PATTERSON, NEIL
PENNSYLVANIA
PENNSYLVANIA
What is important in life? What in this earthly world is sacred anymore? What should we celebrate through music, dance, painting and form?
Growth. The impulse toward creation. Our five senses as a beginning. Honoring the hand made object and the simple daily rituals of using them in our lives. A celebration of primal materials (clay). All of these touchstones are evident in this body of my work.
I am lucky enough to have discovered early in my life that I am a potter. I feel certain that for as long as I am alive I will take the Earth's body into my hands and form it into containers for sustenance. To have an intimate connection to the hand formed object is vital to a full life. To experience the potters attention to volume, texture, weight, color, and space while savoring a cup of coffee or a bowl of soup is one of life's sublime pleasures.
My more sculptural work enables me to extend the conversation and allows the participant to bring more of themselves to the dialogue. I am not here to give all of the answers but to raise points that I feel our world is in need of pondering. The making of art is mysterious and when I am doing my best work I do not fully understand it myself. Creative endeavors touch on the universal and offer comprehension on varying levels to everyone. I can not tell you in words what to think as you feel my work with your eyes or fingers, as you discover hidden compartments, as I present to you a sacred space - a niche - displaying an object. My hope is that your gut will stir or listen, that you will slow down enough to wonder, and be curious, and ask questions. But I believe, as author Thomas Moore states, that Art does not offer a blazing lamp of enlightenment, but rather the tempered glow of imagination.
We live in a violent world, one that suffers from a lack of imagination.Recently I have been making sanctuaries to creation in addition to pots. I consider it my mission to help create a world where hand made objects matter deeply, where they enrich our lives. To create a world where destruction, consumption and violence are overcome by creation, respect and non-violence. To create a world worthy of our perfect natural one. One piece of clay at a time.
Education: Louisiana State University, MFA 1992
Awards: Graduate Assistantship
1988-92
Cardiff Institute of Higher Education (U.K.)
1990-91
Post Graduate Diploma
The Cleveland Institute of Art, BFA
1986
Major: Ceramics
Minor: Sculpture
Awards: Ranney Scholarship 1984-85, 1985-86
Mosgow Award for Excellence in Ceramics 1985
Women's Committee Traveling Scholarship 1986
Penland School of Crafts
Core Student
1986-88
Scholarship Student
1985
John Carroll University, Educational Psychology
Summer, 1984
College Teaching Experience:
Adjunct Ceramics & 3D Design Instructor, Tyler School of Art
August, 1992-Present
Ceramics, 3D Design & 2D Design Instructor, Cabrini College
January, 1993-May, 1999
Adjunct Ceramics Instructor, Community College of Philadelphia
January, 1996-Present
Adjunct Ceramics, 3D Instructor, Montgomery County Community College
May, 1997-May, 1999
Ceramics Instructor, LSU
January-May, 1989, January-May, 1992
Visiting Lecturer, Polytechnic of London, Harrow
April, 1991
Design Instructor, LSU
August, 1989-May, 1990
Additional Teaching Experience:
Half-time Art Faculty, The Agnes Irwin School
September, 1999-Present
Outreach Ceramics Instructor, Project Home
March, 1993-May, 2002
Tile Workshop Instructor, Fleisher Art Memorial
September, 1993-May, 2002
Summer Session Ceramics & Sculpture Instructor, Agnes Irwin School
June-August, 1993-1999
Throwing Concentration Instructor, The Clay Studio
September, 1992-March, 1999
Ceramics Instructor, University City Arts League
September, 1992-March, 1996
Ceramics Instructor, Main Line Center for the Arts
September, 1993-December, 1995
Ceramics Instructor, Abington Art Center
September, 1992-May, 1994
Senior Adult Ceramics Instructor, Cleveland Jewish Community Center
October, 1985-May, 1986
Selected Workshops Presented:
Pocosin Arts “Cabin Fever Reliever”
Four day workshop, February, 2005
Arrowmont School of Art and Crafts
One week workshop, June, 2004
Manassas Clay Connection
Weekend Workshops, May, 1997; August, 1998; October, 2004
The Westchester Art Workshop
Weekend workshop, April, 2002
Greenwich House Pottery, New York
Week long workshop, July, 2001
Westchester Community College
One day workshop, May, 2001
Penland School of Crafts
Spring Concentration (four weeks), 2000
Anderson Ranch Arts Center
Two week workshop, August, 1999
Miami University Craft Summer, Oxford Ohio
One week workshop, June, 1999
The Craft Student League at the YWCA
Weekend Workshop, August, 1998
Peters Valley Craft Center
Ten day Workshop, August, 1997
Long Beach Island Foundation for the Arts
One week Workshop, August, 1996
Touchstone Center for Crafts
One week Workshop, August, 1996
Wallingford Art Center
Weekend Workshop, February, 1996
Wayne Art Center
Weekend Workshop - September, 1993; February, 1994
School Of Music And The Arts
Weekend Workshop - March 1993
Nichols State University, Workshop Visiting Artist
November, 1988
Related Experience:
Featured Presenter, Functional Ceramics Conference, Wooster Ohio
April, 2005
Invited Participant, Instructors Retreat. Penland School of Crafts
February, 2004
Featured Presenter, The Alabama Clay Conference
March, 2001
Member, Board of Directors, The Clay Studio
September, 1995-September, 1997
Artist in Residence, The Clay Studio
September, 1992-September, 1997
Design and Construction of a 60 Cubic Foot Wood Kiln
Tyler School of Art, Fall, 1996
Selected Exhibitions:
Potters of the Mid-Atlantic, Whitehall Gallery, Annapolis MD
March, 2005
Dynamic Duos, Vessell Gallery, Huntingdon Valley PA
February, 2005
Working Potters, Birke Art Gallery, Marshal University
October, 2004
Penland Table Top Show, Hodges Taylor Gallery, Charlotte NC
September-October, 2004
30 x 5, Akar Gallery, Iowa City IA
December, 2003
November, 1994, 1996, 2003
Fleisher "Challenge" Solo show, Philadelphia PA
February-March 2003
Pots Presented, Baltimore Clayworks
January-February 2002
Beautiful Use, Montgomery College, Rockville MD
February-March, 2000
The Washington Craft Show
November, 1999
Chester Springs Studio, Yellow Springs PA
Focus On Pots, Sept. 1997; Functional Pottery, Sept. 1998
Cedar Valley Ceramics Gallery, Dallas TX
Two Person Show, April, 1998
Crafts National, Zoller Gallery, Penn. State University
June-July, 1995, 1996
Strictly Functional Pottery National, Market House Craft Center, Lancaster, PA
May, 1996, 1997
Solo Shows, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
November, 1993; May, 1996
Solo Exhibition, Cardiff Institute of Higher Education, Cardiff, Wales
July, 1991
"East," Norfolk Gallery, Norwich, England
May-June, 1991
Monarch Tile National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo, TX
April, May, 1988; April-May, 1989; April-May, 1990; April-May, 1996
"May Show," Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
May-June, 1988
Collections:
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Permanent Collection
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Extensions Collection
Jacksonville State University (AL), Permanent Collection
Awards:
The Dene M. Louchheim Faculty Fellowship
The Samuel S Fleisher Art Memorial
May, 1998
Best of Show
The Fifth Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National
May, 1997
The Franklin and Shirley Poul Award for Art Pottery
The Main Line Art Center 1995 Fine Line of Craft Exhibition
January, 1995
Fully Funded Residency
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts
August, 1994
Honorable Mention
Lanexa National Ceramics Competition
June, 1989
The Robert Mann Award for Excellence in Ceramics
The Cleveland Museum of Art
May, 1988
Growth. The impulse toward creation. Our five senses as a beginning. Honoring the hand made object and the simple daily rituals of using them in our lives. A celebration of primal materials (clay). All of these touchstones are evident in this body of my work.
I am lucky enough to have discovered early in my life that I am a potter. I feel certain that for as long as I am alive I will take the Earth's body into my hands and form it into containers for sustenance. To have an intimate connection to the hand formed object is vital to a full life. To experience the potters attention to volume, texture, weight, color, and space while savoring a cup of coffee or a bowl of soup is one of life's sublime pleasures.
My more sculptural work enables me to extend the conversation and allows the participant to bring more of themselves to the dialogue. I am not here to give all of the answers but to raise points that I feel our world is in need of pondering. The making of art is mysterious and when I am doing my best work I do not fully understand it myself. Creative endeavors touch on the universal and offer comprehension on varying levels to everyone. I can not tell you in words what to think as you feel my work with your eyes or fingers, as you discover hidden compartments, as I present to you a sacred space - a niche - displaying an object. My hope is that your gut will stir or listen, that you will slow down enough to wonder, and be curious, and ask questions. But I believe, as author Thomas Moore states, that Art does not offer a blazing lamp of enlightenment, but rather the tempered glow of imagination.
We live in a violent world, one that suffers from a lack of imagination.Recently I have been making sanctuaries to creation in addition to pots. I consider it my mission to help create a world where hand made objects matter deeply, where they enrich our lives. To create a world where destruction, consumption and violence are overcome by creation, respect and non-violence. To create a world worthy of our perfect natural one. One piece of clay at a time.
Education: Louisiana State University, MFA 1992
Awards: Graduate Assistantship
1988-92
Cardiff Institute of Higher Education (U.K.)
1990-91
Post Graduate Diploma
The Cleveland Institute of Art, BFA
1986
Major: Ceramics
Minor: Sculpture
Awards: Ranney Scholarship 1984-85, 1985-86
Mosgow Award for Excellence in Ceramics 1985
Women's Committee Traveling Scholarship 1986
Penland School of Crafts
Core Student
1986-88
Scholarship Student
1985
John Carroll University, Educational Psychology
Summer, 1984
College Teaching Experience:
Adjunct Ceramics & 3D Design Instructor, Tyler School of Art
August, 1992-Present
Ceramics, 3D Design & 2D Design Instructor, Cabrini College
January, 1993-May, 1999
Adjunct Ceramics Instructor, Community College of Philadelphia
January, 1996-Present
Adjunct Ceramics, 3D Instructor, Montgomery County Community College
May, 1997-May, 1999
Ceramics Instructor, LSU
January-May, 1989, January-May, 1992
Visiting Lecturer, Polytechnic of London, Harrow
April, 1991
Design Instructor, LSU
August, 1989-May, 1990
Additional Teaching Experience:
Half-time Art Faculty, The Agnes Irwin School
September, 1999-Present
Outreach Ceramics Instructor, Project Home
March, 1993-May, 2002
Tile Workshop Instructor, Fleisher Art Memorial
September, 1993-May, 2002
Summer Session Ceramics & Sculpture Instructor, Agnes Irwin School
June-August, 1993-1999
Throwing Concentration Instructor, The Clay Studio
September, 1992-March, 1999
Ceramics Instructor, University City Arts League
September, 1992-March, 1996
Ceramics Instructor, Main Line Center for the Arts
September, 1993-December, 1995
Ceramics Instructor, Abington Art Center
September, 1992-May, 1994
Senior Adult Ceramics Instructor, Cleveland Jewish Community Center
October, 1985-May, 1986
Selected Workshops Presented:
Pocosin Arts “Cabin Fever Reliever”
Four day workshop, February, 2005
Arrowmont School of Art and Crafts
One week workshop, June, 2004
Manassas Clay Connection
Weekend Workshops, May, 1997; August, 1998; October, 2004
The Westchester Art Workshop
Weekend workshop, April, 2002
Greenwich House Pottery, New York
Week long workshop, July, 2001
Westchester Community College
One day workshop, May, 2001
Penland School of Crafts
Spring Concentration (four weeks), 2000
Anderson Ranch Arts Center
Two week workshop, August, 1999
Miami University Craft Summer, Oxford Ohio
One week workshop, June, 1999
The Craft Student League at the YWCA
Weekend Workshop, August, 1998
Peters Valley Craft Center
Ten day Workshop, August, 1997
Long Beach Island Foundation for the Arts
One week Workshop, August, 1996
Touchstone Center for Crafts
One week Workshop, August, 1996
Wallingford Art Center
Weekend Workshop, February, 1996
Wayne Art Center
Weekend Workshop - September, 1993; February, 1994
School Of Music And The Arts
Weekend Workshop - March 1993
Nichols State University, Workshop Visiting Artist
November, 1988
Related Experience:
Featured Presenter, Functional Ceramics Conference, Wooster Ohio
April, 2005
Invited Participant, Instructors Retreat. Penland School of Crafts
February, 2004
Featured Presenter, The Alabama Clay Conference
March, 2001
Member, Board of Directors, The Clay Studio
September, 1995-September, 1997
Artist in Residence, The Clay Studio
September, 1992-September, 1997
Design and Construction of a 60 Cubic Foot Wood Kiln
Tyler School of Art, Fall, 1996
Selected Exhibitions:
Potters of the Mid-Atlantic, Whitehall Gallery, Annapolis MD
March, 2005
Dynamic Duos, Vessell Gallery, Huntingdon Valley PA
February, 2005
Working Potters, Birke Art Gallery, Marshal University
October, 2004
Penland Table Top Show, Hodges Taylor Gallery, Charlotte NC
September-October, 2004
30 x 5, Akar Gallery, Iowa City IA
December, 2003
November, 1994, 1996, 2003
Fleisher "Challenge" Solo show, Philadelphia PA
February-March 2003
Pots Presented, Baltimore Clayworks
January-February 2002
Beautiful Use, Montgomery College, Rockville MD
February-March, 2000
The Washington Craft Show
November, 1999
Chester Springs Studio, Yellow Springs PA
Focus On Pots, Sept. 1997; Functional Pottery, Sept. 1998
Cedar Valley Ceramics Gallery, Dallas TX
Two Person Show, April, 1998
Crafts National, Zoller Gallery, Penn. State University
June-July, 1995, 1996
Strictly Functional Pottery National, Market House Craft Center, Lancaster, PA
May, 1996, 1997
Solo Shows, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
November, 1993; May, 1996
Solo Exhibition, Cardiff Institute of Higher Education, Cardiff, Wales
July, 1991
"East," Norfolk Gallery, Norwich, England
May-June, 1991
Monarch Tile National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo, TX
April, May, 1988; April-May, 1989; April-May, 1990; April-May, 1996
"May Show," Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
May-June, 1988
Collections:
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Permanent Collection
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Extensions Collection
Jacksonville State University (AL), Permanent Collection
Awards:
The Dene M. Louchheim Faculty Fellowship
The Samuel S Fleisher Art Memorial
May, 1998
Best of Show
The Fifth Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National
May, 1997
The Franklin and Shirley Poul Award for Art Pottery
The Main Line Art Center 1995 Fine Line of Craft Exhibition
January, 1995
Fully Funded Residency
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts
August, 1994
Honorable Mention
Lanexa National Ceramics Competition
June, 1989
The Robert Mann Award for Excellence in Ceramics
The Cleveland Museum of Art
May, 1988
