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Kicki Masthem

The Arts Center Exhibit(s):

• 'Portals,' Winter Show & Silent Auction, 2011
• '9th Around Oregon Annual Exhibition,' October, 2011

Artist's Statement, 'Portal I & II' 'Portals,' Winter Show & Silent Auction, 2011:

     Portal I: 11.5x 14.3/4
     Portal II: 3.5 x 5, encaustic

I see "portals" as a transition, a change in no place and every place where things have possibilities. One only has to let oneself be drawn to the most suitable change and embrace it. It can be dark, difficult but also jubilant and envigorating.

The encaustic here are informed by my surrounding existance. The difficult times we are all going through, the new birth of my neighbor's firstborn, the platetectonic upheaval for Yuka and the effervescent thinking of metaphysical background from my dear friend and jazz singer Shira. Life is never stagnant.

Artist's Statement, '9th Around Oregon Annual Exhibition,' October, 2011:

The figurative work here explores my interest in gesture as a means of expression. I set out to simply let everyday actions inform my work: people trying to create a personal space while waiting in line or edging forward to listen in on a conversation. The anonymity of these androgynous figures keeps the focus on the expressive form of the gesture.

Having traveled and lived in various countries, I am intrigued at how differently personal space is viewed across cultures and how people use their bodies to communicate. Placement of the clay figures becomes an important formal element in this work; elevating the figures onto a plinth creates a personal space that sets the figures apart from their surroundings, while placing the figures onto a plane (the wall) creates a dialogue with the surface and a group dynamic as the figures engage one another in an ambiguous narrative.

The figures are hollow, built through a combination of slabs and coil. I use a combination of low fire glazes, slips and terra sigillata to achieve a satin and dry surface finish which gives the figures a soft, pliable look.

I find intriguing how we draw from our own personal experiences and backgrounds to view and interpret this work so differently.   

Resume:

Awards:

• 2009: Juror, Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters, Visual Arts Award, MS.
• 2007: Artist in Residence, Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT.
• 2004: Artist in Residence, Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME.
• 2000: Halvorsen Residency, Contemporary Crafts Gallery and Museum, Portland, OR.
• 1999: Individual Artist Fellowship, Virginia Commission for the Arts.
• 1999: Juror, Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, International Fine Arts Exhibit, Latrobe, PA.
• 1999: Honorable Award - July 4th Natl. Juried Exhibit. Franklin Square Gallery, Southport, NC.
• 1998: Honorable Award - Annual Juried Exhibit, 1708 Gallery, Richmond, VA.
• 1998: Curator “ Virginia ‘98", Regional Exhibit at FCCA, Fredericksburg, VA.
• 1998: Curator “ Form and Function”, Invitational Exhibit at FCCA, Fredericksburg, VA.
• 1997: GTE Most Influential Instructor Award, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
• 1996: Mary B. Bishop and Francis S. Merritt Scholarship, Haystack Mountain School of Arts and Crafts, ME.
• 1994: Graduate Teaching Assistantship, James Madison University, VA, 1994-1997.
• 1992: J. Binford Walford Scholarship in Architecture and Related Areas, Mary Washington College, VA.

One or Two-Person Exhibitions:

• 2008:  FIGURATIVE SHOW,  iota gallery, Dallas, TX.
• 2008:  SITUATIONS: FIGURATIVE SHOW, The ClayStudio of Missoula, Missoula, MT.
• 2007:  OBJECT/NO OBJECT, Two Person Show, Art Centric, Corvallis, OR.
• 2006:  FIGURAL CLAY, Buckley Center Gallery, University of Portland, Portland, OR.
• 2005:  CLAY AND PHOTO, Two Person Show, Guardino Gallery, Portland, OR.
• 2004:  FIGURATION, Contemporary Crafts Gallery and Museum, Portland, OR
• 2004:  “SEEING IT THROUGH”, Two-Person Invitational Show, Greenlease Gallery, Kansas City,
• 2003:  FIGURATIVE CLAY AND PAINTINGS, Two Person Show, Guardino Gallery, Portland, OR.  
• 2002: CLAY AND ENCAUSTIC, Two Person Show, Guardino Gallery, Portland, OR.
• 2001: CLAY FITS, Contemporary Crafts Gallery and Museum, Portland, OR.
• 1999: CLAY WORKS,  Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts, Fredericksburg, VA.
• 1995: CERAMIC GARDEN SCULPTURE, The Joshua Wilton House, Harrisonburg, VA.

Selected Group Exhibitions:  
2010

• GRAND OPENING, Invitational Regional Exhibit, OPUS VII, Eugene, OR.
• WHERE BIRDS DREAM, Invitational Regional Exhibit, The Art Center, Corvallis, OR.
• 17th ANNUAL SITKA INVITATIONAL.  Invitational Regional Exhibit, World Forestry Center. Portland, OR.

2009

• HUMAN NARRATIVES: CONVERSATION IN CLAY. Invitational  National Exhibit, NCECA, Victoria Boyle Galleries, Scottsdale, AZ.
• SMALL FAVORS IV.  Invitational National Exhibit, Clay Studio, PA.
• 16th ANNUAL SITKA INVITATIONAL.  Invitational Regional Exhibit, World Forestry Center. Portland, OR.
• FUNERARY FORMS. Invitational Regional Exhibit, The Art Center, Corvallis, OR.

2008

• GO FIGURE. Juried National Exhibit, Amelia Center Gallery at GCCC, Panama City, FL.
• CHRONICLE INVITATIONAL.  Invitational Regional Exhibit, Lake Oswego, OR.
• 15th ANNUAL SITKA INVITATIONAL.  Invitational Regional Exhibit, World Forestry Center. Portland, OR.
• SMALL FAVORS III.  Invitational National Exhibit, Clay Studio, PA.

2007

• SMALL FAVORS II.  Invitational National Exhibit, Clay Studio, PA.
• THE PEOPLE.  Invitational National Exhibit, Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT.          
• PUPPETS, ARTICULATED FIGURES AND MECHANICAL TOYS. Invitational National Exhibit, Portland, OR.
• CRAFT: DIVERSE WORKS. Invitational National Exhibit, Murdoch Collection,Portland, OR.

2006

• FIGURING THE FEMININE, Invitational  Exhibit, North View Gallery, PCC, Portland, OR.
• CLAY BODIES,  Invitational National Exhibit, ArtCentric, Corvallis, OR.
• MASTHEM, KONIGSBERG AND BERGER, Invitational Exhibit, RC Gallery, Portland, OR.
• 16TH SAN ANGELO NATIONAL CERAMIC COMPETITION, Juried National Exhibit, San Angelo Art Museum, San Angelo, TX.
• SERA ARCHITECTS/SITKA CENTER FOR  ART AND ECOLOGY, Invitational Regional Exhibit,  Portland, OR  

2005       

• CRAFT BIENNIAL: A REVIEW OF NORTHWEST ART AND CRAFT. Regional Juried Exhibition, Hoffman Gallery, Portland, OR
• ALTERED STATES: VARIATIONS ON THE PRINT, Invitational Exhibit, Print Arts Northwest, Portland, OR.
• NARRATIVES IN CLAY, Invitational Exhibit, Virginia Breier Gallery, San Fransisco, CA.
• GOOD BIRD/BAD BIRD. Juried Exhibit, Contemporary Crafts Museum and Gallery, Portland, OR.
• HOLIDAY SPOT. Invitational Exhibit, Nemo Gallery, Anchorage, Alaska.

2003

• AFFINITY FOR THE CUP, National Juried Exhibit, Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA.
• AROUND OREGON ANNUAL , Regional Exhibit, Corvallis Art Center, Corvallis, OR.
• TEA POT: DESIGN AND EMBELLISHMENT, Invitational Exhibit, Ariana Gallery, Royal Oaks, MI.
• NORTHERN LIGHTS GALA, Invitational Exhibit, Norse Hall, Portland, OR.
• CUP: THE INTIMATE OBJECT II, National Juried Exhibit, CC’s Clay Studio Fort Wayne, IN.

2002   

• INTERNATIONAL ORTON CONE BOX SHOW, International Juried Exhibit, Russell Gallery, Baker University, Baldwin City, KS.
• PLATES ’02,  National Juried Exhibit, RCC Art Gallery, Riverside, CA.

2001

• CLAY CUP,  International Juried Exhibit, Gallery 138, Kent State University, Kent, OH.
• MULTNOMAH  INVITATIONAL,  Regional Exhibit, Multnomah Art Center, Portland, OR.
• ART PORT TOWNSEND, Regional Juried Exhibit, Port Townsend, WA.
• YULTENSILS, International Juried Exhibit, Contemporary Crafts Gallery and Museum, Portland, OR
• METROPOLITAN  AREA CLAY,  Invitational  Exhibit, Rock Creek Gallery, Portland, OR.
• LITTLE THINGS,  Invitational Exhibit, Guardino Gallery, Portland, OR.

2000

• INTERNATIONAL CERAMICS EXHIBIT, ZANESVILLE Art Center, Zanesville, OH.
• AESTHETICS 2000, National Juried Exhibition, Birger Sandzen ,Gallery, McPherson, KS.
• THE REALLY BIG SHOE SHOW, International Juried Exhibit, City Museum, St. Louis, MI.
• GALA 2000, National Invitational Exhibit, Brenau University Galleries, Gainesville, FL.

1999

• MONARCH, National Ceramics Competition, Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts, Florence, AL.
• USA CRAFT TODAY ‘99, National Juried Exhibition, Silvermine Guild Galleries, New Canaan,CT.
• BELOW  2000, Ceramic Exhibition,Portland Center for Contemporary Craft, Portland, OR.
• MUGS & WORKS ON PAPER, National Juried Exhibit, Period Gallery, Omaha, NE.
• CREATIVE HANDS, Regional Invitational Exhibit , Riverby Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA.
• JULY 4TH NATIONAL EXHIBIT, National Juried Exhibit, Franklin Square Gallery, Southport, NC.

1998

• ELITE - TILE ‘98, International Ceramics Exhibit, Talleres Igneri and the Nouveau Arts Foundation, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Catalogue.
• CERAMICS: VIEWPOINT ‘98, National Ceramics Competition, Grossmont College-Hyde Gallery, El Cajon, CA.
• 5TH ANNUAL SMALL WORKS EXHIBITION, Touchstone Gallery, Washington D.C.
• 3RD  ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBIT, Art Space New Comb Hall,University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
• 8TH ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBIT, 1708 Gallery, Richmond, VA. *honorable award.

1999

• MONARCH, National Ceramics Competition, Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts, Florence, AL.                                
• ANA 26, National Juried Exhibit, Holter Museum of Art, Helena,  MT.
• ARTS IN CONTAINERS/CONTAINED ART,  Central Michigan University Gallery, Mount Pleasant, MI.   
• FACULTY SHOW, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI.
• MFA THESIS EXHIBIT, Sawhill Gallery, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

1996

• UNCLE DROSSELMYER’S OTHER GIFTS: TOYS BY ARTISTS,  Invitational Exhibit, Hand Workshop Art Center, Richmond, VA.
• 18TH ANNUAL VAHKI, National Juried Exhibit, Galeria Mesa, Mesa, AZ.

1995

• TERRA FIRMA , National Ceramics Competition, Spokane, WA.
• NEW TALENT, Group Show, 150 Franklin Street Gallery, Harrisonburg, VA.

1992

• THE CLAY  CUP, National Exhibit, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA

Publications and Reviews:

• 2010: Art work selected to be on the set for Oregon Art Beat, OPB, season 2010-2011
• 2007: “The Art of the Gesture”, Oregon Home  May/June issue 2007.
• 2006: Image Transfer on Clay, by Paul Andrew Wandless.
• 2006: Featured artist on “Oregon Art Beat”, OPB TV, Spring.
• 2004: 500 Figures in Clay: Ceramic Artists Celebrate the Human Form. Lark Books
• 2004: Featured artist on “Good Day Life Styles”, KPTV, October 2.
• 2004: “Creative Opposites”, The Center for Arts and Letters  Jan/Feb/March issue 2004
• 2003: “Arts and Entertainment”, The Scanner October 2003, Volume 27.
• 2003: “The Gallery”, Clay Times 2003. Mar/Apr.41
• 2001: "Panorama", Kerameichi Techni April 2001, Volume 37.
• 1997: McKee, Martha, “The Nature of Ceramics”. Montpelier Magazine Summer 1999:43

Private and Public Collections:

• NAU Art Museum, J. Douglas Macy Collection, Flagstaff, AZ.
• Stewart Kummer Gallery, Gualala, CA.
• Hoffman Gallery, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR.
• David Roberts , Portland, OR           
• Leo K. Michelson, Portland, OR.
• SunBird Gallery, Bend, OR
• Marghitta Feldman Gallery, Portland, OR
• Ron and Miriam Hinds, Coral Gables, FL.
• Contemporary Crafts Museum and Gallery, Portland, OR.
• Guardino Gallery, Portland, OR.
• Talles Igneri and the Noveau Arts Foundation, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• 150 Franklin Street Gallery, Harrisonburg, VA.
• Sophia Street Studios, Fredericksburg, VA.
• Anne Woolman, Woodstock, VT

Visiting Artist and Lecturer:

• 2010: Visiting Artist/Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis, OR.
• 2008: Visiting Artist/Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis, OR.
• 2008: Guest Lecturer. “Here and Now: Contemporary Artists Present their Work.” OCAC, Portland, OR.
• 2008: Visiting Artist/The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT.
• 2005: Visiting Artist/Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis, OR.
• 2005: Visiting Artist/Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
• 2004: Visiting Artist/Creative Arts Community, Menucha, Corbett, OR.
• 2003: Artist/Participant in Community Mural “ The People of Alberta”, Guardino Gallery, Portland, OR.
• 2002: Guest Speaker and Presenter during “Art Beat” at the Portland Community Colleges, Portland OR.
• 2002: Presenter, “Fine Art of the Craft” at Portland Art Museum Education Department, OR
• 2001: Guest Speaker. “Art in the Interior Landscape.” Marylhurst University, West Lynn, OR

Education:

• 1997, M.F.A., Ceramics, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
• 1992, B.A., Studio Art, Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, VA.

Visit Kicki Masthem's website.