Artist: Mark Arnold
Mark Arnold, NORTH CAROLINA
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Mark Arnold is a studio potter living and working in Elizabeth City, NC. Mark was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and began taking ceramic classes at a community college, shortly after he transferred to Edinboro University where he received his B.F.A in ceramics. In the spring of 2017 Mark received his M.F.A. from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. Mark’s work is represented by multiple galleries around the country and was recently named one of Ceramics Monthly’s 2018 Emerging Artists.
Before my ceramics practices I rode BMX bikes and this has had a strong influence on my work today. I am currently exploring repetition and patterns from my past bike riding experience and how this relationship can help determine subtle variations of form and surface. The softness of nature interacting with the strong geometric forms is relevant in each piece.
Influences from architecture and color field painting are infused into my utilitarian pottery in a simplified manner. Balance in the surface design of each piece abstracts imagery much like Richard Diebenkorn’s “Ocean Park” series, while leaving subtle hints that leave the viewer interested but not overwhelmed. Wheel thrown and hand built elements create geometric forms, while color is added so that each piece can resemble a 3-dimensional painting. The color palette is simple, mostly white with one to two colors, plus the utilization of the brown clay body. Terra sigillata brings out the slightly distressed surfaces, reminiscent of brick, wood, and rust, while using a black wash to highlight these imperfections. Although individual pieces can stand alone, when grouped together they can reference a cityscape or skyline.
Education
2014 – 2017 M.F.A. in Ceramics. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
2010 – 2013 B.F.A. With a Concentration in Ceramics. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA
2008 – 2010 Transfer Program of Art. Community College of Allegheny County, Monroeville, PA
Teaching Experience
2017 – Present Ceramics Instructor. Pocosin Arts. Columbia, NC
Fall 2015 Instructor of Record. 202c Beginning Ceramics Class.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2012 – 2014 Ceramics Instructor. Erie Museum Clay Space, Erie, PA
Visiting Artist/ Workshops
2018 Touchstone Center for Crafts. Farmington, PA (upcoming)
Clay by the Bay. San Francisco, CA
Western Carolina University. Cullowhee, NC
Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
Montgomery Community College. Troy, NC
Pocosin School of Fine Crafts. Columbia, NC
2017 Eastern Carolina University. Greenville, NC
Montgomery Community College. Troy, NC
Honors and Awards
2018 -Ceramics Monthly 2018 Emerging Artist
2016 -3rd Place. Small Works Show, Wood River, IL
-Best of Show. Edwardsville Art Fair, Edwardsville, IL
-Graduate Student Travel Grant. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
-Martha Holden Ceramics Award. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2015 -Graduate Student Travel Grant. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2013 -Ella Rue Merganser Award of Merit. Starbrick Gallery National Cup Show
-Fully Funded Kiln God Scholarship. Watershed Center For The Arts. Newcastle, ME
2012 -Best in Show. 14th Annual Clarion Cup Show. Clarion, PA
2011 -1st Place. 13th Annual Clarion Cup Show. Clarion, PA
2010 -Wooster Functional Ceramics Scholarship, Wooster, OH
-Donna Nicholas Ceramic Scholarship. Edinboro University
-2nd Place. 12th Annual Clarion Cup Show, Clarion, PA
-Honorable Mention. CCAC Student Art Show. Community College of Allegheny College
Affiliations
2016- Present Art Axis, (Member-Juried Database) www.ArtAxis.org
2010-Present National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts, Member
Solo Exhibitions
2018 “Featured Artist at Companion Gallery” Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
2017 “Featured Artist at Charlie Cummings Gallery”
Charlie Cummings. Chapel Hill, NC
2016 “Digital Debut” Belger Crane Yard. Kansas City, MO
“Featured Artist at Companion Gallery” Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
Exhibitions
2018
“2018 Yunomi Invitational” ClayAkar, Iowa City, Iowa
“LillStreet Gallery Expo” at 52nd NCECA Conference Expo
Pittsburgh, PA
“Collaborative Companions Invitational” Union Project. (NCECA) Pittsburgh, PA
“CCAC Alumni Show” Community College of Allegheny County North Side Gallery. (NCECA) Pittsburgh, PA
“Touchstone NCECA Exhibition” Forbes Auto Body Studios. Pittsburgh, PA
“Industry and Imagery Invitational” Ton Gallery. (NCECA) Pittsburgh, PA
“Keystone Ceramics Invitational” Brockway Center for the Arts (NCECA) Brockway, PA
“A Taste of Touchstone” Seville Gallery. Cumberland, MD
“Exquisite Forms Invitational” Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainsville, FL
2017 “Crafted Invitational” Society for Contemporary Craft. Pittsburgh, PA
“Americano Invitational” ClayAkar, Iowa City, Iowa
“Cup: The Intimate Object XIII” Charlie Cummings Gallery. Chapel Hill, NC
“The Wichita National 2017” Ceramics Invitational Exhibition. Reuben Saunders Gallery, Wichita, KS
“In Cahoots” Signature Gallery. Atlanta, GA
“Hometown Perspectives” MFA Thesis Exhibition. Art and Design West Gallery, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
“2017 Yunomi Invitational” ClayAkar, Iowa City, Iowa
“LillStreet Gallery Expo”at 51st NCECA Conference Expo
Portland, OR
2016
“The Cup, The Mug” Juried by Peter Pincus. Main Streets Art Gallery. Clifton Springs, NY
“Winterfest” Invitational. Baltimore Clay Works Gallery, Baltimore, MD
“Small Works Show” Wood River Museum. Wood River, IL
“Redefining The Vessel” Invitational. Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA
“Irons in The Fire” Juried by Justin Rothshank. Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
“Cup: The Intimate Object XII” Charlie Cummings Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC
“Thirst” Invitational. Capsule Gallery, Houston, TX
“Lineage: 41 Years of SIUE MFAs” Invitational Morton Ball Room, Kansas City, MO
“2016 NCECA National Student Exhibition” Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, MO
“Graduate Student Show” Art and Design West Gallery, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
“Last Call” Juried by Matt Schiemann. Companion Gallery,
Humboldt, TN
2015
“Annual Holiday Show” Invitational. Edwardsville Art Center, Edwardsville, IL
“Small Works Show” Wood River Museum. Wood River, IL
“The 12th Annual Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
“The Mobile Anagama Invitational” Odyssey Clay Center, Asheville, NC
“Graduate Student Show” Art and Design West Gallery, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
“100 Top Potters” Invitational Pots on Wheels Mobile Gallery at NCECA, Providence, RI
2014
“Small Works Art Show” Wood River Museum, Wood River, IL
“Cups of Plenty Invitational” Land of Plenty Gallery,
Akron, OH
“Glazed by Fire” Invitational. Taos Clay Gallery, Taos, NM
2013 “Starbrick Clay National Cup Show” Juried by Lorna Meaden. Starbrick Gallery, Nelsonville, OH
“Drinking Vessel Invitational” Stonewall Gallery,
Edinboro, PA
“Sixth Annual Cup Show: Form and Function” Juried by Ben Carter. The Amelia Center Gallery, Panama City, FL
“Edinboro Annual Student Show” Juried Exhibition. Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University
“NCECA Energy of The Future” Juried by Kristen Kieffer and
Bruce Cochrane. Norma R. Ory Gallery, Glassell School of Art,
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
“6th Annual Texas Teapot Tournament” Juried by Piero Fenci. 18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX
“Gmitter Scholarship Show” Juried by Edinboro Faculty. Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University
2012 “14th Annual Clarion Cup Show” Juried Exhibition. Michelle’s Gallery, Clarion, PA
“Drink This! The Workhouse International Cup Show” Juried by Linda Arbuckle. Workhouse Art Center, Lorton, VA
“Chimera 10” Juried Exhibition. Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA
“Fifth Annual Cup Show: Form and Function” Juried by Tammy Marinuzzi. The Amelia Center Gallery, Panama City, FL “38th Annual October Evenings” Juried Exhibition. Meadville Council of the Arts, Meadville, PA
“Edinboro Annual Student Show” Juried Exhibition. Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University
“Ceramic Exhibition” Bates Gallery, Edinboro University
“6-10-Soda” Bates Gallery, Edinboro University
2011 “13th Annual Clarion Cup Show” Juried Exhibition. Michelle’s Gallery, Clarion, PA
“37th Annual October Evenings” Juried Exhibition. Meadville Council of the Arts, Meadville, PA
“Clay Club Exhibition” Bates Gallery, Edinboro University
2010 “Ceramic Exhibition” Bates Gallery, Edinboro University
“Functional Pottery for Functional Alcoholics” A Show of Whiskey Cups and Bottles. Bates Gallery, Edinboro University
“12th Annual Clarion Cup Show” Juried Exhibition. Michelle’s Gallery, Clarion, PA
“Clay Club Exhibition” Bates Gallery, Edinboro University
“CCAC Juried Art Show” Student Gallery, Monroeville, PA
Gallery Representation
Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
Intandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC
James May Gallery, Algoma, WI
Belger Crane Yard, Kansas City, MO
LillStreet Gallery, Chicago, IL
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Plough Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Plinth Gallery, Denver, CO
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Publications
2018 Ceramics Monthly, Emerging Artist. May 2018
2017 Ceramics Monthly, Exposure. November 2017
2013 Chimera 10, Journal of Art and Literature. Erie, PA
Residencies
2017 – Present Pocosin Arts School of Fine Crafts. Columbia, NC
2017 “Pentaculum” Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.
Gatlinburg, TN
Related Experiences
2017 – 2018 Ware/Wear exhibition Co-Coordinator. Pocosin Arts Gallery.
2014 - 2017 Research Assistant. Ceramic Studio Technician.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2014 – 2016 Research Assistant. Wood Shop Technician.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Summer 2015 Summer Assistant. Paul Dresang- Primitive Firing Techniques. Joe Page- 3d Printing and Mold Making
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
2013 - 2014 Ceramic Studio Technician.
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
2013 Assistant Curator. “Ceramic Invitational” Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University
Raku Workshop. Edinboro University
2011 – 2013 Clay Mixer and Ceramic Tutor. Edinboro University
2010 -2013 Semester Long Topic Classes. Glaze Calculation, Kiln Building and Mold Making/Slip Casting. Edinboro University
2010 Study Abroad. 4 -Week Art History Course in Barcelona, Paris and Rome
Leadership Positions
2015 – 2016 Treasurer, Wagner Potter Association. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2012 – 2013 President, Clay Club. Edinboro University
2011 - 2012 Treasurer, Clay Club. Edinboro University
2009 - 2010 Vice-President, International Club. Community College of Allegheny County.
President, Art Club. Community College of Allegheny County
Permanent Collections
Society of Contemporary Arts, Houston TX