Andy Nasisse Workshop

Looking for Life in Clay

Attendees will enjoy two days with one of Georgia's top ceramicists, Andy Nasisse. In this wide-ranging demonstration, Andy will show the numerous forming methods he has developed for building and glazing the figurative work he has been making for the last twenty years. His work explores the tension between opposites such as light and dark; between conscious and unconscious; between matter and spirit. His figures, residing somewhere on the edge between playful whimsy and outright fear, are known for dynamic surfaces brought alive by layering slips and glazes with multiple firings.

Nasisse works improvisationally, finding and developing figures in a spontaneous fashion. He will demonstrate the various methods he uses to create layered textural surfaces and how he uses overglazing techniques to emphasize the nature of melted glass on clay. He will also present a slide lecture covering his influences and the evolution of his work. The class size will be limited at the artist's request.

Andy Nasisse Artist Statement

Over the years I have developed methods of working with clay that are meant to bring out the natural qualities of that material and of the process of drying, shrinking, glazing, melting, and firing. By multiple firing, and layering of slips and glazes, I try to make objects that have stratified active surfaces that snap and crackle with energy. I am looking for meaning and content in the dynamics of the process and trying to apply this to my general aesthetic or world view.

I am interested in the tension between opposites; between light and dark; male and female; between expansion and contraction; good and evil; organic and geometric; ration and intuition; mind and body; night and day; between our conscious lives and our subconscious self; between matter and spirit. The notion that our lives are bound by a mythic drama that unfolds spontaneously, and that there is an underlying geometry, hidden patterns, and layered meanings to all we see, is a preoccupation that informs much more than just my work.

For quite some time now I have been using the figure, the vessel, and the landscape as a primary image (or mythic image) through which I could express some thoughts about the human condition. I have tried to present a unified theme that ties together work that ranges from small scale utilitarian pots to large scale vessels and figures. I work improvisationaly, finding figures in the material, and developing them into an image, or a narrative that seems to have life. I like to think of these figures as part of a family of images that find their way through my hands into the outer world. At their best they present an enigmatic expression, somewhere on the edge between whimsy and fear.

Andy Nasisse Resume

Professional Experience

2005 - Emeritus Professor UGA

2001- 04 - Graduate Coordinator, Graduate Faculty, UGA.

1988 - Full Professor, The University of Georgia, Art Department, Athens, Georgia

1981 - 1983 Gallery Director Lamar Dodd School of Art

1995 - Visiting Professor, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snow Mass Colorado

1994 - Visiting Artist residency, Alfred University, New York

1990 - Visiting Artist residency, Appalachain Center for Arts and Crafts, Tenn.

1989 - Artist in Residence - Leighton Artist Colony, Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada

1979, 1980, 2001, 2003 - Professor UGA Studies Abroad, Cortona, Italy

1975 - Crafts Editor, New Art Examiner, Chicago Ill.

1975 - Sabatacle Replacement, University of Chicago

1974 - Head of Ceramics, Evanston Art Center, Evanston Ill.

Grants, Awards, Commissions

2001-03 - Nominator for Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellowships

2000 - Fall - UGA Center for the Humanities Fellowship

1997 - Senior Faculty Research Grant - UGA

1995 - Albert Christ Janer Award for a Lifetime of Creative Research – UGA.

1978 - National Endowment for the Arts Regional Fellowship, SECCA Winston Salem, NC

1981 - UGA Research Grant for study of Prinzhorn Collection and Musee Del Art Brut

1978 - Ford Foundation Research Grant - UGA - for study of Ceramic collections in American
Museums

1987 - Commission for St. Mary's Hospital, Athens Ga., wall relief

1985 - Commission for Portman Hotel in Singapore, Architectural Mural

1980 - Architectural Commission for Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport - four relief murals

Publications By Author

2003 - Introduction for Trans-Mission Exhibition, Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences

August, article in Kerameiki Techni, international mag. of Cerammic art, six pgs. color photos

2000 - “In the Hand of the Holy Spirit,” Forward by Nasisse, includes 21 photo credits to Nasisse.

1999 - National Conference for the Education of the Ceramic Arts Journal, “Transmitting the Subconscious.”

1998 - Ceramics Monthly, Article on the Art of Michalene Walsh, September.

Ceramics Art and Perception International, Article on the sculpture of Nancy Blum, November.

1996 - Review of Saupe Exhibition for Southern Arts Federation published in American Craft.

1995 - American Craft, Review of solo exhibition, page 57, Spring.

1994 - Ceramics Monthly, Review with color photo, page 58, February.

1992 - Catalogue essay for Voelker exhibition at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas.

1987 - Catalogue Essay for “Baking in the Sun,” a traveling exhibition from University Art Museum, Lafayette, Louisiana, thirty-six pages, including photos.

1986 - American Ceramics Magazine, March, Article on Akio Takamari
Fall, Review of Ron Meyers for Ceramics Monthly

1984 - Catalogue essay, "Laughing to Keep From Crying" pg 25, NOMC, New Orleans

Spring, Georgia Review, review of "Brotherhood of Clay" by John Burrison.

1983 - March, Art Papers, Article on Michael Simon, potter.

Atlanta Art Papers, review of Federighi - Fondow Show at Nexus in Atl.

August, Athens Observer, "The Work of a Visionary" article on Neli Mae Rowe

Summer - NCECA Journal, Article on Untrained Artists

1981 - Atlanta Art Papers, review of Maria Artemis Show at Nexus

Atlanta Art Papers, review of Amy Landesberg Show at Chastain Art Center

1980 - Apelles, University of Georgia mag. for the Arts, article on "Ceramics Southeast" UGA

1979 - Chicago New Art Examiner, article on "International Sculpture Conference" Todi Italy

Ceramics Monthly, review of Carlo Zauli at International Ceramic Symposium, Faenza, Italy

1978 - Craft Horizons, review of show by Maria Artemis at Atlanta Art Workers Coalition

1976 - Chicago New Art Examiner, review of Doug Hanson and Dennis Mitchell at Exhibit A Gallery

Chicago New Art Examiner, review of Classical Mediterranean Ceramics, University of Chicago

Midwest Arts Journal, Review of solo show by Richard Notkin at Allan Frumpkin Gallery, Chi.

Craft Horizons and New Art Examiner, review of Jackie Rice at Exhibit A Gallery

Craft Horizons, Review of Robert Arneson show at Allan Frumpkin Gallery, Chi.

Chicago New Art Examiner, review of solo show by Peter Volkos, "Clay Drawings" Exhibit A

Chicago New Art Examiner, article "CERAMIC VESSEL AS METAPHOR", the work of Richard Devore

Chicago New Art Examiner, book review "Hamada Potter" by Bernard Leach and "A Potters Way" by Susan Peterson

1975 - Chicago New Art Examiner, review of "20th Century American Folk Art" at Evanston Art Center

Chicago New Art Examiner, article about Dennis Oppenheim Performance at Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

Publications About Artist

2005 - "The Figure in Clay" gallery section, Lark Books

2004 - "500 Figures in Clay" Lark Books, international publication
March

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, review of solo show (with color photo) by Cathrine Fox

April, Ceramics Monthly, review of "Southern Face Jugs: Past and Present" color photo

2003 - "Craft and Art of Clay" international publication by Susan Peterson

Exhibition Catalogue "21st Century Ceramics" Columbus College of Art and Design

2002 - “Working With Clay” by Peterson, Prentice Hall, photo.

2001 - “Ceramics: A Potters Handbook,” portfolio section, photo.

Ceramics Monthly, October, Lead Article on Nasisse, three pages, color photos.

2000 - Ceramics Monthly, article on Group Exhibition at Macon Museum, color photo.

Boulder Weekly, Denver Post and Ceramics Monthly, short reviews of group show NCECA

Ceramics Monthly, review of two-person show, Barkin Leeds Gallery, Atl

"Contemporary Ceramics" international book by Susan Peterson, Watson Guptill, Color photos

1999 - Third Edition of Peterson’s “Art and Craft of Clay,” Portfolio Section.

1998 - Ceramics Art and Perception, international, Lead article titled “Inner Light Outer Dark,” five pages with seven color photos, fall.

Exhibition Catalogue, “Inner Light Outer Dark,” Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences, seventy-five pages with twenty-five color and forty black and white images. Two essays with eighteen pages of text.

Macon Telegraph newspaper, feature article "Sheding Light" about solo show at Macon Museum, four pgs with color photos

1995 - Atlanta Journal Constitution, review of two person show at Dorothy McRae Gallery

1994 - American Ceramics, November 1994, pg. 57, Review and photo of solo exhibition at Dorothy McRae Gallery.

New Orleans Art Review, pg 33. April review of two person show at Simone Stern Gallery, NO, LA

1993 - Book - The Mask as Art, Chronicle Books. Forwarded by Joseph Campbell, preface by Maurice Tuchman, full page color photo, pg. 78.

American Ceramics Mag., full pg add w color photo for solo show at Dorothe McRae

ov.Atl. Journal Constitution, review of solo show at Dorothy McRae Gallery, Nov. 2, text and photos

1991 - Fall, Ceramics Art and Perception, "Drama and Discontent in the Work of Andy Nasisse" by Samantha Krukowski, five page article with color photos - Australian Publication.

1988 - Spring. American Ceramics, Article, p. 38,

April, Art News, Review of one-person show, p. 166.

Winter, UGA Research Reporter, 4 page article, 12 photos plus text, pp. 21-24.

1980 - Article, “Andy Nasisse: Layered Crackle Patterns,” Ceramics Monthly, pp. 58-6l.

One and Two Person Shows

2004 - March - solo show, Signature Gallery, Atlanta

2002 - Two-person Show, Santa Fe Clay, New Mexico.

Solo show – “Big Pink,” Arrow Gallery, Athens, Georgia.

2001 - December, Wyndy Morehead Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana.

January, solo show, Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina.

1999 - October, Barkin – Leeds Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.

1998 - June, One-person show, Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.

January, “Inner Light Outer Dark,”; Solo Show, Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences, Catalogue.

1996 - October, One-person show, Columbus College, Columbus, Georgia.

1994 - December, Two-person show with color announcement, Dorothy McRae Gallery, Atlanta

March, Two-person show, Simone Stern Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana.

1993 - November, One-person exhibition, Dorothy McRae Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia

1992 - solo show , May, Dawson Gallery, Rochester, New York

1990 - October, solo, LewAllen Butler Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
September, solo, Pro Art Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri.

March, solo, Eve Mannes Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.

1988 - solo show, Jeff Kipness Fine Art, Atlanta

1987 - One-person show, February, Mario Villa Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana.

1986 - One-person show, February, Heath Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.

1984 - One-person show, Spring, May, Fay Gold Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.

Jan. - "Mans Best Friend" Invitational, Santa Fe Clay

Feb. - Three Person show "Sphere of Influence" Deland Museum of Art, travels

Feb. - Invitational "Cup" show Lill St. Arts Center, Chicago, Ill.

March - NCECA Invitational "Plates" Santa Fe Clay, Baltimore, NCECA

Group and Juried Invitational Shows

2005 - Sep - National Teapot Invitational III, Cedar Creek Gallery, NC

May -" Visceral Vessel" National Invitational, S. W. School of Art, San Antonio,Tx

Jan. - "EXCESS" National Invitational, The Clay Studio, Phili., Pa.

Jan. - "Mans Best Friend" Invitational, Santa Fe Clay

Feb. - Three Person show "Sphere of Influence" Deland Museum of Art, travels

Feb. - Invitational "Cup" show Lill St. Arts Center, Chicago, Ill.

March - NCECA Invitational "Plates" Santa Fe Clay, Baltimore, NCECA

2004 - Feb. "8 Fluid Ounces" National invitational Cup Show, LSU Baton Rouge, La

Feb. - "For The Table" invitational, Santa Fe Clay

Sep. - "Teapots" Invitational, Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, Mich.

Feb. - "Southern Face Jugs" Southern Pottery, Columbia, SC

June - "Tea" invitational Santa Fe Clay

August - 2004 - 03 - 05 "Perspectives, Fifty Georgia Potters" Oconee Arts Foundation

2003 - October, 21st Century Ceramics in the United States and Canada, Columbus College, Ohio.

April, - " Clay", Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, Atlanta.

Summer - Pottery Invitational, Santa Fe Clay, New Mexico.

Summer - Drawings by Southeastern Artists, Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina.

2002 - October, - Figurative Show, Blue Spiral I Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina.

September - “Figurative Expressed ”, Signature Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.

National Teapot Show, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmore, North Carolina.

“Modern Bestiary”, National Invitational, Wustum Museum, Racine,

Wisconsin. 2001 - November -

“Black and White”, National Invitational, Blue Spiral Gallery, North Carolina.

September - National Figurative Ceramics, Baltimore Clayworks.

2000 - November - Everson Museum Invitational, National Traveling Exhibition, Catalogue.

1999 - September - Landy Collection of Contemporary Ceramics, Macon Museum.

September - Chester Springs Invitational, “Nine Decades”, Curated by Rudio Autio.

July - Southeaster Ceramics Invitational, Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina.

April - Contemporary Ceramics from Georgia Collections, Macon Museum, Catalogue.

March - Clay Cup II National Juried Exhibition, University Museum, SIU.

February - Ceramic Invitational, Sybaris Gallery, Michigan.

March - Ceramic Figurative Invitational, NCECA Conference, Columbus, Ohio.

1995 - “After Appalachia” Invitational at the West Virginia University Museum of Art.

1992 - Winter National Figurative Ceramics Society for Ceramic Arts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1991 - April - LaGrange National - Juried, LaGrange College, Georgia.
October - “Day of the Dead” Show, Pro Art Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri.

April - Inside Visions, Ashville County Museum, North Carolina.

September - Parallel Visions, Los Angeles County Museum Travels to Switzerland, Spain and Tokyo

1990 - “Sacred Places” invitational - Simms Fine Arts, New Orleans, Louisiana.

1988 - October - High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia, Contemporary Georgia Artists.

October - "Birmingham Museum Looking South a Different Dixie;" show travels to Memphis Brooks Museum Museum of Art, Tennessee, St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts, Florida, Columbus Museum,
Georgia, New Orleans, Louisiana Contemporary Arts Center.

1986 - Dark Humor in the South, Birmingham Museum of Art, Travels to Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas.

1983 - August-September, Eccentrics, 20 Southeastern Artists, SECCA, Winston Salem, NC

September - Birmingham Museum Biannual, Birmingham, Alabama.

1982 - “New Epiphanies” National Invitational Show of Contemporary Religious Art, Traveling Show.

1981 - National Collection of Fine Arts Smithsonian Institution, Artists of Appalachia.

1979 - National Functional Ceramics, National Invitational at Wooster Museum of Art, Wooster, Ohio.

Visting Artist Lectures and Workshops

2004 - Summer - Hambidge Center, Rabin Gap Georgia

Fall - Pottery Northeast Seattle, Wash.

1999 - Panel Moderator, “Transmitting the Subconscious”, NCECA Conference, Columbus, Ohio.

1997 - Visiting Artist Lecture and workshop at University of South Carolina.

1996 - October, Visiting Artist, Columbus College, Columbus, Georgia, Lecture.

October - Visiting Artist, Southeastern College, Art Conference, Paper titled: “The Shoe That Rode the Howling Tornado” narrative art in Southern Outsiders, Charleston, South Carolina.

January - Visiting Artist, Stetson University, Orlando, Florida, Lecture.

April, - Visiting Artist, Cal. State University, Long Beach, California, Lecture.

1995 - Summer - Visiting Artist, Anderson Ranch Art Center, Aspen, Colorado, Lecture.

1994 - Visiting Artist, Alfred University, two-week workshop and lecture.

1990 - April, artist in residence, Appalachain Center for Art, Tennessee.

1989 - October, slide lecture, Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta, Canada.

1988 - November, panel discussion, Ringling Museum School, Sarasota, Florida.

October - panel discussion, Birmingham Museum, Birmingham, Alabama.

May - Slide Lecture at University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama.

October - Penland School, Penland, North Carolina.

February - Guest Lecture at University of Indiana, Bloomington, Indiana.

March - Guest Lecture and Visiting Artist, Workshop, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.

Fall - Lecture, Maryland Art Institute, Baltimore, Maryland.

Juror Guest Curator

2004 - Jurror for the MFA Grants Program, Joan Mitchell Foundation, NY

2003 - Guest Curator for Trans-Mission Exhibition, Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences, Macon, Georgia.

1988 - Spring Juror for LaGrange National, LaGrange, Georgia.

1987 - Spring Juror for "Bathhouse Exhibition" at the Atlanta Arts Festival, Piedmont Park.

Invited Guest Curator for an Exhibition of Black Visionary & Outsider Artists, “Mojo Working,” at Central Florida University, Orlando, Florida.

1976-1986 - Curator of Ceramics Southeast at The University of Georgia, l0 years in a row.

1984 - Guest Curator, Group Folk Art Show, Nexus Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.

Public Collections

Alfred University of American Ceramics, Alfred, New York

Nelson Fine Art Center, Tempe, Arizona

Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Georgia

Wustum Museum of Fine Art, Racine, Wisconsin

Macon Museum of Arts & Sciences, Macon, Georgia

Western Virginia Museum of Art, Roanoke, Virginia

High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia

Coca-Cola Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia

Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia

Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore

The Museum of Contemporary Art, Atlanta, Georgia