Artist: Mel Griffin

Mel Griffin, MONTANA
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My art practice is essentially a statement of faith. I have faith in the natural world’s ability to fill us with a sense of wonder, to elevate our minds and spirits, and to reinvigorate our reverence for life.

I have faith in art’s capacity to remind us of our own humanity, about which we so often seem to forget.

The biosphere is rich and intricate. All organisms are themselves wondrous, their individual traits the result of millions of evolutionary happenings and exacting conditions. Their interactions are particular and complex, and together create the physical and chemical equilibrium that affords human life. Both biologically and cognitively, humans are intimately linked to the natural world; the health of the landscape can affect the health of our minds.

We carry our memories, thoughts, and emotions into every space we enter. In so doing we define and assign meaning to our surroundings. My work is a reaction to the manner in which I perceive and organize space in my own life as well as to the order and disorder of cultural place. My practice emerges from the palpable physical and spiritual connection formed daily between body, mind, material, and the living world.

The work seeks to directly remind the viewer of his own physicality, as well as to rekindle his sense of wonder and discovery. Making and drawing allow me to investigate fluid and profound relationships between the body, handmade objects, and landscape, both inside the home and out in the world. Through imagery and metaphor, line and clay, I am exploring the manner in which corporeal experience, mindfulness, memory, and mood combine to create meaning in both everyday and imagined environments.

BIOGRAPHY
Mel Griffin received her BA from Carleton College in 2001 and her MFA from the University of Minnesota in 2011. For several years, she worked in the outdoor industry as an educator and guide, traveling and leading trips all over the United States and South America. In 2003 she began her artistic career, working as an apprentice for potters Doug Browe and Jan Hoyman in Ukiah, California. She has since been a resident artist at Medalta International in Alberta, Canada, a visiting professor at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN, and won the 2011 Leap Award from the Society of Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, PA. Currently, Mel is the 2012-13 Taunt Fellow at the Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts in Helena, MT. She enjoys making art, spending time with animals, and engaging with the natural world.

EDUCATION
2011
MFA, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2001
BA, magna cum laude. Carleton College, Northfield, MN Studio Art, concentration in
Drawing and Painting
2001
Minnesota State Teaching License, K-12 Art Education (current)

RESIDENCIES & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2011-2012
Sabbatical Replacement for Assistant Professor of Art (Ceramics), College of Saint Benedict
and Saint Johns University, St. Joseph, MN
2011
Resident Artist, Medalta International, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
2009-2011
Teacher of Record, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Introductory and Intermediate Ceramics, Drawing I, Concepts in Visual Art
Research Assistant for Mark Pharis, Minneapolis, MN
2010
Resident Artist, Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT
2007-2008
Emerging Artist in Residence, Millersville University, Millersville, PA
2008
Studio Assistant for Deborah Siegel, Millersville, PA
2007
Technical Assistant for Ayumi Horie, Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Deer Isle, ME
2005
Intern, Canton Clayworks, Canton, CT
2003-2005
Apprentice, Hoyman Browe Studio, Ukiah, CA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2012
Recent Work, Boliou Gallery, Carleton College, Northfield, MN
2011
Flora and Fauna, The Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2012
Animal Instincts, Northland College Gallery, Ashland, WI
Drawing in Clay, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI
42nd Annual Ceramics Exhibition: Utility in Ceramics, Crossman Gallery, University of WI, Whitewater
2012 Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
Well Served (invitational tableware in conjunction with NCECA), Seattle, WA
2011
Gifted, Philadelphia Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
‘Tis A Gift, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Holiday Show, Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO
Cup: The Intimate Object VII, Charlie Cummings Gallery
Mud Room, Contemporary Ceramics, Emerson Center for the Arts, Bozeman, MT
Dining In III: An Artful Experience, 18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX
Cup: The Intimate Object VII, Charlie Cummings Gallery
Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition, Philadelphia Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Interpenetration: MFA Thesis Show, Katherine E Nash Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
La Mesa, NCECA Gallery Expo, Tampa, FL
National Student Juried Exhibition, NCECA, Tampa, FL
Archie Bray Foundation at NCECA, Tampa, FL
NCECA Expo, Schaller Gallery, Tampa, FL
Bray Days, The Exit Gallery, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
2010
Recent Aquisitions to the Permanent Collection, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
Livestock Invitational, Schaller Gallery, Benton Hills, MI
Plate and Bowl Invitationals, Schaller Gallery, Red Lodge, MT
The Bray at Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spokane, WA
U/Ceramics Exhibition: New work from Faculty and Grads, Minneapolis, MN
Fresh Works, Regis Center Public Spaces, University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
Three Cups of Tea Invitational, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
18th San Angelo National Ceramics Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX
Third Lillstreet International, Bowl Me Over, Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, IL
2010 Resident Exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT
National Student Juried Exhibition, NCECA, Philadelphia, PA
A Useable Feast, an invitational dinner event in conjunction with NCECA, Philadelphia, PA
Central Time Ceramics, Bradley University, Peoria, IL (catalogue)
2009
Diverse Perspectives, Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN
MNWCA Juried Exhibition, Northrup King Building, Minneapolis, MN
Juried College Bowl 2009, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Fresh Works, Regis Center Public Spaces, University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
Summer of Love (Featured Artist), Dow Studio Gallery, Deer Isle, ME
Lux Center for the Arts Annual Juried Cup Show, Lincoln, NE
2008
Winterfest, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
Fresh Works, Regis Center Public Spaces, University of MN, Minneapolis, MN
Strictly Functional Pottery National, Kevin Lehman Studios, Lancaster, PA
Emerging Artist in Residence Show, Sykes Gallery, Millersville University, PA
Constant Conversations, concurrent with NCECA, Pittsburgh, PA
2007
National Juried Ceramics Exhibition, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS
Down to Earth Exhibit (invitational), Arts Scene Gallery, West Chester, PA
National Juried Cup Show, Kent State University, Kent OH
Emerging Potters Exhibition, Vessels Gallery, Boston, MA
Art of the Craft , Reading Public Museum, Reading, PA
Local Talent, Village Artisans Gallery and Studios, Boiling Springs PA

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
2011
2011 LEAP Award (biennial), Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA.
The Studio Potter Graduate Merit Award, National Student Juried Exhibition, NCECA,
Tampa, FL
2010-2011
Department of Art Scholarship, University of Minnesota
Zelda and Max Berman Graduate Fellowship, University of Minnesota
2010
Bill and Sterling Sage Scholarship, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
The Studio Potter Graduate Merit Award, National Student Juried Exhibition, NCECA,
Philadelphia, PA
Katherine B Howd Merit Award, NSJE, NCECA, Philadelphia, PA
Merit Award, 18th San Angelo National Ceramics Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine
Arts, San Angelo, TX
2009-2011
Digital Content Library Fellowship, College of Liberal Arts Office of Information Technology,
University of Minnesota
2009
Master Kiln Builders Purchase Award, MNWCA Juried Exhibition.
Emerging Artist Award, Ceramics Monthly Magazine.
Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Travel Grant, Universtity of Minnesota
2008-2009
University Block Grant, University of Minnesota
2008
Founders Award, Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster, PA.
2007
Full Tuition Scholarship, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass, CO.
2006
Work Study Scholarships, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC.
2001
Departmental Distinction for BA Exhibition, Carleton College, Northfield, MN.

PUBLICATION
2009
"2009 Emerging Artists" Ceramics Monthly Magazine
2010
"Upfront", review of NCECA 2010 National Juried Student Exhibition, Ceramics Monthly Magazine

PANELS AND WORKSHOPS
2012
Panelist, "Conversations About Ceramics", Weisman Art Museum with Tetsuya Yamada and Warren Mckenzie
Two Day Workshop, Northland College, Ashland, WI
Visiting Artist and Critic, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. Gave presentation, critique art majors during their Junior Show
2011
One Day Workshop, University of Montana, Billings
2009
"Pursuing a Life in Clay". Carleton College, Northfield, MN. Presented work, led workshop, and participated in a panel regarding a building a career in ceramics after graduation from liberal arts colleges.
Gallery Presentation. Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN
2008
Visiting Artist. East Cocalico School District, East Cocalico, PA