Artist: Zac Spates

Zac Spates, WISCONSIN
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I strive to make simple, well thrown pottery with complex wood fired surfaces. My work is a result of several years of experience working in two wood fire potter’s studios. Working with two very different pottery makers, my work
developed into a combination of tight forms with loose, organic finishes. Most forms are thrown, and then altered later off the wheel.

All my work is fired in the labor intensive process of wood firing. My forms are kept simple to allow the way I fire to decorate the pots’ surface. Decoration is minimal, leaving the surface to be etched and blushed by the
flame’s movement throughout the kiln. The way the pots are stacked in the kiln is more important to my pottery’s surface than the individual pieces by themselves. I use simple glazes, if any, and slip most of my pots with clay
that I dug and refined from quarries in Central Minnesota.

My pottery is always changing in both the way I fire and the forms themselves. I continue to modify the way I fire my pottery and utilize each form to its full potential in the wood kiln.

Education:
2003-2006 William Mark Hewitt Pottery, Apprentice
Pittsboro, NC
2000-2003 Assistant at Saint Johns Pottery, Richard Bresnahan
Saint John’s University (SJU), Collegeville, MN
2000-2003 Bachelor of Arts, Major in Studio Art, Summa Cum Laude
Saint John’s University, Collegeville, MN
1999-2000 Studies in Biology and Art
University of Minnesota Morris, Morris, MN

Solo Exhibitions:
Upcoming Solo Show, Raymond Avenue Gallery, (2016)
St Paul, MN
Solo Show, ARTReach Gallery, (2016)
Stillwater, MN
2016 Featured Artist, Lillstreet Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
2014 Contrasts, Phipps Arts Center
Hudson, WI
2013 Current Work,
Elk River Gov. Center, Elk River, MN
2012 Zac Spates: Recent Works, Gorecki Gallery,
College of St Benedict, St Joseph, MN

Group Exhibitions:
2016 Functional Ceramics, Artisan Gallery, Invited, Paoli, WI
2015 Methodology, Schaller Gallery, Invited
St Joseph, MI
Little Treasures, Schaller Gallery, Invited
St Joseph, MI
2nd Annual Yunomi Invitational, Raymond Ave Gallery,
St Paul, MN 2015
Ceramics Invitational, Artisan Gallery, Invited
Paoli, WI
Boxes and Bottles, Schaller Gallery, Invited
St Joseph, MI
CUPS, Artisan Gallery, Invited,
Paoli, WI
Apprenticelines, 2015 NCECA, Invited
Providence, RI
NCECA Biennial, David Winton Bell Gallery, Juried
Providence, RI
2014 Bowls and Casseroles, Seasons on St Croix, Invited
Hudson, WI
2013 Strictly Functional Pottery National, Juried
Market House Craft Center, East Petersberg, PA
2012 May: Artist of the Month, Invited, Northern Clay Center,
Minneapolis, MN
2011 May Potters Show, Seasons on St Croix, Invited
Hudson, WI

Publications:
2005 NCECA 2005 Journal,
Apprenticeship breakout panel with Mark Hewitt

Professional Experience:
2006 Wood Fire Kiln Builder,
Mark Hewitt Pottery, Pittsboro, NC
2005 Wood Fire Kiln Building Assistant, Svend Bayer
Denbigh, Wales, England
Panel for Apprenticeship, NCECA 2005
Baltimore, MD
2003 Wood Fire Kiln Building Assistant, Daniel Johnston Pottery
Seagrove, NC
Wood Fire Kiln Building Assistant, Michael Hunt Pottery
Asheville, NC
2000-2003 Wood Firing Apprentice to Bill Gossman
New London, MN
2000 Wood Fire Kiln Building Assistant
Craig Edwards and Svend Bayer, New London, MN

Collections:
Ceramics Department, College of Saint Benedict, St Joseph, MN


Current Gallery Representation:
Northern Clay Center
Minneapolis, MN
Schaller Gallery
St Joseph, MI
Lillstreet Arts Center
Chicago, IL
Nevica Project
Chicago, IL
Artisan Gallery
Paoli, WI
The Grand Hand Gallery
St Paul, MN
Seasons on St Croix
Hudson, WI