Artist: Simon Levin
Simon Levin, ILLINOIS
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Connection to our world and people around us is the failed promise of technology; technology alone cannot bring us closer. Touch, interaction, engagement and conversation are the inroads to intimacy. Functional pottery in the home, in the hand, can begin to forge connection between artist and user, between object and human, between process and people. I see my work as an artist is to forge deeper connections; to create interactive forms that communicate across the synapses of our compartmentalized world. My work speaks eloquently about my love, exploration and development of a hugely rich and ancient process of wood fired ceramics. I use technology as a tool to create opportunities where the intimate connection to clay can occur.
I believe that our lives are richer for being connected to our everyday objects. Artistic potters are privy to a unique and subversive role in contemporary art. Whereas much of late twentieth century art has been an attempt to merge art and life, pulling art out of galleries and bringing life scenes into the setting of the museum, the functional pot continues to hold a place in everyone's home. A cup is one of the first things we hold in the morning and often one of the last things we touch at night. When we touch our cups to our lips, it is an intimate moment. Honored by that intimate space, I hope to fill it with deep connections between user and maker, clay and fire, in an ageless exploration of emotion.
I believe in making the pots with a revelation of process. I integrate throwing lines and evidence of human touch into surface design. I do not hide attachments of handles or spouts. I seek the inherent qualities in the marks tools make and I approach each individual pot with a similar feel though the tool might differ. This revelation of process harmonizes with the choice of wood-firing. Ware from a wood kiln peaks loudly about its making. The end result is a narrative of the journey of raw clay to usable pot.
I believe clay accesses timeless forms of communication. I work to explore a universal language of utility and creation. Within my pots I seek to express a cohesive statement of emotion. Each pot holds an exploration of mood. I harmonize the foot of the pot with the rim and the handle with the spout in an attempt to create a unified work. Much of my work reflects a playful humor that pervades my life and feeds my spirit, but whatever idea I choose to explore I seek to reiterate it throughout the pot.
EDUCATION
1998
Master of Fine Art in Ceramics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.
1997
Master of Art in Ceramics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.
1990
Bachelors of Art, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA.
SELECTED AWARDS
2012-2013
Fulbright Research Scholar, Tainan National University, Taiwan
2012
Strictly Functional Pottery National, Best Hand Built, Juror Jack Troy
2010
Strictly Functional Pottery National, Best Hand Built, Juror Bill Van Gilber
2009
Strictly Functional Pottery National, 1st Place, Juror Pete Pinnell
2007
Art in the Park, Appleton, WI, Honorable Mention
2004
State of Clay, 4th Place, Lexington Art and Craft Guild, Lexington, MA
2001
Strictly Functional Pottery National, ITC Kiln Coat Award, Juror Linda Christianson
2002
Art in the Park, Appleton, WI, Best in 3-D
2000
Art in the Park, Appleton, WI, Best in Show
1999
State of Clay, Best of Utilitarian, Lexington Art and Craft Guild, Lexington, MA
Commissioned work for Grinnell College's Bucksbaum Art Center
REPRESENTATION
AKAR, Iowa City, IA
Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
The Grand Hand, St. Paul, MN
Greenwich House Pottery, New York, NY
Harvey Meadows Gallery, Aspen, CO
Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Red Lodge Studio, Red Lodge, MT
Red Star Studios, Kansas City, KS
Schaller Gallery, St. Joseph, MI
The Signature Shop & Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Woodwalk Gallery, Egg Harbor, WI
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITS
2013
Heavy, Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, IA
Amalgam, Fugui Gallery, Yingge, Taiwan, R.O.C.
2012
Featured Artist, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
2010
Animal Primal, Vessel, The University of South Dakota Gallery, Vemillion, SD
Featured Artist, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
Featured Artist, Woodwalk Gallery, Egg Harbor, WI
2008
Featured Artist, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
2004
Firing All Cylinders, The Signature Shop and Gallery, Atlanta, GA
EXHIBITS CURATED
2006
Home: Woodfire Interpretations, The Signature Shop and Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1999
Functional Fire: Woodfired Cup Exhibition, Iowa Artisans Gallery, Iowa City, IA
1997-1998
Container: Selections from the Mannheimer Collection, Museum of Art, University of Iowa
EXHIBIT JURIED
2014
National Council on Education for the Ceramics Arts 50th Benefit Plate exhibition
2010
It's Only Clay, Bemidji Community Art Center, Bemidji, MN
2008
Clay Cubed, The Clay Space, Warrenville, IL
2006
Home: Woodfire Interpretations, The Signature Shop and Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1999
Functional Fire: Woodfired Cup Exhibition, Iowa Artisans Gallery, Iowa City, IA
1997-1998
Container: Selections from the Mannheimer Collection, Museum of Art, University of Iowa
WORKSHOPS
2014
Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, IA
2013
Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass, CO
Haystack Mountains School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME
2012
Greenwich House Pottery, New York City, NY
Arrowmont School of Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
The Art League, Throwing workshop, Alexandria, VA
Kettle MOraine Art Charter High School, Resident Artist, Wales, WI
Edina Art Center, Throwing workshop, Edina, MN
2011
Marketing Group Discussion, Iowa City Conference, Cedar Rapids, IA
Speaking Clay, Taos Clay, Taos, NM
Artisan Center, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay, WI
2010
Language of Clay, Bemidji Community Art Center, Bemidji, MN
Throwing with the End in Sight, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
University of South Dakota Visiting Artist, Vermillion, SD
University of North Texas Visiting Artist, Denton, TX
2009
International Woodfire Symposium, Tainan National University of the Arts, Taiwan
Waubonsee Community College, Firing & Throwing workshop, Sugar Grove, IL
2007
Synod of Lakes and Prairies, Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, IA
Burnheim Forest and Art Center, Clermont, KY
2006
Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, IL
University of Northern Iowa, Throwing workshop, Cedar Falls, IA
2005
University of Missouri, Throwing demos and lecture, Columbia, MO
Cambridge Potter's Guild, Throwing demos with Karl Borgeson, Cambridge, WI
Southern Illinois University, Anagama loading and firing, Edwardsville, IL
2004
Syracuse University, Anagama loading and firing, Syracuse, NY
Pots for Potters, Peninsula Art school, Fish Creek, WI
2003
Southern Illinois University, Kiln building, Edwardsville, IL
Syracuse University, Kiln building, Syracuse, NY
2002
Good Dirt, Throwing demos and lectures, Athens, GA
Northern Clay Center Firing workshop, Minneapolis, MN
2000-2002
Fired Earth Pottery, Throwing demos and lecture, Appleton, WI
2001
Burn and Learn, Archie Bray Foundation, with Matt Kelleher, Helena, MT
2000
Walton Wood Kiln Firing workshop, Walton, NY
University of Wisconsin Fox Valley, Throwing workshop, Appleton, WI
1999
Kirkwood Community College Throwing workshop, Cedar Rapids, IA
Dallas Craft Guild, Kiln building workshop, Dallas, TX
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
1998
MacNider Museum, Mason City, IA
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, WI
LECTURES
2014
Materials Panel, National Council for the Education of Ceramics Arts, Milwaukee, WI
2013
American Pottery Festival, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
2011
Marketing Panel, American Pottery Festival, Minneapolis, MN
2009
Notions on Promotion: Moderator, National Council on Ceramic Arts Education
International Woodfire Symposium, Tainan National University of the Arts, Taiwan
2008
The Clay Space Juror's Lecture, Warrenville, IL
2007
The Tuesday Club, Neenah, WI
1998
Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA
RECENT GROUP EXHIBITS
2014
St. Croix River Valley Pottery Tour, national invitational, Shafer, MN
Top Shelf, M.T., Burton Gallery Surf City, NJ
12 Wisconsin Woodfirers, Curated by Reid Schoonover, Frank Sadler Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Peter's Valley School of Craft Faculty Exhibition
Yunomi Show, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
La Mesa, Santa Fe Clay National Invitational, Milwaukee, WI
Cup II: The College of Lake County, Curated by Ben Bates, Grayslake, IL
Art-Stream; Nomadic Gallery, 2014 North American Studio Potters Tour, Milwaukee, WI
2013
40th Annual Pottery Show, Curated by Karen Karnes, Demarest, NJ
American Pottery Festival, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
The Simple Cup, Kobo Gallery, Seattle, WA
Ten Years of Fire, Corning Community College, Corning, NY
Iowa Seeds, AKAR Gallery show with former apprentices, Iowa City, IA
Cup the Intimate Object IX, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Invitational Woodfire show, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
Yunomi Show, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
Art-Stream; Nomadic Gallery, 2013 NOrth American Studio Potters Tour, Houston, TX
Out Pour, Robert T. Wright Gallery, College of Lake County Grayslake, IL
2012
Made in Clay, Greenwich House Pottery, New York, NY
Annual Pottery Sale, The Art School at Old Church, Demarest, NJ
30 X 5, The Dessert, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
Source Material, Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
White, Green, Black. Durango Arts Center, Durango, CO
Cup VIII: The Intimate Object. Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Handle with Care, Mug Show, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster, PA
Pots at Rest, The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, PA
Pots at Rest, The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, PA
American Apprentice, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
25 for the 25th, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME
External Views, Surface Show, Red Star Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Functional Wood Fire, Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
St. Croix River Valley Pottery Tour, National invitational, Shafer, MN
Art-Stream; Nomadic Gallery, North American Studio Potters Tour, Seattle, WA
La Mesa, Santa Fe Clay National Invitational, Seattle, WA
Yunomi Show, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
42nd Annual Ceramics Exhibit, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, WI
The Cup: 50 Artists, 250 Interpretations. Collect of Lake County, Grayslake, IL
100 Woodfire Cups, POTS Gallery, Seattle, WA
Art Stream, Gallery One Visual Arts Center, Ellensburg, WA
Daily Companions, Cup Show, Baltimore Clay Works, Blatimore, MD
Mint Julep Exhibition, Mary Anderson Center for the Arts, Mt. St. Francis, IN
COLLABORATIONS WITH AMY SMITH
2014
Yunomi Show, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
Small Favors IX, The Clay STudio, Philadelphia, PA
Emulsion, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Eisentrager-Howard Art Gallery, Lincoln, NE
2013
Game, Set, Match, Curated by Ayumi Horie, Baltimore Clay works, Baltimore, MD
Yunomi Show, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
La Mesa, Santa Fe Clay National Invitational, Houston, TX
2012
Strictly FUnctional Pottery National 2012, Juror Jack Troy, Lancaster, PA
It's Only Clay, Juror Robert Briscoe, Bemidji, MN
Cup VIII: The Intimate Object, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Source Material, Curated by Lindsay Rogers, Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
ARTICLES
2014
"Materialist Me" National Council on the Education for Ceramics Arts, Journal
2013
"Paired Views" Ceramics Monthly, pp. 47-51, May
2011
"Come Fail Away" Studio Potter, Vol. 39 No. 2, Summer/Fall
2009
"Simon Levin Working Potter" Ceramics Monthly, June/July/August
2008
"Hard Work If You Can Get It" The Log Book: The International Publication for Woodfirers, pp. 3-10, Issue 35, September
2007
"Becoming Inarticulate" Studio Potter, Vol. 35, No. 2 Summer/Fall
Interview, Podcast on Anagama-West.com website, with Odin Maxwell, Spring
2006
"Critical Care" Ceramics Monthly, pp. 34-38, August/September
2004
"Staying Power" The Log Book: The International Publication for Woodfirers, pp. 14-18, Issue 19
1999
"The Functional Saggar" Clay Times, Vol. 5, No. 2 March/April
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2004-Present
Mill Creek Pottery Apprenticeship Program, Gresham, WI
- Founded a program where young artists committed to the field learn the business of a studio artist and develop their own voice.
2006
College of Menominee Nation, Fundamentals of Design, Keshena, WI
2004-2005
University of Wisconsin, Intermediate & Advanced Ceramics, Green Bay, WI
2003
Corning Community College, Kiln Building Summer Course, Corning, NY
1996-1998
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
WORKS CITED
2013
Woodfired Ceramics: 100 Contemporary Artists. Schiffer Publishing Company
2010
500 Vases, Curated by Julia Galloway, Lark Publications
2007
500 Tiles, Curated by Angelica Pozo, Lark Publications
Review of Home: Woodfire Interpretations by Dorothy Joiner, Ceramics Monthly, March
2006
500 Pitchers, Curated by Terry Gess, Lark Publications
“Living Dishes” Clay Times pp. 7, 30-31, Vol.12. No.2. March/April
2005
“All Cylinders Firing”, Clay Times, cover article. Pp.14-18, Vol. 11, January/February
2004
“Twenty One Young American Potters”, Studio Potter, Pg, 49. Volume 32, No. 2. June
2001
Contemporary American Ceramics, Kevin Hluch, Krause Publications, 2001.
2000
Civil Ware: A review by Pamela Blume Leonard, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 22, 2000
KILN BUILD
2012
Anagama, 100 cubic feet, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2009
Anagama, 150 cubic feet, Tainan National University, Tainan, Taiwan
2007
Downdraft car kiln, gas/salt, 27 cubic feet, Prospect, KY
2006
Anagama, 100 cubic feet, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, IL
2003
Anagama, 250 cubic feet, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
Anagama, 100 cubic feet, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Anagama, 100 cubic feet, Corning Community College, Corning, NY
Downdraft wood kiln, 100 cubic feet, dual fire boxes, Manatutu, East Timor
2002
Anagama, 200 cubic feet, Mill Creek Pottery, Gresham, WI
1999
Single chamber wood kiln, Mill Creek Pottery, Gresham, WI
1997
Anagama, consulted and helped build, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Single chamber gas/salt kiln, Dallas Craft Guild, Dallas, TX
Two chamber catenary arch wood kiln, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1996
Tube kiln, wood-fired, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1994
Two chambered noborigama wood/salt kiln, 400 cubic feet, Farmington, GA
COLLECTIONS
Tainan National University of the Arts, Tainan, Taiwan R.O.C.
University of North Dakota, Fargo, ND
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
Amaco Ceramics, Indianapolis, IN
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
Archie Bray Foundation, Helena Montana
Betty Woodman Private Collection, New York, NY
Grinnell College, Bucksbaum Art Center, Grinnell, IA
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
COMMUNITY WORK
1999-Present
Fire Fighter, Wisconsin Certified Firefighter 1