Vida Collery received a BFA in ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1972 and has been happily making art ever since. In 1976, she moved to Seattle and began exploring different opportunities to make art in the Pacific Northwest. Vida studied at the Factory for Visual Arts and Pratt before returning to the University of Washington in 1994 for her second BFA in Printmaking and Painting. Additionally, Vida is a creative and talented chef and with her husband owns and operates “In Celebration Catering”. Vida teaches cooking classes locally where she inspires others with her love for making memorable, delicious and beautiful meals.
Vida joined Seward Park Clay Studio as a resident artist and her primary interests have been low-fire functional and sculptural ceramics, for the table. Creating the perfect serving piece is one expression in Vida’s ceramic work. Hand built- frequently elaborately painted, often with a lively sense of the humor or just plain rustic functionality.
For more information you can reach her at vidacollery@comcast.net.
For over 20 years I have made pots in fits and starts, usually when I found myself in a period of transition. Making pottery is a meditative activity for me. It's a chance to think in a different way and is a peaceful calming balance to my professional life. In the early-90's I joined Seward Park Clay Studio and later built a small studio behind my house. I primarily make functional pottery that is useful in daily life.
See more of Liz's work here.
Joel Gibson has been actively involved with clay since 1996, and shows and sells his work nationally. Working initially on the wheel, his classically inspired forms are sometimes altered by hand afterwards. While always producing high-fire ware, Raku is Joel's primary firing method. A traditional Japanese firing technique, Raku includes removing the glowing-hot ware from the kiln and plunging it into a combustible material actively affecting the glaze and clay qualities.
More of Joel's work can be seen at www.gonepotting.com.
Kathleen fell in love with clay in her twenties but a 30-year law career intervened. Studying at Seward Park in Seattle and Anderson Ranch in Colorado, kept that love alive and she now is making the transition from left to right brain perceptions. The lines and colors of the natural world and how the human form is part of nature inspires her aesthetic. She does both functional and sculptural work as well as combinations of the two.
Throughout my career of working in clay what has remained constant is an emphasis on earth related forms and subjects: rocks, eggs, fruits, gourds, females and voluptuous round shapes. I use the texture of rough or jagged clay, stamped or carved designs as the decoration and tint with oxides for minimal color and accent to let the clay itself show through.
Although I began making my ceramic career making functional pottery on the wheel, I now exclusively hand build. I am intrigued with asymmetry and the infinite variety of shapes that coil, slab, carving and pounding can produce. Most of my work is high fired to cone 10 in a gas kiln. Occasionally I do raku, saggar, pit firing and low fire oxidation for special effects.
Eric has been actively involved with Seward Park Clay Studio since 1991, first as a student, then as a resident artist and later as a member of the Board of Directors.
Liz O'Boyle grew up in the Chicago area and came out to the Pacific Northwest to attend the University of Washington in 1977. While at the UW, I had the privilege of studying ceramics under the instruction of Robert Sperry and Patti Warashina. In addition to my BFA in Ceramics I also obtained a teaching certificate. I have been a teacher for over 25 years and am currently teaching high school art. I have been an artist member with Seward Park Clay Studio since the mid 1980's, witnessing the growth of this wonderful studio, through its many changes, to what it is today.
If interested, you can contact me at lizzyob@hotmail.com
After taking a pottery class in high school in Los Angeles and one class from Susan Peterson at U.S.C. my pottery making skills lay dormant while I pursued a medical career. I began taking pottery classes again at Seward Park Clay Studio and started to seriously pursue clay after retiring 10 years ago. I make largely functional high fired hand built stoneware pieces usually fired with one or two shino glazes which gives my work a rustic and not always predictable look that I value in works of clay. I have served on the board of SPCS and as President for the last 6 years. I am very interested in promoting the clay arts in the Puget Sound area.
More of Art's work can be seen here.
You can contact Art at apasette@comcast.net.
While studying visual arts and art history in college I took an elective course in ceramics. From that point on, pottery became the focus of my artistic expression. I find that the shaping of a bit of earth into forms that become cherished instruments of daily life both fundamental and satisfying. The traditions of working clay, from ancient to contemporary, thrill and fuel my imagination. As a creator of functional objects, I see myself as part of that continuing tradition spanning thousands of years.