Crisha Yantis

Artist Statement

I have worked with clay at local community studios for many years before attending school. I am now working towards my BFA in ceramics at The University of Georgia in Athens and teaching on and off the wheel at Gooddirt.

I primarily do hand-building and figurative clay work adding occasional metal and wire attachments. Every few months I take a break and sit down at the wheel for a day or two to clear my mind. I've developed a style over the last few years which consists of colored slips, sgraffito and oxide washes. I find myself mentally chewing through something in life and then sorting it out in my studio. I try to get this to come across in my figures.

I am working towards exploring more surface depth, rougher glaze textures, and larger forms. I have generally kept to one figure at a time but am now starting to create a communication of the figure and its surroundings. I want to move away from parts of the solo encounter and bring in multiple figures and other objects. This shift also includes exploring new firing methods and while I've mainly worked with electric kilns my work is now coming from electric, gas, and salt firings.

Crisha Yantis Resume

Education

2001-2005 Studio Assistant at the Pottery School. Seattle, WA.

2005-current Studio Assistant at Gooddirt. Athens, GA.

Current BFA Ceramics Candidate UGA Athens, GA.

Awards

2003 Work of Note, Kirkland Summerfest.

Juried Group Shows

2006 Fired Works. Macon, GA.

2005 Functional Works for the Table. Gooddirt Gallery. Athens, GA.

2005 Updown Gallery. Benefit For Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Victims. Athens, GA.

2005 Edmonds Art Festival Juried Gallery. Edmonds, WA

2005 Phinney/Greenwood Artwalk. Seattle, WA.

2005 Pets on Parade. Arts Council of Snohomish County. Everett, WA.

2004 Edmonds Art Festival Juried Gallery. Edmonds, WA.

2004 Kenmore Art Show. Kenmore, WA

2004 First Thursday Artwalk. Megan Mary Olander Florist. Seattle, WA.

2004 The Pottery School Gallery. Seattle, WA.

2003 Trine Studios. Ballard Artwalk. Seattle, WA.

2002 Edmonds Art Festival Juried Gallery. Edmonds, WA.

2002 Kenmore Art Show. Kenmore, WA.

2002 Trine Studios. Ballard Artwalk. Seattle, WA.

Juried Art Festivals, Markets and Fairs

2006 Southworks Festival. Watkinsville, GA.

2005 Oconee County Arts Foundation Holiday Market. Athens, GA.

2005 Gooddirt Holiday Sale. Athens, GA.

2005 University Street Fair. Seattle, WA.

2005 Fremont Fair. Seattle, WA.

2004 Kirkland Summerfest. Kirkland, WA.

2004 Benefit for Homeless Women and Children. Federal Way, WA.

2004 Phinney Ridge Winter Festival. Seattle, WA.

2004 University Street Fair. Seattle, WA.

2004 Fremont Fair. Seattle, WA.

2003 Kirkland Summerfest. Kirkland, WA.

2003 University Street Fair. Seattle, WA.

2003 Fremont Fair. Seattle, WA.

2003 Ballard Seafood fest. Seattle, WA.

2003 Phinney Ridge Winter Festival. Seattle, WA.

2002 Phinney Ridge Winter Festival. Seattle, WA.

Merritt Melancon (2006). "Potters Throw Different Kind of Bowl Party. Raising Hunger Awareness", Athens Banner-Herald, 6 Jan. p. cover and A8.

David Walter Banks (2005). "Proportions in Pottery", Athens Banner-Herald, 11 Dec.

Teaching Experience

2006 Narrative Handbuilding. "Finding Your Voice in Clay." Gooddirt. Athens, GA.

Sculpture class. Gooddirt. Athens, GA.

2007 On and off the wheel. Gooddirt. Athens, GA.