Artist: Michael Connelly
Michael Connelly, PENNSYLVANIA
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The physical rhythm of working gives life meaning. The material clay as well as its process and products are my focus. In the studio I strive for a sense of immediacy, to be attentive to the moment without a self-conscious awareness of making something good or important. During a satisfying day’s cycle I will achieve the immediacy I seek in one out of every ten pots. It is the search for immediacy - for direct connection, for instant truth - that keeps my production sharp. When I find it or sense it I attempt to hold on to it. It is anticipated, but not planned, and it is only through continued repetition that it surfaces again.
Physical and emotional energy distinctly informs my work. I have become aware of this energy without losing what I enjoy most about making, and have attempted to infuse a sense of immediacy into the details of my work. There can be much vigor to lids that fit flawlessly. To me, a flawless lid introduces a sense of completion to form.
Energy in my pots can be read in the balance of contradiction and extremes. This balance is most easily accessible by studying the relation of throwing to trimming or expressing to compressing. I use a technique of chattering as part of the trimming process that provides a counterpoint to the gesture of reduction or carving associated with cutting into the body of the pot. Chattering creates a pattern of nervous energy held by a clear definition of form. Together the two create a musical line of contrasting gesture that intensifies the whole, making the pots more dynamic. There is a quality of generosity that my pots must offer, a generosity backed by a feeling of soundness or structure. Balanced elements of contrast in form and detail provide structure and sureness that support the generosity of my work.
Repetition has a significance that goes beyond the idea of production. It clearly grows out of the necessity to connect in the now and to create pots of physical vigor, ease and accessibility. My pottery occupies a sense of purpose, to create objects within myself and true to myself. The examination of utility generates my sense of design and involves all of my creativity. I focus on the directness of my work as an avenue of expression. It is important that my pots present accessible openings of understanding and offer clarity to function. To me, my pots are self-evident.
I wish my pots to express the same gratitude as I receive from the cycle of making. I am a potter; the rhythm of labor is my focus.
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Connelly is a studio potter based in Phoenixville and Philadelphia , as well as Assistant Professor at Montgomery College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. He received his M.F.A. from Alfred University. He has taught and presented lectures and workshops at various venues both nationally and internationally, including classes at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Archie Bray Foundation and Penland School of Crafts, NYSCC Alfred University and Alberta College of Art and Design. His utilitarian pottery is in the permanent collections of the China Yaoware Museum, the Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art and Huntington Museum of Art.
CURRENT
Studio potter, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Head of the Ceramics Department, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
EDUCATION
1999
Master of Fine Arts, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University,
School of Art and Design, Alfred, New York
Honors, National Deans List
1995
Bachelor of Fine Arts New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University,
School of Art and Design, Alfred, New York
Honors, Divisional Honors
1995
Post Baccalaureate Student, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2006-Present
Head of the Ceramics, Assistant Professor
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
2005
Visiting Assistant Professor Ceramics New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, New York
Summer Six Faculty Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York
Summer Faculty Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, Ohio
2004
Ceramics Resident Director/Instructor Shelburne Craft School, Shelburne, Vermont
Adjunct Professor, Graduate Education/Ceramics Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont
Adjunct Professor Community College of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
2003
Summer Six Faculty Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York
Ceramics Director Shelburne Craft School, Shelburne, Vermont
Mentor, External Degree Program Johnson State College, Johnson, Vermont
Adjunct Professor, Graduate Education/Ceramics Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont
Adjunct Professor, Sculpture Community College of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
2002
Visiting Assistant Professor, Ceramics New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, New York
Adjunct Professor Graduate Education/Ceramics Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont
Ceramics Director/Instructor Shelburne Craft School, Shelburne, Vermont
2001
Visiting Assistant Professor, Ceramics Hartford Art School, Hartford, Connecticut
2000
Instructor Missoula Clay Studio, Missoula, Montana
1999
Instructor Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, Montana
Liberal Arts Pottery, Graduate Instructor
New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, New York
1998
Sophomore Wheel Throwing, Graduate instructor
New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, New York
Junior Pottery, Graduate Assistant
New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, New York
WORKSHOPS - LECTURES
2012
Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, Nevada
2011
Corning Community College, Corning, New York
2010
Castle Hill Center for the Arts, Truro, Massachusetts
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Montgomery County Community College- NCECA Pre-conference, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
2009
Anderson Ranch Art Center, Snowmass Village, Colorado
2008
Museum of Contemporary Crafts, Portland, Oregon
Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, Portland, Oregon
2007
Hui No’ Eau Art Center, Makawao, Hawaii
Santa Fe’ Clay, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Walter Gropous Master Workshop, Huntington Museum of Art Huntington, West Virginia
2006
Haystack Mountain School for Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine
Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
Alberta College of Art and Design, 1000-Miles Apart” International Conference Alberta, Canada.
New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire
2005
Appalachian Center for the Crafts, Smithville, Tennessee
IS183 School of the Berkshires Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Penland School for Crafts, Penland, North Carolina
Castle Hill Truro, Truro, Massachusetts
2004
Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
Holter Museum of Art, Helena, Montana
Peters Valley Craft Center, Layton, New Jersey
Odyssey Center for Crafts, Asheville, North Carolina
Seward Park Art Studio, Seattle, Washington
2003
Haystack Mountain School for Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine
Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, Connecticut
Frog Hollow Craft Center, Manchester, Vermont
Castle Hill Center for the Arts, Truro, Massachusetts
Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, Pennsylvania
2001
Mudflat Studio, Somerville, Massachusetts
University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
2000
Holter Museum of Art, Helena, Montana
Oregon School of Arts and Crafts, Portland, Oregon
1997
Holter Museum of Art, Helena, Montana
Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
Carroll College, Helena, Montana
1996
Colorado Mountain College, Aspen, Colorado
EXHIBITIONS
2011
Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2010
“Studio Pottery Invitational” Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
"La Mesa" 2010 N.C.E.C.A Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“Artist/Educator” 2010 NCECA Conference, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey
"Featured Gallery Artist" Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
“Artstream Nomadic Tour, 2010 NCECA Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2009
“Bi-Costals: Michael Connelly (east), Trent Burkett (West) Trax Gallery, Berkeley, California
“New Work: Michael Connelly” Harvey/Meadows Gallery, Aspen Highlands, Colorado
"La Mesa" 2009 N.C.E.C.A Conference, Phoenix, Arizona
Yunomi Invitational” AKAR Design Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
2008
New Work: Michael Connelly” Harvey/Meadows Gallery, Aspen Highlands, Colorado
Michael Connelly and “Linda Christianson ” AKAR Design, Iowa City, Iowa
“Mastery in Clay” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“China Project: “Li Chao, Michael Connelly and Barbera Didduk” Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
“Functional Variations” Freehand Gallery, Los Angeles, California
“Ceramics: Form and Function, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California
"La Mesa" 2008 N.C.E.C.A Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“Functional Ceramics Invitational” Truman Gallery, Helena, Montana
2007
“Tea” Santa Fe’ Clay Gallery, Santa Fe’ New Mexico
“Pitcher This” University of North Carolina
“90 teapots” Xen Gallery, Edwardsville, Il
“Featured Artist, Michael Connelly” AKAR Design, Iowa City, Iowa
“Summer Instructors Show” Santa Fe’ Clay Gallery, Santa Fe’ New Mexico
"La Mesa" 2007 N.C.E.C.A Conference, Portland, Oregon
“Walter Gropius Master Artist , Michael Connelly” Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, West Virginia
2006
“La Mesa” 2006 N.C.E.C.A Conference, Portland, Oregon
“Handheld drinking Vessels” Main street Art Gallery, Edwardsville, Illinois
”90 teapots that Pour” Xen gallery, St. Louis, Missouri
Functional Forms: Exploring Meaning and the Handmade Vessel”. Murray State University, Murray Kentucky
“Mastery in Clay” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“An Extravagance of Salt and Pepper: Containers/Shakers/Concepts” Baltimore Clay Works, Baltimore, Maryland
"Potters of the Northeast" Wayne Art Center, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
"La Mesa" 2006 N.C.E.C.A Conference, Portland, Oregon
"Featured Gallery Artist" Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2005
“1000 Miles Apart Visiting Artists” Alberta College of Art and Design, Alberta, Canada
“Summer Instructors Show” Appalachian center for Crafts, Smithville, Tennessee
“Summer Instructors Show” Hiestand Gallery, Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, Ohio
“3rd Annual Pottery Invitational” Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, Massachusetts
“Pots: Objects of Virtue” Bedford Gallery Walnut Creek, California
“Featured Artist Solo” AKAR Design Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
“Echoes, Anderson Ranch Ceramic Artists” 2004 N.C.E.C.A Conference, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, Maryland
“North American Dish Makers N.C.E.C.A Tour” Art-Stream Nomadic Gallery, Traveling Exhibition
“Schools Out” 2004 N.C.E.C.A Conference, Catonsville Community College, Baltimore, Maryland
2004
“1st Annual Carbondale Clay National” Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, Colorado
“Anderson Ranch at U.F” Wesley Foundation Gallery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
“Summer Instructors Show” Warehouse Gallery, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana.
“2004 Summer Instructors” Odyssey Center Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina
“Winter Invitational” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“Mastery in Clay” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“North American Dish Makers N.C.E.C.A Tour” Art-Stream Nomadic Gallery, Traveling Exhibition (nine cities)
“Featured Gallery Artist” Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
“Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show”, Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Catalog)
“2003 Wichita Clay National” Wichita Center for Crafts, Wichita, Kansas
“Mastery in Clay” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“Anderson Ranch Artists” S.O.F.A. Exhibition, Lillstreet Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
“Tea For Two-Table For Two” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“30 Potters x 5 Pots” AKAR ARchiTecture and Design Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
“Strictly Functional Pottery National” Market House Craft Center, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
“For the House and Garden” Birmingham Community House, Birmingham, Michigan
“Just Bowls” Artworks Gallery, Bozeman, Montana
“NCECA Clay National” R.B. Stevenson Gallery, San Diego, California (Catalog)
2002
“Holiday Invitational” Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, Michigan
“2nd Annual Hopewell Ceramics Show” Ruth Morpeth Gallery, Hopewell, New Jersey
“Winter Invitational” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“North American Dish Makers” Art-Stream Nomadic Gallery, Traveling Exhibition (9 cities)
“Seward Park Teapot Invitational” Seward Park Art Studio, Seattle, Washington
“Summer Invitational” Lacoste Gallery of American Craft, Concord, Massachusetts
“Yankee Clay: Ceramic Artists of the Northeast” The Slater Museum of Art, Norwich, Connecticut
“The M.F.A Gloryhole: Selections from the Last Ten Years” Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art, Alfred, New York
“Michael Connelly and Nicholas Seidner” The Sebastian Ward Gallery, Berkeley, California
“New Work by Michael Connelly and Peter Scherzer” Fifth Element Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2001
“New Works” Sebastian Ward Gallery, Berkeley, California
“Holiday Invitational” Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, Michigan
“Winterfest 2001 Holiday Invitational” Baltimore Clay Works, Baltimore, Maryland
“Hopewell Ceramics Show” Ruth Morpeth Gallery, Hopewell, New Jersey
“A Different Aesthetic” The Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina
“Reunion: Wayne Higby and Graduates of the Alfred University Ceramics Program” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“For the House and Garden” Birmingham Community House, Birmingham, Michigan
“A Potter and A Collector: A Look at Contemporary Ceramics” – Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania (Catalog)
“Teapot Invitational” – Archie Bray Foundation 2001 Clay Odyssey conference, Helena, Montana
2000
“Focus on Function” – University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Catalog)
“Holiday Invitational” – Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, Michigan
“Impressions in Clay” - Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
“Rhythm, Labor, Form – A Conversation in the Search for Beauty” Michael Connelly and Allegheny Meadows, Fifth Element Gallery, Portland, Oregon
“Archie Bray Artists” - NCECA Conference, Littleton, Colorado
“Conestoga Ceramics: A Continuing Tradition” - Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
“Holiday Invitational” - Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, Michigan
“Graduate Thesis Show” - Fosdick Nelson Gallery, Alfred, New York
“Habit to Ritual” - Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
“China International Ceramic Invitational” - Yaoware Ceramic Museum, Tongchuang, Xian, Peoples Republic of China
“Invitational Show” - The Academy of Notre Dame, De Namur, Villanova, Pennsylvania
1998
“Focus on Function” - Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
“Anderson Ranch Artists” - NCECA Conference, Evelyn Siegel Gallery, Ft. Worth, Texas
1997
“New Work:Michael Connelly” - Warehouse Gallery, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
“Anything That Pours” - National Invitational Exhibition, Smithville, Tennessee
“Summer Residents Show” - Warehouse Gallery, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
“Ceramic Forms” - National Invitational Exhibition, New Albany, Indiana
“All Fired Up” - Juried National Exhibition, Boise, Idaho
“Emerging Artists of the United States” - Juried National Exhibition, Montpelier, Vermont
“Archie Bray Resident Artist Exhibition” - NCECA Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada
“3rd Annual Teapot Invitational” - Craft Alliance, Saint Louis, Missouri
1996
“Container Containment” - Juried National Competition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“Summer Invitational” - Nancy Margolis Gallery, Portland, Maine
“Resident Exhibition” - Dows Gallery, Anderson Ranch Art Center, Snowmass Village Colorado
“Colorado Clay” - Foothill Art Center, Golden, Colorado
“Cups” - Dows Gallery, Anderson Ranch Art Center, Snowmass Village, Colorado
“Winter Residency Show” - Pitkin County Bank, Aspen, Colorado
“Gifts of Clay, Holiday Invitational” - Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, Michigan
1995
“Holiday Studio Exhibit” - Dows Gallery, Anderson Ranch Art Center, Snowmass Village, Colorado
“Peter's Valley Annual Summer Faculty Show” - Layton, New Jersey
“Two Person Show” - The Loft Gallery, Kingston, New York
“Ceramics USA” - Juried National Competition, Denton, Texas
“Peter's Valley Summer Assistant Show” - Layton, New Jersey
1994
“Tempe Tea Party” - Juried National Competition, Tempe, Arizona
“Feats of Clay” - Juried National Competition, Lincoln, California
RESIDENCIES
2008 LH Project, Joseph, Oregon
2006 Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Edgecomb, Maine
1999 The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
1997 The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
1996 Anderson Ranch Art Center, Snowmass Village, Colorado
1994 Mendocino Art Center, Mendocino, California
WORK-RELATED EXPERIENCE
2009
NCECA 2010 Philadelphia Planning Committee Board, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2008
Evelyn Shapiro Grant Juror, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, P.A.
1998
NYSCC ALFRED UNIVERSITY, Alfred, New York
Outdoor Kiln Technician
1997
ARCHIE BRAY FOUNDATION FOR THE CERAMIC ARTS, Helena, Montana
Studio and kiln technician
1996
ROBERT HARRISON, Helena, Montana
Installation Assistant, Fabrication of Magnetic Arch
PETER'S VALLEY CRAFT CENTER, Layton, New Jersey Summer Studio Assistant
BENNETT BEAN, Belvedere, New Jersey
Studio Assistant
1994
PETER'S VALLEY CRAFT CENTER, Layton, New Jersey
Summer Studio Assistant
PETER CALLAS STUDIO, Belvedere, New Jersey|
Peter Volkous’s Workshop Assistant
1993
NYSCC ALFRED UNIVERSITY, Alfred, New York
Technical Assistant
CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE
2005
“Artists Invite Artists Series” Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Edgecomb, Maine
2004
“Utilitarian Clay” Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, Great Falls, Montana
2001
“National Teapot Invitational” Helena, Montana
2001 Clay Odyssey Conference, Archie Bray Foundation
“A Potter and a Collector: A Look at Contemporary Ceramics” Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
“Studio Days Juried National “Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
PERMANENT - PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California
Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, North Carolina (Promised Gift)
Gail Brown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
China Yaoware Ceramic Museum, Tonchuang, Xian, Peoples Republic of China
Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, West Virginia
International Museum of Ceramic Art at Alfred University, Alfred, New York
Marge and Phillip Kolodner, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
Peter’s Valley Craft Center, Layton, New Jersey
Pitzer College, Claremont, California
Robert L. Pfannebeker, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Michael Root, Minneapolis, Minnesota
GALLERY AFFILIATIONS
AKAR Design, Iowa City, Iowa
Harvey/Meadows Gallery, Aspen Highlands, Colorado
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Trax Gallery, Berkeley, California
PUBLICATIONS - CATALOGS
“Interview with Ayumi Horie”, American Craft, September 2008
“Twenty One Young American Potters” The Studio Potter, June 2004, Volume 32
“500 Cups” Lark Books, Sterling Publishing Company Inc., April 2004
“2003 NCECA Clay National” Clay Times, March/April 2003
“2003 NCECA Clay National” R.B Stevenson Gallery, San Diego, California
“Lacoste Gallery Exhibit” The Concorde Journal, July 2002
“Studio Days 2001: A View of Contemporary Ceramics” Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
“A Visit to the Bray” Ceramics Monthly, January 2001
“Salt Fired Ceramics: an Exhibition by Michael Connelly and Allegheny Meadows” Ceramics Monthly, February 2001
2000 “Focus on Function” University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
AWARDS
“Best of Show” 2003 Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
“Best Teapot” 2003 Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
“Useful Pot Merit Award” 2003 NCECA Clay National, San Diego, California