MCKEACHIE-JOHNSTON, JAN
WISCONSIN
WISCONSIN
Years of living with and studying pots of the Leach/Hamada tradition have instilled in me a tremendous love and respect for this avenue of expression in clay. I would like to think that my work fits into this asethetic. It is both decorative and functional. I am working to convey vitality, spirit, and other intrinsic qualities, tactile and visual, to the person viewing and using my pottery.
I have utilized a wide range of glazing and firing techniques including wood firing, salt firing, gas reduction firing, pit firing and electric firing to attain a variety of finished surfaces. Recently, my attention has turned to the more sculptural aspects of pots and the development of color in the surface decoration.
I belive the continuation and sharing of the tradition in ceramics which I follow is very important, not only to myself, but to our society in general. It is an aesthetic not always easily grasped, but having an intangible and lasting value to mankind.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2004
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Spring 1989 - Spring 1990
STUDIO River Falls, Wisconsin, 1972 - Present
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE —WORKSHOPS
2005
Pigeon Lake Field Station, June 2005
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, April 2005
Rochester Community College, Rochester, MN, April 2005
Anderson Ranch Art Center, Good Hope Plantation, April 2005
2004
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
“Good Dirt”, Athens Ceramic Work Center, Athens, GA
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO,
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
2003
North Carolina Potters Conference, Ashboro, NC
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
2002
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
2001
Anderson Ranch (Good Hope Plantation), Jamaica
Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Clay Art Center, Portchester, NY
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
2000
Edina Art Center, Edina, MN
University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, WI
Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, IL
1999
Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
St. Petersburg Clay Company, St. Petersburg, FL
1998
Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC
Stillwater High School, Stillwater, MN
Iowa State University, Iowa City, IA
1997
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
TRAX Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1995
Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
1994
University of Wisconsin, River Falls & Madison
Wisconsin Arts Board, Percent For Art, Selection Committee, River Falls, WI
Phipp's Center for the Arts, Visual Arts Council Member, Hudson, WI
1993
McKeachie-Johnston Pottery Workshop, River Falls, WI
Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL
GUEST ARTIST
University of Wisconsin, River Falls, 2003
Huara Studio, Santiago, Chili January 1996
Bethel College, St. Paul, MN February 3, 1993
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO February 21, 1992
Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN February 18, 1992
Webster College, St. Louis, MO 1990
Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis, MO 1989
EXHIBITIONS
2005
Poetry of Pottery, Maryland Federation of Art, City Gallery, Baltimore, MD
La Mesa, Baltimore, MD
Endless Variations: Shine Review, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
The Visceral Vessel, Southwest School of Art and Craft, San Antonio, TX
Cup in the Hand, Andrews University, Berien Springs, MI
The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Northern Wood: A Show of Woodfired Work from Wisconsin, Main Street
Gallery, Annapolis, MD
2004 30 Potters x 5 Pots, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
Sculptural Utility, Two Person Show, Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
From The Garden: Forms, Images and Ideas, Northern Clay Center,
Minneapolis, MN
This Splendid Table: Fantastic Dishes for Food,
Kentucky Museum of Arts and Design, Louisville, KY
Two Person Exhibitions, Red Star Studios, Kansas City MO
The Signature Shop and Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Utilitarian Clay IV: Celebrate the Object, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Gatlinburg, TN
2003 Women in Clay; Pots for Daily Use, Odyssey Gallery, Ashville, NC
SOFA Chicago, Ferrin Gallery, Croton on Hudson, NY
Snowbirds, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
North Carolina Potters Conference, Ashboro, NC
Container-Content: A Survey of American Studio Ceramic Art,
Ferrin Gallery, Croton on Hudson, NY
2002 Ceramics Invitational, Parkland College, Champaign, IL
Two Person Show, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
Invitational, Freehand Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Thanksgiving Invitational, Ferrin Gallery, Croton on Hudson, NY
Functional Connection, Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
New York Tea Party, Dai Ichi, New York, NY
2001 Exchanging Views, Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Teapots Transformed, Portchester, NY
American Shino, Babcock Gallery, NY
Twenty-Two Ways of Clay: A National Ceramics Invitational
University of Texas at Tyler, TX
Teapots Transformed: The Studio Potters, PINCH Gallery, Northampton, MA
Salt & Ash, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
2000
Woodfire 2000: A Group Exhibition, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Focus on Function, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Twelve Potters, Troyer Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Clay / Wood / Fire / Salt, Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville, NC
SOFA Chicago, Ferrin Gallery, Croton on Hudson, NY
Enhancements, Handcrafted Functional Objects, Exhibits USA, Kansas City, MO
Bistro 1615, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Vessels That Pour, Vermont Clay Studio, Waterbury Center, VT
Twenty Stokers, Blue Heron Gallery, Deer Isle, ME
Different Stokes, International Woodfire Exhibition
University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, IA (Color Catalog)
Big Band, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
Kiss of Fire: A Celebration, Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham OR
1999
Pottery of Pleasure and Use, Ellipse Art Center, Arlington, VA
(continued) Serendipity: The Magic of Woodfired Ceramics Exhibition
Gallery 1021: Lill Street, Chicago, IL
Pottery for Pleasure and Use, Ellipse Arts Center, Arlington, VA
Wall to Wall Women, Gallery 101, UW-River Falls, River Falls, WI
Freedom of Fire: A National Ceramics Invitational, Spiers Gallery, Sim's Art
Center, Brevard, NC
Anderson Ranch Arts Center Faculty Exhibition, ARAC, Snowmass, CO
Women Clayworkers, Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
"Born of Ashes" Woodfired Ceramics, Decorative Arts Museum, Little Rock, AR
Functional Ceramics 1999, Wayne Center for the Arts
Wood/Salt/Soda, Atmospheric Fired Ceramics, Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC
1998 Woodfire Invitational, Ferrin Gallery, Northhampton, MA
Sixth Annual Teapot Exhibition, Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis, MO
A Women's Woodfire Invitational, Andrews University, Berrien Spring, MI
Featured Artist March, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Studio Days 98, Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
24th Annual Invitational Potter Show & Sale
Old Church Cultural Center, Demurest, NJ
1997
Fifth Annual Teapot Exhibition, Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Clay/Wood/Fire/Salt, Contemporary Artifacts Gallery, Borea, KY
Randy & Jan Johnston-Woodfired Pots, TRAX Gallery, Berkeley, CA
18 American Potters Exhibition, Moegi Gallery, Mashiko, Japan
Minnesota/Wisconsin Invitational, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Companions of the Cupboard, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Blue Heron Gallery, Deer Isle, MA
1996
Ceramics Invitational, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, WI
Woman in Clay, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
Side By Side, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Artist of the Month, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
1995
Two-Person Show, Raymond Gallery, St. Paul, MN
Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
Across the Big Muddy, Phipp's Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI
Five Functional Potters, Kramer Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
1994
Studio Days 1994 Invitational, Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
Warren MacKenzie Sphere of Influence Invitational
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, IL
25th Ceramics Invitational Exhibit -"Functional Ceramics"
Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI
1993
Ceramics Invitational - "Warren Mackenzie and Friends"
Bluffton College, Bluffton, OH
Two-Person Show, Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
Featured Artist, Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN
Two-Person Show, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Ceramics Exhibition-Functional Pottery, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN
1992
6th Annual Great Lakes Show, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
1991
Sphere Of Influence, Pro Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Juried National, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX
1990 Xavier Puig, Minneapolis, MN
Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN
Juried Undergraduate Show, Southern Illinois University, Pro Art Gallery,
St. Louis, MO
1989 Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
Mask Hysteria Invitational, Pro Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
1988
Midwest Clay Invitational, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
The Clay Place, Pittsburgh, PA
PUBLIC/PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Stephen Alpert, Waltham, MA
Weisman Museum, Minneapolis, MN
Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA
Victoria Schonfeld Collection, New York, NY
Gary Portnoy, New York, NY
Roger Mandel, Lincolnwood, IL
Sandy Besser, Santa Fe, NM
Barbara and Ed Okun, Santa Fe, NM
Ted and Cathy Spear, Minnetonka, MN
PUBLICATION REFERENCES
American Contemporary Ceramics, Dong – Hun Chung, 2003
American Shino, The Glaze of a Thousand Faces, by Lester Richter, 2003
St. Paul Pioneer Press, “Potters’ Home/Studio Complex a World of Simplicity,”
by Mason Riddle, August 10, 2003
Living in the Country, “Room to Burn,” Spring 2003
The Art of Contemporary American Pottery, by Kevin Hulch 2001
Teapots Transformed, by Leslie Ferrin, 2000
Clay and Glazes for the Potter, by Robin Hopper, 2000
Ceramics Monthly, "Women Who Fire With Wood", October, 1998
Ceramics Monthly, January 1998
Clay Times, January 1998
Ceramics Monthly, "Sixth Monarch Exhibition," November 1991
Warren MacKenzie, An American Potter, by David Lewis, 1991
I have utilized a wide range of glazing and firing techniques including wood firing, salt firing, gas reduction firing, pit firing and electric firing to attain a variety of finished surfaces. Recently, my attention has turned to the more sculptural aspects of pots and the development of color in the surface decoration.
I belive the continuation and sharing of the tradition in ceramics which I follow is very important, not only to myself, but to our society in general. It is an aesthetic not always easily grasped, but having an intangible and lasting value to mankind.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2004
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Spring 1989 - Spring 1990
STUDIO River Falls, Wisconsin, 1972 - Present
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE —WORKSHOPS
2005
Pigeon Lake Field Station, June 2005
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, April 2005
Rochester Community College, Rochester, MN, April 2005
Anderson Ranch Art Center, Good Hope Plantation, April 2005
2004
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
“Good Dirt”, Athens Ceramic Work Center, Athens, GA
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO,
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
2003
North Carolina Potters Conference, Ashboro, NC
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
2002
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
2001
Anderson Ranch (Good Hope Plantation), Jamaica
Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Clay Art Center, Portchester, NY
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
2000
Edina Art Center, Edina, MN
University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, WI
Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, IL
1999
Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
St. Petersburg Clay Company, St. Petersburg, FL
1998
Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC
Stillwater High School, Stillwater, MN
Iowa State University, Iowa City, IA
1997
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
TRAX Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1995
Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
University of Wisconsin Pigeon Lake Field Station, Drummond, WI
1994
University of Wisconsin, River Falls & Madison
Wisconsin Arts Board, Percent For Art, Selection Committee, River Falls, WI
Phipp's Center for the Arts, Visual Arts Council Member, Hudson, WI
1993
McKeachie-Johnston Pottery Workshop, River Falls, WI
Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL
GUEST ARTIST
University of Wisconsin, River Falls, 2003
Huara Studio, Santiago, Chili January 1996
Bethel College, St. Paul, MN February 3, 1993
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO February 21, 1992
Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN February 18, 1992
Webster College, St. Louis, MO 1990
Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis, MO 1989
EXHIBITIONS
2005
Poetry of Pottery, Maryland Federation of Art, City Gallery, Baltimore, MD
La Mesa, Baltimore, MD
Endless Variations: Shine Review, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
The Visceral Vessel, Southwest School of Art and Craft, San Antonio, TX
Cup in the Hand, Andrews University, Berien Springs, MI
The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Northern Wood: A Show of Woodfired Work from Wisconsin, Main Street
Gallery, Annapolis, MD
2004 30 Potters x 5 Pots, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
Sculptural Utility, Two Person Show, Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
From The Garden: Forms, Images and Ideas, Northern Clay Center,
Minneapolis, MN
This Splendid Table: Fantastic Dishes for Food,
Kentucky Museum of Arts and Design, Louisville, KY
Two Person Exhibitions, Red Star Studios, Kansas City MO
The Signature Shop and Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Utilitarian Clay IV: Celebrate the Object, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Gatlinburg, TN
2003 Women in Clay; Pots for Daily Use, Odyssey Gallery, Ashville, NC
SOFA Chicago, Ferrin Gallery, Croton on Hudson, NY
Snowbirds, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
North Carolina Potters Conference, Ashboro, NC
Container-Content: A Survey of American Studio Ceramic Art,
Ferrin Gallery, Croton on Hudson, NY
2002 Ceramics Invitational, Parkland College, Champaign, IL
Two Person Show, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
Invitational, Freehand Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Thanksgiving Invitational, Ferrin Gallery, Croton on Hudson, NY
Functional Connection, Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
New York Tea Party, Dai Ichi, New York, NY
2001 Exchanging Views, Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Teapots Transformed, Portchester, NY
American Shino, Babcock Gallery, NY
Twenty-Two Ways of Clay: A National Ceramics Invitational
University of Texas at Tyler, TX
Teapots Transformed: The Studio Potters, PINCH Gallery, Northampton, MA
Salt & Ash, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
2000
Woodfire 2000: A Group Exhibition, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Focus on Function, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Twelve Potters, Troyer Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Clay / Wood / Fire / Salt, Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville, NC
SOFA Chicago, Ferrin Gallery, Croton on Hudson, NY
Enhancements, Handcrafted Functional Objects, Exhibits USA, Kansas City, MO
Bistro 1615, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Vessels That Pour, Vermont Clay Studio, Waterbury Center, VT
Twenty Stokers, Blue Heron Gallery, Deer Isle, ME
Different Stokes, International Woodfire Exhibition
University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, IA (Color Catalog)
Big Band, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
Kiss of Fire: A Celebration, Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham OR
1999
Pottery of Pleasure and Use, Ellipse Art Center, Arlington, VA
(continued) Serendipity: The Magic of Woodfired Ceramics Exhibition
Gallery 1021: Lill Street, Chicago, IL
Pottery for Pleasure and Use, Ellipse Arts Center, Arlington, VA
Wall to Wall Women, Gallery 101, UW-River Falls, River Falls, WI
Freedom of Fire: A National Ceramics Invitational, Spiers Gallery, Sim's Art
Center, Brevard, NC
Anderson Ranch Arts Center Faculty Exhibition, ARAC, Snowmass, CO
Women Clayworkers, Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
"Born of Ashes" Woodfired Ceramics, Decorative Arts Museum, Little Rock, AR
Functional Ceramics 1999, Wayne Center for the Arts
Wood/Salt/Soda, Atmospheric Fired Ceramics, Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC
1998 Woodfire Invitational, Ferrin Gallery, Northhampton, MA
Sixth Annual Teapot Exhibition, Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis, MO
A Women's Woodfire Invitational, Andrews University, Berrien Spring, MI
Featured Artist March, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Studio Days 98, Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
24th Annual Invitational Potter Show & Sale
Old Church Cultural Center, Demurest, NJ
1997
Fifth Annual Teapot Exhibition, Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Clay/Wood/Fire/Salt, Contemporary Artifacts Gallery, Borea, KY
Randy & Jan Johnston-Woodfired Pots, TRAX Gallery, Berkeley, CA
18 American Potters Exhibition, Moegi Gallery, Mashiko, Japan
Minnesota/Wisconsin Invitational, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Companions of the Cupboard, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Blue Heron Gallery, Deer Isle, MA
1996
Ceramics Invitational, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, WI
Woman in Clay, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
Side By Side, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Artist of the Month, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
1995
Two-Person Show, Raymond Gallery, St. Paul, MN
Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
Across the Big Muddy, Phipp's Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI
Five Functional Potters, Kramer Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
1994
Studio Days 1994 Invitational, Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
Warren MacKenzie Sphere of Influence Invitational
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, IL
25th Ceramics Invitational Exhibit -"Functional Ceramics"
Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI
1993
Ceramics Invitational - "Warren Mackenzie and Friends"
Bluffton College, Bluffton, OH
Two-Person Show, Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO
Featured Artist, Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN
Two-Person Show, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Ceramics Exhibition-Functional Pottery, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN
1992
6th Annual Great Lakes Show, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
1991
Sphere Of Influence, Pro Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Juried National, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX
1990 Xavier Puig, Minneapolis, MN
Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN
Juried Undergraduate Show, Southern Illinois University, Pro Art Gallery,
St. Louis, MO
1989 Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
Mask Hysteria Invitational, Pro Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
1988
Midwest Clay Invitational, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
The Clay Place, Pittsburgh, PA
PUBLIC/PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Stephen Alpert, Waltham, MA
Weisman Museum, Minneapolis, MN
Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA
Victoria Schonfeld Collection, New York, NY
Gary Portnoy, New York, NY
Roger Mandel, Lincolnwood, IL
Sandy Besser, Santa Fe, NM
Barbara and Ed Okun, Santa Fe, NM
Ted and Cathy Spear, Minnetonka, MN
PUBLICATION REFERENCES
American Contemporary Ceramics, Dong – Hun Chung, 2003
American Shino, The Glaze of a Thousand Faces, by Lester Richter, 2003
St. Paul Pioneer Press, “Potters’ Home/Studio Complex a World of Simplicity,”
by Mason Riddle, August 10, 2003
Living in the Country, “Room to Burn,” Spring 2003
The Art of Contemporary American Pottery, by Kevin Hulch 2001
Teapots Transformed, by Leslie Ferrin, 2000
Clay and Glazes for the Potter, by Robin Hopper, 2000
Ceramics Monthly, "Women Who Fire With Wood", October, 1998
Ceramics Monthly, January 1998
Clay Times, January 1998
Ceramics Monthly, "Sixth Monarch Exhibition," November 1991
Warren MacKenzie, An American Potter, by David Lewis, 1991
