curated by John Steffl,
North Shore Bank of Commerce, April to May, Duluth, MN.
2008 ART OF THE TILE, Ripple River Gallery, Aitkin, MN. Curator of
exhibition with 15 of the Midwest’s finest tile artists.
1998 – 2012 ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBIT, DULUTH ART INSTITUTE, January, Duluth, MN. Depot arts Center.
2002 - 2012 A SENSE OF PLACE, GRIPTION, BROADWAY UNDERGROUND, NOT
SLATED FOR DEMOLITION, STEADY AS SHE GROWS, LOCAL STIMULUS
PACKAGE, OFF THE WALL, and more annual exhibits of the artists of the
Trade and Commerce Marketplace
Red Mug and North End Arts Gallery, Superior, WI. Series of building-wide yearly
exhibit of artists and guests in the Old Trade and Commerce Building
Marketplace.
2005 – 2009 MAY DAY EXHIBIT, Superior, WI. May Day exhibit and festival,
2006 FOOT SQUARE National tile exhibit during “Tiles of the Northern Plains”
conference of September. Clay Squared to Infinity Gallery. Minneapolis. June
through November.
2006 UNGROUTED, TILE EXHIBIT, Duluth Art Institute, in conjunction with
Tiles of the North tile conference in Duluth and Minneapolis. Tile Heritage
Foundation.
2006 TILES OF THE NORTH Tile exhibit of regional artists and members of
the Handmade Tile Association..North End Arts Gallery, Superior, WI. August
and September.
2006 SMORGASBORD, PLACE SETTINGS IN CLAY. Edina Art Center, Edina, MN. March and April.
2005 BRIDGED, Duluth, MN. Sivertson’s Gallery, June.
2005 FINS AND FEATHERS, DULUTH ART INSTITUTE,
George Morrison Gallery, Duluth, June – July.
2004 ITALIAN AMERICAN FESTIVAL, PALAZZO SCLAFANI, ACCADEMIA
DI BELLI ARTI. Palermo, Italy, January – March.
2004 SEVEN DEADLY SINS, DULUTH ART INSTITUTE
George Morrison Gallery, Duluth, April.
2004 CLAY SQUARED TO INFINITY, MPLS. Tile exhibition. February.
2003 - 2007 NORTHERN WISCONSIN POTTERY TOUR, Tour including Duluth Pottery,
Port Wing Pottery, Martye Allen Studio, Marty Pearson Studio, Earth, Wood and
Fire, and Sara Haugen Studio. End of July and Beginning of August.
2000 - 2007 CITY LIMITS STUDIO TOUR, Duluth, MN and Superior, WI. April.
2003 DOWN AND DIRTY, Sivertson’s Gallery, Duluth, MN. May-June.
1998 MEMBER’S EXHIBIT, British Columbia Potter’s Guild, Vancouver, BC
Canada March.
1996 IN MY GARDEN GROWS MFA THESIS EXHIBITION, Associated Artists
Gallery, Carbondale, IL. July.
1992 CLAY CUP IV Purchase award in national Clay Cup show, traveling.
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
FINE ART FAIRS Uptown Art Fair, MPLS, MN. Brookside, Kansas City. Park Point Art Fair,
Duluth, MN. St. James, Louisville, KY. Edina, MN. Fountain Square, Evanston, IL. etc.
EXPERIENCE
2017 – 2019 DULUTH POTTERY AND TILE GALLERY, DULUTH, MN
Studio and fine ceramics gallery featuring Karin’s work and other
professional clay artists in the region. Ceramics and wall art exhibitions.
2018 NORTHERN CLAY CENTER MEA, MINNEAPOLIS, MN.
Minnesota Educators Association conference workshop on Surface Design.
October.
2017 PARAMOUNT ART CENTER, ST. CLOUD, MN
Tile and Maiolica workshop. June.
1998 - 2016 DULUTH POTTERY, SUPERIOR DIVISION. SUPERIOR, WI.
Maiolica pottery and custom tile. Studio and Gallery.
2014 IT’S ONLY CLAY, WATERMARK ARTS CENTER, BEMIDJI, MN. Juror for
“It’s Only Clay” Annual ceramic exhibit and Harlow Purchase Awards. Presenter.
Guest
2016 Mn State Art’s Board Art Access Program with the Northern Clay
Center. Co-teacher with Ursula Hargins. January.
2009 - 2012 GRAND MARAIS ART COLONY. May 2009, August 2012, Tile workshops.
2009 AMERICAN POTTERS COUNCIL:HANDMADE TILES AND MOSAICS.
Regional Conference. Presenter. September 18-20, Minneapolis, MN.
2008 DULUTH ART INSTITUTE, DULUTH, MN. Spring. Maiolica pottery class.
2005-2006 TILES OF THE NORTH TILE CONFERENCE, DULUTH MN. National tile conference in Duluth and Minneapolis, organized the Duluth week of tours,
exhibits, and lectures. Co-organizer with the Tile Heritage Foundation.
1999 - 2010 LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE, Instructor ceramics department, Winter semester.
2005 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, SUPERIOR. Winter semester, ceramics
instructor.
2001 - 2015 SUPERIOR COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS & NORTH END ARTS GALLERY,
SUPERIOR, WI. Promoting, curating, and organizing events at the Trade and
Commerce Marketplace and Superior Council for the Arts. Board Chair, Treasurer.
2003 EDINA ART CENTER, EDINA, MN.
Maiolica Workshop, October 18.
2003 NORTHERN CLAY CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN.
Instructor, maiolica pottery classes.
2002 HANDMADE TILE ASSIOCIATION’S TILE FESTIVAL, SWEDISH
INSTITUTE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN. Maiolica tile workshop.
1999 LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE. DULUTH, MN. Summer semester.
Instructor, beginning Ceramics.
1998 - 2015 DULUTH ART INSTITUTE. DULUTH MINNESOTA.
Assistant ceramics studio manager and instructor. Throwing and Maiolica
classes. Tile Workshops. Outreach courses in schools.
1998 ROSS RIVER, YUKON, CANADA. Built and fired wood-fire kiln with classes.
1996 - 1998 SIDNEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA. Studio Artist.
1997 KINGSTON, WA. February. Built and fired groundhog kiln with
class.
1996 PRODUCTION THROWER. Richmond, BC. Avram Pottery.
1994 - 1996 ART AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AT CARBONDALE Graduate teaching assistantship. Taught beginning throwing, intermediate and advanced classes.
1991 – 1994 STUDENT CENTER CRAFT SHOP, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AT
CARBONDALE. Graduate assistant, manager work study employees and clay
shop.
1989 – 1991 West Virginia University, Morgantown, Craft Shop. Taught clay classes in throwing and pit firing.
1988 – 1989 GLASSBLOWER at Semi Automatic Glass Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Produced studio glass, assisted glassblowers, sandblasting, grinding and polishing.
1985 – 1986 BRIAN MAYTUM GLASS STUDIOS, INC.
Boulder, CO. Production glassblowing and assisting, finishing, shipping/packing.
1984 - 1986 JAMES CLARKE GLASS STUDIO Boulder, CO. Glassblower for art glass studio.
PROJECTS, AWARDS, GRANTS AND PUBLICATIONS
2017 JOEL LABOWITZ ENTREPRENEUR AWARD Duluth MN. Nominee for
“Micro entrepreneur”.
2014 PBS PLAYLIST documentary. Now on You Tube.
2014 SUPERIOR WI Tower Avenue revitalization project. Created carved,
glazed terra cotta ties with historic images of Superior installed on each corner of
Tower Avenue.
2010 ARTS AND CULTURE AWARDS ARTIST AWARD, DULUTH DEPOT
FOUNDATION.
2008 DULUTH SUPERIOR AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, Wrote and
received grant to construct an art bench in North End Arts community gardens.
2008 - 2009 WISCONSIN STATE ARTS BOARD, wrote and received grant TO sponsor,
curate, promote, and do outreach for exhibition series in the North End Arts Gallery,
Superior, WI.
2006 DOTY GRANT, TILE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, grant to research and
create a self guided tour map of the twin ports area’s contemporary and historical
ceramic architectural landmarks. “Tiles of the Twin Ports”, guided tour map.
Published August.
2006 “TILES OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS, Building on Tradition” National tile
conference sponsored by the Tile Heritage Foundation and the Handmade Tile
Association. Organized the first half of conference in the Twin ports area of the
conference. Set up and ran Tours, 5 local exhibits, and created and published
“Tiles of the Twin Ports” map of contemporary and historical tiles and architectural
elements in the area. September.
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY WORK
2017 - 2019 Advancing Lincoln Park Commitee, marketing chair. Duluth, MN.
2018 – 2019 Lincoln Park Business Group. Duluth, MN.
2015 - 2016 Twin Ports Arts and Science.
2009 - 2016 Superior Public Art Creating Community Environments (SPACES) committee. Superior WI.
2012 - 2016 Twin Ports Arts Align group.
2007 ARTWORKS! Committee. Facilitated “Artworks!” Conference in Duluth MN.
2007 International Wood-fire Clay Conference committee and instructor. Lake
Superior College, Duluth, MN.
2006 – 2016 North End Arts Council, Founder, Chair of board, Treasurer, retired, volunteer.
2005 – 2019 Tile Heritage Foundation. National foundation working for the promotional and preservation of tile art in America.
2002 – 2018 Empty Bowl Committee. Duluth.
2002 – 2017 Handmade Tile Association. MN.
1998 – 2019 Duluth Art Institute. Duluth.
1991 – 2019 National Conference for Educators in the Clay Arts, NCECA.
1996 – 1998 Sidney and North Saanich Community Arts Council, British Columbia.
1998 - 1996 Member. British Columbia Potter’s Guild.
GALLERY AFFILIATIONS
Northern Clay Center, Mpls., MN, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL,
Clay Squared to Infinity, Minneapolis, MN, Edina Art Center, Minneapolis,
Lizzard’s, Duluth, MN, Siivis, Duluth, Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MN, Ripple
River Gallery, Aitkin, MN. Plains Art Museum, North Dakota. Higher Fire,
Madison, WI.