Artist: Seth Rainville
Seth Rainville, MASSACHUSETTS
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I make pots. I make sculpture. I’m a mark maker, and a storyteller. I choose porcelain as my primary canvas, and use a variety of materials to engage the surface. My imagery is born from life, the day to day, and the unusual, as well as the extraordinary aspects of each step I take. I try to celebrate beauty and reflect on pain, but I am most satisfied when the emotions of a day guides my hands and what I’m left with is an honest work in clay.
Relevant Work Experience
Seth J. Rainville Ceramics, Dartmouth MA. 1999 – present
Studio Potter – Independent Curator
Arch Contemporary Ceramics, Tiverton Four Corners, RI. January 2015 – Present
Ceramics Instructor
Instruct adult beginning and advanced classes
Maintain studio standards
South County Art Association, Kingston, RI. July 2013 – July 2014
Programming/Development Director and Instructor
Facilitate curriculum development and implementation
Coordinate exhibitions and events
Develop fundraising opportunities and branding strategies
Create and research class fees and pay rates for instructors. (New structure in place)
Teach classes in both 2D and 3D
New Bedford Art Museum, New Bedford, MA., November 2011 – June 2013
Exhibitions Coordinator/Curator
Curator of multiple exhibitions and oversee process for guest Curators
Coordinate exhibition and event preparation.
Give tours and lectures
Manage budgets
Jamestown Art Center, Jamestown, RI., August 2011 – August 2012
Instructor
Assisted in development of curriculum for inaugural session, August, 2011.
Designed and installed Ceramics Studio.
Instructed both Adult and Child Clay Classes
NAVIO Artisans Collective, New Bedford, MA. July 2009 – July 2011
Owner, General Manager, Curator
Managed 9 “Collective Artists” as well as a revolving group of consigned artists for both retail sales and for monthly exhibitions.
Curated over 20 exhibitions in two years including works in all mediums and from both local and national artists.
Created and produced special events with collector groups and area businesses. Most notably we hosted a special exhibition and tour for the Renwick Alliance of the Smithsonian in July of 2009.
Mentored two interns and housed two resident artists in our gallery helping to promote leadership in the youth art market.
Maintained and ‘in-house’ studio. Mixed glazes, fired kilns, and produced wares for clients. Demonstrated frequently in the front windows during special events in New Bedford.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA. August 2008 – May 2009
Studio Manager – Teacher
Managed the Ceramic Studio, repaired kilns and other equipment, mixed clay and glazes, etc.
Co- teacher with Jim Lawton “Table-ware”
Mentored post-baccalaureat students and BFA Seniors
Managed two work study students
ArtWorks!, New Bedford, MA., September 2008 – June 2009
Gallery Curator, Instructor
Curated multiple exhibitions.
Assisted in community outreach and facilitated round table discussions.
Developed and created retail storefront.
Mentored High school students for TAIP (Teen Artist Intern Program)
Teacher for both children and adult education.
Belluomini Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ., August 2007 – April 2008
Curator and Resident Artist
Solely created and maintained inventory of functional pieces for retail store and gallery.
Represented the gallery at sales events and curated exhibitions.
Facilitated glaze and kiln studios.
Phoenix Center for the Arts, Phoenix, AZ., September 2001- August 2007
Director of Ceramics Program and Resident Artist
Developed curriculum for 13 quarterly ceramics classes for adult and children’s education.
Managed staff of 3 teachers.
Networked with municipal officials to oversee and facilitate Center programs and budget.
Curated exhibitions for the Phoenix Center Gallery annually.
Taught a variety of child, and adult classes.
Managed studio facilities
Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ., January 2002-August 2006
Instructor and Visiting Artist
Helped to develop new class curriculum and assisted in facility planning.
Aided in the organization and implementation of visiting artist workshops and events.
Organized sales and special fundraising events annually.
Assisted in the planning and physical moving of the new Mesa Arts Center.
Taught advanced, intermediate, and beginner classes for both child and adult classes.
Fired wood kilns, salt kilns, high temperature reduction kilns and electric bisque firings for each specific class.
Managed the glaze studio for each class
Organizational Affiliation
National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Planning Board, present
Advisor / Site Liaison for Exhibitions
Assist in the planning and implementation of the 2015 NCECA conference in Providence, RI
Juror for over 70 show proposals submitted from across the country
Curator and organizer of multiple exhibitions in the planning stages currently
Coordinate venues for Exhibitions and place accepted proposals
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME., July 2009 – present
Member of the Board, Advisory
As an Advisory Member of the board I attend planning meetings and aid in the formulation of annual budgets, exhibitions, fundraising, and management of staff and facilities
Helped to curate and organize the Watershed Benefit Raffle and Exhibition at the Gustin Gallery in South Dartmouth MA. in 2009 and 2011.
Exhibition Committee Chair and SoFA Chicago Curator, 2013
Demonstrator and auctioneer for the 25th Anniversary Celebration.
Arizona State University Ceramic Research Center, Tempe, AZ., 2003 - 2006
Artist Advisory Board Member
Assisted in raising funds for the purchase of Artwork for the permanent collection.
Assisted in the planning and implementation of the annual “Open Studio Tour”.
Was on the committee for the Bi-annual Gala sponsored by the Herberger Museum of ASU and was a participating artist.
Education
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Cum Laude, 1992-1996
Post Baccalaureate Student, 1996-1997
Assistant Studio Manager, 1997-1998
Residencies
Resident Artist: Arch Contemporary Ceramics, Tiverton, Rhode Island, January – March 2015
Britt Nelson Fellowship recipient at the Gordon School, East Providence, Rhode Island, April 7th -28th 2014
Teacher for 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Art Students
Guest Lecturer
Guest Juror Experience
Massachusetts Cultural Council, Boston, MA., December 2012
Juror for Craft Fellowships
Attleboro Art Museum, Attleboro, MA., March 2012
Juror for “8 Visions” Exhibition
Phoenix College, Phoenix, AZ. 2003, 2004
3D Juror for the Eric Fischl Student Exhibition
Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler, AZ., April 2003
“Chandler Arts” Juror
Phoenix Center for the Arts, Phoenix, AZ., March, 2002
“Best of Phoenix Exhibition” Juror
Workshops
Falmouth Art Center, Cape Cod Potters Workshop 2016, March 5 and 6, 2015
Mudflat Guest Artist Workshop, Mudflat Ceramics Studio, Somerville, MA. October 3,4 - 2015
NCECA Pre-Conference Lecturer, New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, MA March, 2015
The Futures – with Seth Rainville and Jonathan Mess, Harvard Ceramics, Allston, MA. May 2nd, 2014
Solo Workshop, Tabor Academy, Marion, Massachusetts, March 26th-29th 2014
” Take a sip” Solo Workshop, South County Art Association, March 15th 2014
“The Ceramic Spectrum” Solo Workshop with Seth Rainville at the Jamestown Arts Center, May 2013
“Jet-Stream Anagama – West Travels East” Gustin Ceramics, South Dartmouth, MA. October 2007
Wood Fire Workshop facilitated by Chris Gustin, Seth Rainville, Tom Coleman, Jim Lawton, and Meira Mathison
Solo Workshop, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA. September 27, 2007
List of workshops prior to 2007 available upon request.
Books and Publications
Ceramics Art and Perception – January/February 2015 issue, Narrative of Fire
Artscope – May/ June issue, featured exhibition
“500 Plates, Platters, and Chargers”- Lark Press, 2008.
Public Collections
American Museum of Ceramic Arts, Pomona, California
The Kamm Teapot Foundation, Sparta, North Carolina
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport - Permanent Collection, Phoenix, AZ.
The DeYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA.
Curating
NCECA Providence, 2015 Juror/Curator of Concurrent Independent Exhibitions
Narrative of Fire: An Exhibition of Contemporary Wood Fired Ceramics, November 1st – December 2nd 2013, ArtWorks!
New Bedford, MA. Co-Curator
The Futures: Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts Exhibition, October 31-November 3rd 2013, SOFA Chicago, Chicago, IL. Cuartor
The Ceramic Spectrum: a Survey of Contemporary Ceramics, April 29 – June 7, 2013, Jamestown Arts Center, Jamestown, RI. Curator
New Bedford Art Museum:
Mystical Ground: New Works by Claudine Mettrick, April 14 – May 26, 2013, Curator
Unfolding: New Works by Lynne Tobin, February. 14 – March 23, 2013, Curator
The Original Art: celebrating the Fine Art of Children’s Book illustration, January 10 – February 9, 2013, Curator
Stephen Cook: Works of a lifetime, October 9 – November 20, 2012, Curator
Organical Mechanical: New Works by Yvonne Leonard, August 9 – September 30, 2012, Curator
The Collectors, June 12 – September 23, 2012, Curator
Transitions: Works by Zach Shaw, June 15 – July 24, 2012, Curator
NBAM 2.0: The New Generation of Art in New Bedford, March 23 – June 3, 2013, Cuartor
Street Views: New Works by Patrick Moore, March 23 – June 3, 2013, Curator
List of Curated Shows prior to 2012 available upon request
Exhibitions:
January – February 2016: Beneath the Surface, Jacksonville State University, Hammond Gallery, Jacksonville, Alabama
December 2015: Pottery Invitational at Old Church, Demarest, NJ.
March 2015: Porcelain in Three – Cate Charles Gallery, Providence RI.
March – April 2015: Friends Of Fire, Gustin Gallery, South Dartmouth, MA.
February – August 2015: Of Earth and Sea, New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, MA.
February – April 2015: The Pouring Arts Invitational, Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River, MA.
February – April 2015: Collaborators – A Lively Experiment, Imago, Warren, RI.
December 2014: The Art School at Old Church Invitational, Demarest, NJ.
April – May 2014: The Futures – the Next Generation of Ceramic Trailblazers, Vessels Gallery, Boston, MA.
November 2013: SOFA Chicago, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts Exhibitor
October 2012 – January 2013: Present Day Translations, American Museum of Ceramic Arts, Pomona, CA.
List of Exhibitions prior to 2013 available upon request