EDELEN, JAMES
IOWA
IOWA
My creations in clay physically capture my ideas and embody my creative energy through variations in the form, volume and surface of my art. I then entrust my artistic efforts to the grace and randomness of the wood-fire process. My knowledge of wood-firing allows me to adorn my pottery with natural beauty.
I test the physical limits of clay by forming and stretching it in order to create vessels that capture space, create visual tension, and fight gravity. My vessels explore relationships between clay composition and the material limits of ceramic construction. By applying imagination and problem solving techniques, these challenges continually create new opportunities for me to express myself through clay.
For the past fifteen years I have designed, built and fired wood kilns across the Midwest. Passion for clay and fire has impacted every aspect of my life and continues to shape the decisions that I make. In devotion to this process of creation, the ceramic vessel has become the hallmark of my personal journey.
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics, Minor in Drawing, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, May 2000
Master of Arts in Ceramics, Minor in Drawing, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, May 1999
Bachelor of Arts, Beloit College, Beloit, WI, May 1995
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2007
Juried Kiln God Residency Award, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME
2006-Present
Ceramic Art Instructor, Iowa City Recreational Center, Iowa City, IA
2002- 2005
Artist and Education Coordinator, RDG Planning & Design/RDG Dahlquist Art Studio,
Des Moines, IA, www.dahlquistclayworks.com
2002-2005
Adjunct Professor of Art, Grandview College, Des Moines, IA
2002-2005
Adjunct Professor of Art, Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines, IA
2002-2005
Ceramic Art Instructor, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
EXHIBITIONS
Midwest Mud Maniacs (2007)
Washington Galleries Cooperative, Duluth, MN
Watershed Annual Benefit Woodfire (2007)
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts
Yunomi Invitational (2007)
AKAR, Iowa City, IA
Northern Invasion (2004)
University of Northern Texas, Denton, TX
Faculty Show 2004 (2004)
Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
Midwest Mud Maniacs (2002)
National Council for the Ceramic Arts 2002, Kansas City, MO
Clay Farm (2000)
Carnegie Art Center, Mankato Area Arts Council, Mankato, MN
Bridge: A Show of Ceramic Work (2000)
Delta Axis @ Marshall Art, Memphis, TN
University of Iowa MFA Exhibition (2000)
University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, IA
All Fired Up (1999)
Arts Iowa City, Iowa City, IA
Ceramics (1999)
Marvin Cone Gallery, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA
Three Potters (1999)
The Silo Inc. Gallery, New Milford, CT
Fire and Clay (1999)
Eve Drewlowe Gallery, University of Iowa School of Art and Art History, Iowa City, IA
Senior Show (1995)
Wright Museum of Art, Beloit College, Beloit, WI
KILN DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
Anagama one-chamber wood-fire (1992, 1996, 1999, 2006)
Soda-fire (2005)
Naboragama two-chamber wood-fire (2001)
Gas-reduction kiln (1994)
I test the physical limits of clay by forming and stretching it in order to create vessels that capture space, create visual tension, and fight gravity. My vessels explore relationships between clay composition and the material limits of ceramic construction. By applying imagination and problem solving techniques, these challenges continually create new opportunities for me to express myself through clay.
For the past fifteen years I have designed, built and fired wood kilns across the Midwest. Passion for clay and fire has impacted every aspect of my life and continues to shape the decisions that I make. In devotion to this process of creation, the ceramic vessel has become the hallmark of my personal journey.
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics, Minor in Drawing, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, May 2000
Master of Arts in Ceramics, Minor in Drawing, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, May 1999
Bachelor of Arts, Beloit College, Beloit, WI, May 1995
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2007
Juried Kiln God Residency Award, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME
2006-Present
Ceramic Art Instructor, Iowa City Recreational Center, Iowa City, IA
2002- 2005
Artist and Education Coordinator, RDG Planning & Design/RDG Dahlquist Art Studio,
Des Moines, IA, www.dahlquistclayworks.com
2002-2005
Adjunct Professor of Art, Grandview College, Des Moines, IA
2002-2005
Adjunct Professor of Art, Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines, IA
2002-2005
Ceramic Art Instructor, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
EXHIBITIONS
Midwest Mud Maniacs (2007)
Washington Galleries Cooperative, Duluth, MN
Watershed Annual Benefit Woodfire (2007)
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts
Yunomi Invitational (2007)
AKAR, Iowa City, IA
Northern Invasion (2004)
University of Northern Texas, Denton, TX
Faculty Show 2004 (2004)
Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
Midwest Mud Maniacs (2002)
National Council for the Ceramic Arts 2002, Kansas City, MO
Clay Farm (2000)
Carnegie Art Center, Mankato Area Arts Council, Mankato, MN
Bridge: A Show of Ceramic Work (2000)
Delta Axis @ Marshall Art, Memphis, TN
University of Iowa MFA Exhibition (2000)
University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, IA
All Fired Up (1999)
Arts Iowa City, Iowa City, IA
Ceramics (1999)
Marvin Cone Gallery, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA
Three Potters (1999)
The Silo Inc. Gallery, New Milford, CT
Fire and Clay (1999)
Eve Drewlowe Gallery, University of Iowa School of Art and Art History, Iowa City, IA
Senior Show (1995)
Wright Museum of Art, Beloit College, Beloit, WI
KILN DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
Anagama one-chamber wood-fire (1992, 1996, 1999, 2006)
Soda-fire (2005)
Naboragama two-chamber wood-fire (2001)
Gas-reduction kiln (1994)
