BEECHER, SUSAN
NEW YORK
NEW YORK
In my working methods and style I attempt to carry on the folk traditions of the past, making pots that are beautiful, functional and lyrical. I try to marry these concepts to a contemporary flavor of form, surface and gesture. Surface freshness and texture are very important to me as I strive for fluidity and movement in the work.
I am greatly influenced by the forests, streams and mountains of the rural setting in which I reside. The textures of bark, the movement of water jumping over rocks, the insects flitting about, and the majestic outlines of the mountains – all make their imprint on me. These bits of nature inhabit my work in subtle ways such as the found pieces of wood that I use to texture the pots, the forms of leaves and berries that become my favorite decoration and the movement of ash glazes over the walls of a pot, like tiny flowing streams. And now that all my work is fired in my noborigama kiln I feel that I am a partner with the actions of the kiln, accepting gratefully the ash, heat and flames that the kiln gifts to my pots.
I am increasingly concerned about the preservation of the flora and fauna of our planet and these themes are finding their way into my work as I add small animals, birds, fish, insects and plant life to my pieces. And always, my pots speak of home, family and close friends sitting down to a delicious meal served in hand-made vessels that reflect the warmth and generosity of the occasion.
Beecher Pottery, East Jewett, NY
1989 to Present
Owner and artisan of Beecher Pottery, located in a rural setting with gas and wood kilns. Selling one of a kind and customized lines of pottery to individuals, galleries and shops.
Awards
Jan. 2007
Purchase award, L&L Kilns permanent collection
Jan. 2006
Prize, “Arts Feastival” Long Boat Key Center for the Arts, LBK, Fl.
Feb. 2006,2007
Artist in Residence, Carla’s Clay, Sarasota, Fla
July 2001
Grants for New York State Artists 2001, awarded by Craft Alliance of NY
Professional Experience
March 2006
Presenter, National Council for Education in Ceramic Arts, Portland, Or
2004 to present
Dept. Head Ceramics, Sugar Maples Center for the Arts, Maplecrest, NY
Teaching weekly classes and workshops, planning curriculum
1998 to present
The Art School at Old Church, Demarest, NJ, weekly classes
1998 to 2002
Earthworks Pottery, 1705 First Ave, NY, NY, weekly classes
Selected Exhibitions
Nov.2007
“30 X 5”, Invitational, Akar Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
Oct.2007
“Drink It In”, Invitational, Worcester Center for the Arts, Worcester, Ma
June 2007
“Table Tops,” Invitational, Longbeach Island Foundation for Arts, Loveladies, NJ
April 2007
15th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Pa. Juror: Malcolm Davis
Jan 2007
“40 Over 40”, Invitational, The Clay Place, Carnegie, Pa
Feb 2007
Solo Show, “Recent Work”. Carla’s Clay, Sarasota, Fl
July 2006
Solo Show “Recent Work”, MT Burton Gallery, Surf City, NJ
April 2006
“The Elegant Table”, Invitational, Peter’s Valley Gallery, Layton, NJ
Feb 2006
Solo Show “Recent Work”, Carla’s Clay, Sarasota, Fl
Oct 2005
“Voices In Ceramics”, Invitational, Yager Museum, Hartwick College, NY
Sept 2005
“Family Matters”, Baltimore Clayworks, Md Jurors: Kirt & Eva Mangus
April 2005
13th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Pa Juror: John Glick
Catskill Mountain Foundation Gallery, Juried, Hunter, NY
March 2005
Potters of the Mid-Atlantic, Invitational, NCECA, Annapolis, Md
Jan 2004
“Karen Karnes Invitational” Worcester Center for the Arts, Worcester, Ma
“Handle It” Invitational, Worcester Center for the Arts, Worcester, Ma
March 2004
“The Fire Within” Invitational, Seton Gallery, Univ. of New Haven, Ct
“Teabowls” Invitational, NCECA, Indianapolis, In
July 2003
Ceramics 2003, Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, Ct Juror: Susan Peterson
May 2003
Pottery Invitational, Worcester Center for Crafts, Ma Juror: Karen Karnes
Feb 2003
Solo Show, Carla’s Clay, Sarasota, Fl
1997 to 2003
“Made In Clay” National Invitational, Greenwich House Pottery, NY, NY
Aug 2002
“The Nature of Wood & Soda” 2 Person show, The Clay Place, Pittsburgh, Pa
April 2002
10th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Ephrata, Pa Juror: Jack Troy
March 2002
Functional Ceramics 2002, Wooster, Ohio Juror: Phyllis Blair Clark
Feb 2002
Utilitarian Ceramic National, Baton Rouge, La Juror: Ron Meyers
Nov 2001
“Winterfest 2001” National Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks, Md
July 1999,2000,2001
“Karen Karnes & Friends” National Invitational, Waterbury, Vt
April 2001
“Reflections On Spring” Solo Show, MT Burton Gallery, Surf City, NJ
March 2001
“Ceramics 2001” Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, Ct Juror: John Glick
March 2000
“The 2000 International Orton Cone Box Show, Baker Univ. Ks
Sept 1999
“USA Craft Today” Silvermine Art Center, Juried New Canaan, Ct
June 1999
National Teapot Show IV, Invitational, Creedmore, NC
May 1999
7th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Pa Juror: Warren MacKenzie
March 1999
“Ceramics Monthly International Exhibition”, Columbus Ohio Juried
Feb 1999
“Visual Midras” 2 person show, Berger Gallery, Pittsburgh, Pa
Aug 1997
Monarch National Ceramic Competition, Florence, Al Juror: Michael Monroe
Aug 1997
“Ceramics 1997” Mill Gallery, Guilford, Ct Jurrors: Wayne Higby & William Daley
Feb 1997
“New York State Contemporary Crafts” New York State Museum, Albany, NY
“Shades of Shino” Baltimore Clayworks, Md Juror: Malcolm Davis
Sept 1996
1996 Monarch National Ceramic Competition, Florence, Al Juror: Toni Sikes
Aug 1996
Ceramic USA 1996, Denton Tx Juror: Don Reitz
JUROR FOR THE FOLLOWING EXHIBITIONS
March 2008
“Women with Wood; Three Generations, NCECA, Pittsburgh, Pa
March 2002
“30th Annual Earthworks Exhibition” South County Art Asso. Kingston, RI
July 2001,2002,2003
“Journeys in Clay” Mountain Top Gallery, Windham, NY
March 1999
“Vessels Tat Pour” Vermont Clay Center, Waterbury, Vt
July 1993
“Vessels Real & Imagined”Mountain Top Gallery, Windham, NY
PUBLICATIONS
Susan Beecher Woodfired Pottery, Oct.2005, Catskill Mountain Press, 155 pages
Clay Times, Vol.13 No.2 March /April 2006; Vol 16 No.2 2005 March/April
500 Pitchers, Sept. 2006, Lark Books, Terry Guess, editor
Kaatskill Life, Fall 2006, Vol.21, No.3, Feature Article
Arts Alive, Greene County Council on the Arts, Catskill, NY Jan. 200
The Daily Freeman, Kingston, NY, Nov.17,2005
The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY, Sept. 30,2005
The Longboat Observer, Longboat Key, Fl Feb 26, 2004
The New York Times, Oct. 19,2002
The New York Times, March 14, 2003
Ceramics Monthly, Jan. 2006; Sept. 2005; Sept 2002; April 2001; April 1998; Oct. 1995
Clay Times, 1998
The Art of Contemporary American Potters by Kevin Hluch, Krause Pub. Aug.2001
The Best of Pottery Vol.II by Fina & Gustin, Rockport Pub. Nov. 1998
The Best of New Ceramic Art, Toni Sikes, Handbooks Inc, May 1997
The Best of Pottery Vol.I by Fairbanks & Fina, Rockport Pub. Nov.1996
WORKSHOPS TAUGHT AT FOLLOWING:
Nov 2007
Dowling College, Oakdale, NY
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Sugar Maples Center for the Arts, Windham, NY
July 2007
Touchstone Center for the Arts, Farmington, Pa. May 2006
The Clay Art Guild, Sag Harbor, NY May 2004,2005
New Jersey Pottery Guild, Denville, NJ
June 2003.2005
Mud Flat Studio, Somerville, Ma
Feb 2004, 2005, 2006
Carla’s Clay, Sarasota, Fl
Jan to March 2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Longboat Key Center for the Arts, Longboat Key,Fl
June 1999, 2001,2003,2006
Peter’s Valley Craft Education Center, Layton, NJ
March 2002
South County Art Asso. Kingston, RI
July 2000,2001,2002
Long Beach Island Foundation for Arts, Loveladies, NJ
Jan 2002
Interlaken School of Art, Stockbridge, Ma Oct 1999, 2002,2006,2007
Roberson Museum & Science Center, Binghamton, NY
Aug 2004
Truro Center for the Arts, Castle Hill, Truro, Ma
April 2000
Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
April 2000
The Potter’s Wheel, Flushing, NY
Feb 2000
Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, Ct
Nov 1999
Worcester Center for the Crafts, Worcester, Ma.
Spring 1999
Horace Mann Secondary School, Riverdale, NY
Craft Students League, YWCA of City of NY
June 1995
Hudson River Potters Asso. Port Jefferson, NY
May 1994
Smithy Pioneer Pottery, Cooperstown, NY April 1994
Montgomery Potters Asso. Potomac, Md
EDUCATION
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mi. BA 1968
Ceramic Studies with: Judith Baldwin, Camille Billops, Susan Peterson, Kim Dickey, Michael Boyer Woody Hughes, Bruce Winn, Michael Simon, Karen Karnes, Jeff Oestreich, Warren Mackenzie, Malcolm Davis
I am greatly influenced by the forests, streams and mountains of the rural setting in which I reside. The textures of bark, the movement of water jumping over rocks, the insects flitting about, and the majestic outlines of the mountains – all make their imprint on me. These bits of nature inhabit my work in subtle ways such as the found pieces of wood that I use to texture the pots, the forms of leaves and berries that become my favorite decoration and the movement of ash glazes over the walls of a pot, like tiny flowing streams. And now that all my work is fired in my noborigama kiln I feel that I am a partner with the actions of the kiln, accepting gratefully the ash, heat and flames that the kiln gifts to my pots.
I am increasingly concerned about the preservation of the flora and fauna of our planet and these themes are finding their way into my work as I add small animals, birds, fish, insects and plant life to my pieces. And always, my pots speak of home, family and close friends sitting down to a delicious meal served in hand-made vessels that reflect the warmth and generosity of the occasion.
Beecher Pottery, East Jewett, NY
1989 to Present
Owner and artisan of Beecher Pottery, located in a rural setting with gas and wood kilns. Selling one of a kind and customized lines of pottery to individuals, galleries and shops.
Awards
Jan. 2007
Purchase award, L&L Kilns permanent collection
Jan. 2006
Prize, “Arts Feastival” Long Boat Key Center for the Arts, LBK, Fl.
Feb. 2006,2007
Artist in Residence, Carla’s Clay, Sarasota, Fla
July 2001
Grants for New York State Artists 2001, awarded by Craft Alliance of NY
Professional Experience
March 2006
Presenter, National Council for Education in Ceramic Arts, Portland, Or
2004 to present
Dept. Head Ceramics, Sugar Maples Center for the Arts, Maplecrest, NY
Teaching weekly classes and workshops, planning curriculum
1998 to present
The Art School at Old Church, Demarest, NJ, weekly classes
1998 to 2002
Earthworks Pottery, 1705 First Ave, NY, NY, weekly classes
Selected Exhibitions
Nov.2007
“30 X 5”, Invitational, Akar Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
Oct.2007
“Drink It In”, Invitational, Worcester Center for the Arts, Worcester, Ma
June 2007
“Table Tops,” Invitational, Longbeach Island Foundation for Arts, Loveladies, NJ
April 2007
15th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Pa. Juror: Malcolm Davis
Jan 2007
“40 Over 40”, Invitational, The Clay Place, Carnegie, Pa
Feb 2007
Solo Show, “Recent Work”. Carla’s Clay, Sarasota, Fl
July 2006
Solo Show “Recent Work”, MT Burton Gallery, Surf City, NJ
April 2006
“The Elegant Table”, Invitational, Peter’s Valley Gallery, Layton, NJ
Feb 2006
Solo Show “Recent Work”, Carla’s Clay, Sarasota, Fl
Oct 2005
“Voices In Ceramics”, Invitational, Yager Museum, Hartwick College, NY
Sept 2005
“Family Matters”, Baltimore Clayworks, Md Jurors: Kirt & Eva Mangus
April 2005
13th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Pa Juror: John Glick
Catskill Mountain Foundation Gallery, Juried, Hunter, NY
March 2005
Potters of the Mid-Atlantic, Invitational, NCECA, Annapolis, Md
Jan 2004
“Karen Karnes Invitational” Worcester Center for the Arts, Worcester, Ma
“Handle It” Invitational, Worcester Center for the Arts, Worcester, Ma
March 2004
“The Fire Within” Invitational, Seton Gallery, Univ. of New Haven, Ct
“Teabowls” Invitational, NCECA, Indianapolis, In
July 2003
Ceramics 2003, Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, Ct Juror: Susan Peterson
May 2003
Pottery Invitational, Worcester Center for Crafts, Ma Juror: Karen Karnes
Feb 2003
Solo Show, Carla’s Clay, Sarasota, Fl
1997 to 2003
“Made In Clay” National Invitational, Greenwich House Pottery, NY, NY
Aug 2002
“The Nature of Wood & Soda” 2 Person show, The Clay Place, Pittsburgh, Pa
April 2002
10th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Ephrata, Pa Juror: Jack Troy
March 2002
Functional Ceramics 2002, Wooster, Ohio Juror: Phyllis Blair Clark
Feb 2002
Utilitarian Ceramic National, Baton Rouge, La Juror: Ron Meyers
Nov 2001
“Winterfest 2001” National Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks, Md
July 1999,2000,2001
“Karen Karnes & Friends” National Invitational, Waterbury, Vt
April 2001
“Reflections On Spring” Solo Show, MT Burton Gallery, Surf City, NJ
March 2001
“Ceramics 2001” Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, Ct Juror: John Glick
March 2000
“The 2000 International Orton Cone Box Show, Baker Univ. Ks
Sept 1999
“USA Craft Today” Silvermine Art Center, Juried New Canaan, Ct
June 1999
National Teapot Show IV, Invitational, Creedmore, NC
May 1999
7th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Pa Juror: Warren MacKenzie
March 1999
“Ceramics Monthly International Exhibition”, Columbus Ohio Juried
Feb 1999
“Visual Midras” 2 person show, Berger Gallery, Pittsburgh, Pa
Aug 1997
Monarch National Ceramic Competition, Florence, Al Juror: Michael Monroe
Aug 1997
“Ceramics 1997” Mill Gallery, Guilford, Ct Jurrors: Wayne Higby & William Daley
Feb 1997
“New York State Contemporary Crafts” New York State Museum, Albany, NY
“Shades of Shino” Baltimore Clayworks, Md Juror: Malcolm Davis
Sept 1996
1996 Monarch National Ceramic Competition, Florence, Al Juror: Toni Sikes
Aug 1996
Ceramic USA 1996, Denton Tx Juror: Don Reitz
JUROR FOR THE FOLLOWING EXHIBITIONS
March 2008
“Women with Wood; Three Generations, NCECA, Pittsburgh, Pa
March 2002
“30th Annual Earthworks Exhibition” South County Art Asso. Kingston, RI
July 2001,2002,2003
“Journeys in Clay” Mountain Top Gallery, Windham, NY
March 1999
“Vessels Tat Pour” Vermont Clay Center, Waterbury, Vt
July 1993
“Vessels Real & Imagined”Mountain Top Gallery, Windham, NY
PUBLICATIONS
Susan Beecher Woodfired Pottery, Oct.2005, Catskill Mountain Press, 155 pages
Clay Times, Vol.13 No.2 March /April 2006; Vol 16 No.2 2005 March/April
500 Pitchers, Sept. 2006, Lark Books, Terry Guess, editor
Kaatskill Life, Fall 2006, Vol.21, No.3, Feature Article
Arts Alive, Greene County Council on the Arts, Catskill, NY Jan. 200
The Daily Freeman, Kingston, NY, Nov.17,2005
The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY, Sept. 30,2005
The Longboat Observer, Longboat Key, Fl Feb 26, 2004
The New York Times, Oct. 19,2002
The New York Times, March 14, 2003
Ceramics Monthly, Jan. 2006; Sept. 2005; Sept 2002; April 2001; April 1998; Oct. 1995
Clay Times, 1998
The Art of Contemporary American Potters by Kevin Hluch, Krause Pub. Aug.2001
The Best of Pottery Vol.II by Fina & Gustin, Rockport Pub. Nov. 1998
The Best of New Ceramic Art, Toni Sikes, Handbooks Inc, May 1997
The Best of Pottery Vol.I by Fairbanks & Fina, Rockport Pub. Nov.1996
WORKSHOPS TAUGHT AT FOLLOWING:
Nov 2007
Dowling College, Oakdale, NY
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Sugar Maples Center for the Arts, Windham, NY
July 2007
Touchstone Center for the Arts, Farmington, Pa. May 2006
The Clay Art Guild, Sag Harbor, NY May 2004,2005
New Jersey Pottery Guild, Denville, NJ
June 2003.2005
Mud Flat Studio, Somerville, Ma
Feb 2004, 2005, 2006
Carla’s Clay, Sarasota, Fl
Jan to March 2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Longboat Key Center for the Arts, Longboat Key,Fl
June 1999, 2001,2003,2006
Peter’s Valley Craft Education Center, Layton, NJ
March 2002
South County Art Asso. Kingston, RI
July 2000,2001,2002
Long Beach Island Foundation for Arts, Loveladies, NJ
Jan 2002
Interlaken School of Art, Stockbridge, Ma Oct 1999, 2002,2006,2007
Roberson Museum & Science Center, Binghamton, NY
Aug 2004
Truro Center for the Arts, Castle Hill, Truro, Ma
April 2000
Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
April 2000
The Potter’s Wheel, Flushing, NY
Feb 2000
Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, Ct
Nov 1999
Worcester Center for the Crafts, Worcester, Ma.
Spring 1999
Horace Mann Secondary School, Riverdale, NY
Craft Students League, YWCA of City of NY
June 1995
Hudson River Potters Asso. Port Jefferson, NY
May 1994
Smithy Pioneer Pottery, Cooperstown, NY April 1994
Montgomery Potters Asso. Potomac, Md
EDUCATION
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mi. BA 1968
Ceramic Studies with: Judith Baldwin, Camille Billops, Susan Peterson, Kim Dickey, Michael Boyer Woody Hughes, Bruce Winn, Michael Simon, Karen Karnes, Jeff Oestreich, Warren Mackenzie, Malcolm Davis
