Artist: Melissa Mencini

Melissa Mencini, ALASKA
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I am interested in the subtlety within form, obvious function and the intimate moment of a pot being used. I prefer to make smaller objects that one would tend to hold close, increasing the users understanding and furthering the investigation of the form. The exploration of these concepts keeps me pushing the definition of my work. 

Surface also plays a very important role for me. I like to play with images within popular culture to push the idea away from the familiar form to challenge the users expectations of visual and literal interaction of objects. I like for the surface to come alive through use and to watch as those discoveries are made. It all becomes very playful communication: almost a game of flirting between the form, surface and the user.

Education
2000- 2003
MFA, Ceramics, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Carbondale, Illinois

1995- 2000
BFA, Studio Art- Ceramics/Glass, Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green, Ohio

Teaching/Professional Experience
March 2014- Present. Instructor, Art School at Laguna Gloria, The Contemporart Austin. Austin Texas.
March 2014-Present. Instructor, Dougherty Arts Center. Austin, Texas.
August 2010-2013. Instructor/ Studio Technician, University of Alaska Anchorage. Anchorage, Alaska.
June 2010. Visiting Resident Artist, University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, Canada.
October 2009- December 2009. Visiting Resident Artist, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute (West Virginia University Program). Jingdezhen, PR China.
June 2008-August 2008. Visiting Guest Lecturer, University of Washington. Seattle, Washington.
September 2007- June 2008. Sabbatical Replacement, Eastern Washington University. Cheney, Washington.
October 2007. Guest Lecturer, Spokane Falls Community College. Spokane, Washington.
September 2005- August 2007. Resident Artist- Lincoln Fellowship Recipient (2005-2006) The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts. Helena, Montana.
September 2003- July 2005. Resident Artist- Education Coordinator Atlantic Pottery Supply. Atlantic Beach, Florida.
August 2001- May 2003. Graduate Assistantship- Teaching (Instructor of Record) Beginning Ceramics, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Carbondale, Illinois.
August 2001- August 2002. Graduate Assistantship- Library Assistant (Preservation) Morris Library, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Carbondale, Illinois.
August 2000-May 2003. Southern Clay Works, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Carbondale, Illinois.
August 2000- August 2001. Graduate Assistantship- Manager of Ceramics Studio Student Center Craft Shop, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Carbondale, Illinois.

Collections
San Angelo Museum of Art. San Angelo, Texas.
Archie Bray Foundation. Helena, Montana.
David and Louise Rosenfield. Dallas, TX.
Doug Arbittier. York, Pennsylvania.
Joan and David Lincoln. Phoenix, Arizona.
Jim Kolva and Pat Sullivan. Spokane, Washington.
Keith and Fran Puccinelli. Ventura, California.
Jim Frank. Spokane, Washington.
Midge and Jerry Golner. Phoenix, Arizona.
FuLe International Ceramic Art Museums. Fuping, PR China.
University of Arkansas Fayetteville.

Mencini 2
Workshops/ Lectures
2015
Southwestern University. Georgetown, Texas. E-4 Art Gallery. Austin, Texas.
2013
Buffalo State College. Buffalo. New York.
2011
Clay Guild of Anchorage. Anchorage, Alaska.
2010
University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB Canada.
Mutter Museum. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
2009
Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute. Jingdezhen, PR China.
The Pottery Workshop. Jingdezhen, PR China.
University of New Mexico-Gallup. Gallup, New Mexico.
2008
Kirkland Arts Center. Kirkland, Washington.
2007
Spokane Falls Community College. Spokane, Washington.
2006
University of Montana. Missoula, Montana.
2004
Episcopal High School. Jacksonville, Florida.
2003
Cummer Museum of Art. Jacksonville, Florida.

Selected Exhibitions/ Publications
2016
(Upcoming) Decalomaniacs. Red Lodge Clay Center. Red Lodge. MT
Yumoni Invitational 2016. AKAR Gallery. Iowa City, IA.
Earth>Water>Fire. Phoenix Underground Gallery, in conjunction with NCECA. Lawrence. KS
Decalomaniacs. Belger Crane Yard, in conjunction with NCECA. Kansas City, MO.
Pottery on Wheels, In Situ: Pottery Tours and Clay Culture. NCECA. Kansas City, MO.
Ceram-a-rama Auction. ASU Ceramics Research Center. Tempe, AZ.
Earth To Table: The Art of Functional Ceramics. Court House Cultural Center Gallery. Stuart, FL.
2015
Cup: The Intimate Object XI. Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL.
12th Annual Ceramics Invitational. Artisan Gallery. Paoli, WI.
Electric Kiln Ceramics 4th Edition. By Richard Zakin and Frederick Bartolovic. Published by The American Ceramic Society.
Maverick Pottery Invitational. The Maverick Potter. Salida, CO.
Art of the Pot. Exhibition and Studio tour. Austin, Texas.
Cups. Artisan Gallery. Paoli, WI
Print-Fired. E-4 Art Gallery and Art Studio. Austin, TX.
2014
Big Names, Small Works. Red Star Studios, Belger Crane Center. Kansas City, MO.
Holiday Invitational. Carbondale Clay Center. Carbondale, CO.
Form & Flame. Baugh Center for the Visual Arts at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Belton. TX.
Art of the Pot. Exhibition and Studio tour. Austin, TX.
500 Figures Volume II. Lark Books.
2013
Pattern. Schaller Gallery. St. Joseph, MI.
Going Big, in conjunction with NCECA. Betz Gallery. Houston, TX.
Parings. Carbondale Clay Center. Carbondale, CO.
Silhouettes. Red Lodge Clay Center. Red Lodge, MT.
Faculty Exhibition. Kimora Gallery. University of Alaska Anchorage. Anchorage, AK.
2012
National Porcelain Invitational, in conjunction with NCECA. Seattle Design Center. Seattle, WA.
Ceram-a-rama Auction. ASU Ceramics Research Center. Tempe, AZ.
Surface. Schaller Gallery. Saint Joseph, MI.
Yumoni Invitational 2012. AKAR Gallery. Iowa City, IA.
Potsketch. Clay Studio of Missoula. Missoula, MT.
2011
Decalicious. Carbondale Clay Center. Carbondale, CO.
Gyeonggi International CeraMIX Biennale 2011. Icheon, South Korea.
The Genuine Article. The June Gallery. Helena, MT.
Yumoni Invitational 2011. AKAR Gallery. Iowa City, IA.
Featured Artist. Holter Museum of Art. Helena, MT.
2010
Panhandler Magazine. Contemporary Ceramic Artists Issue. University of West Florida. Pensacola, FL.
Faculty Exhibition. Kimora Gallery. University of Alaska Anchorage. Anchorage, AK.
Smorgasbord. Schaller Gallery. Red Lodge, MT.
Melissa Mencini: Ceramics. Tart. Bozeman, MT.
Corporal Manifestations. Mutter Museum. Philadelphia, PA.
2009
JCI-WVU International. Gallery One. Jingdezhen, PR China
Holiday Show. The Clay Studio of Missoula. Missoula, MT.
Brickyard Bash Cup Auction and Exhibition. Archie Bray Warehouse Gallery. Helena, MT.
2008
Interpreting the Figure. Archie Bray Foundation North Gallery. Helena, MT.
2007 at the Bray, in conjunction with NCECA. Pittsburgh, PA.
The Greatest Show on Earth, in conjunction with NCECA. Pittsburgh, PA.
Clay?II, Kirkland Arts Center. Kirkland, WA.
Eastern Washington University Faculty Exhibition. University Gallery. Cheney, WA.
2006
ICMEA Emerging Artists Competition. Fuping, PR China.
International Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition 2007. Jingdezhen, PR China.
Uncommon Objects. Spokane Falls Community College. Spokane, WA.
Archie Bray Foundation, Solo Show. Archie Bray Foundation North Gallery. Helena, MT.
Blue: Ceramic Invitational. East Central College Gallery. East Central College. Union, MO.
Fresh Clay. Atkinson Gallery. Santa Barbara City College. Santa Barbara, CA.
Archie Bray Resident Show. Kolva- Sullivan Gallery. Spokane, WA.
Ceramics Monthly Magazine, “A Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration.” August/ September 2006.
2005-2006 Fellowship Exhibition Solo Show. The Warehouse Gallery. Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT.
Archie Bray International, Archie Bray Foundation. Helena, MT.
2005 at the Bray. Smith Hall, Lewis & Clark College, in conjunction with NCECA. Portland, OR.
2005 Archie Bray Foundation Exhibition, Past and Present Residents. The Clay Studio of Missoula. Missoula, MT.
Annual Archie Bray Exhibit. Kolva- Sullivan Gallery. Spokane, WA.
Three Person Exhibition, The Sculpture of Trey Hill, Melissa Mencini, and John Zimmerman. In conjunction with NCECA. Baltimore, MD.
2003
500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility and Grace. Lark Books.
Industrial Strength Ceramics, Invitational. Charlie Cummings Clay Studio. Fort Wayne, IN.
Mugs, Jugs and Bottles, National Juried. Juror- Jill Fishon-Kovachick. Sponsored by the Saratoga Clay Company. Saratoga Springs, NY.
Clay Mechanics, National Juried. Juror’s Choice Award. Juror’s- Charlie Cummings and Gerard Ferrari. Sponsored by Charlie Cummings Clay Studio, in conjunction with NCECA. Indianapolis, IN.
2003 MFA Thesis Exhibition, Surplus Gallery. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Carbondale, IL.
Clay Cup IX, National Juried. AMACO Award. Juror- Richard Shaw. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Carbondale, IL.
2002
Works II, Surplus Gallery. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Carbondale, IL.
2001
A Group Exhibition, Mabee Gallery, Herrick Center. Culver-Stockton College. Canton, MO.
Works I, Gallery HQ. In conjunction with visiting lecturer Robert Storr. Carbondale, Illinois.
2000
Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition. Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green, OH.
Toledo Area Artists Exhibition, Regional Juried. Toledo, OH.
1999
The Fine Art of Craft, National Juried. Juror- Kenneth Trapp. Annapolis, Maryland
NCECA Regional Student Juried Exhibition. Juror’s- Margaret Bohls and Arthur Gonzales. Columbus, OH.