American Masters, a landmark invitational exhibition highlighting sixteen of the country's most established and talented studio potters is showing at MudFire Gallery May 10, 2008 through June 21, 2008.
American Masters features fine craft by American potters whose work has shaped the landscape of contemporary ceramics.
May 10-June 21
Reception Saturday, May 10, from 5-9 pm.
Function or disfunction, vessel or sculpture, utility or uselessness, clay or ceramic, potter or artist; these are words that the “potter, artist, or ceramist,” for lack of better term, often use in describing their work and identifying who they are, or what they do.
The idea of vessel or containment is a dominant concept in my work. While “trained as a functional potter,” I have experiemented with many facets of clay and a wide range of firing techniques, however, I have always felt a certain obligation to the utility of a vessel. Antiques and weathered objects of utility that are enriched by the patina of time are of great interest to me. Having a background in Graphic Design, I find old signs, advertisements, schematic plans, numbers and typography quite beautiful, in surface, design and color.
These influences are apparent in my work. Pulling from my background as a designer, I am interested in combining “pottery” with an identity that is aesthetically and conceptually complex, while maintaining, or referencing, its useability as a functional object.
Education
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, Pennsylvania. Master of Fine Arts Degree, Ceramics. GPA 3.95/4.0 May, 2001.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, Wisconsin. Bachelor of Fine
Arts Degree, in Art/Graphic Design. GPA 3.46/4.0 May, 1998.
Selected Exhibitions
The Firm Ceramics, From Four Directions - Juried Exhibition. Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, GA. November 2008.
Another View; Pots + Sculpture - Invitational Exhibition. OCAF Arts Center, Watkinsville, GA. August 2008.
The Firm in Pennsylvania - Juried Exhibition. Stonewall Gallery, Cambridge Springs, PA. August 2008.
Macon Fired Works, 2008 - Invitational Exhibition. Central City Park Hall, Macon, GA. April 2008.
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Alumni Ceramics Invitational. Pittsburgh, PA. March 2008.
Americana Refigured, NCECA 2008 - Juried Exhibition. Modernformations Gallery and Performance Space, Pittsburgh, PA. March 2008.
Seeded: The Growth and Development of a Singular Idea - Invitational Exhibition. Terra Incognito Gallery, Oak Park, Il. February 2008.
UW-Whitewater Alumni Invitational. Fiskum Art Gallery, University Center, Whitewater, WI. January 2008.
Native Soil, Ceramics Invitational Exhibition. The Hudgens Arts Center, Duluth, GA. December 2007.
The Firm at Brigham Young University. Gallery 303 - Harris Fine Arts Center, Provo UT. November 2007.
Perspectives 2007: Georgia Potters & Collectors 5, Invitational. OCAF Arts Center, Watkinsville, GA. August 2007.
Valdosta State University, Annual Art Faculty Exhibition. VSU Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta, GA. August 2007.
2007 Georgia Pottery - Invitational Exhibition. Hambidge Art Center, Rabun Gap, GA. July 2007.
Teapots of All Kinds - Invitational Exhibition. Cervini Hass Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ. June 2007.
20th Annual, Best of Spring into Art - Juried Exhibition. Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, GA. June 2007.
Industrial Identity-Developing the American South - Juried Exhibition. Gallery RFD, Swainsboro, GA. April 2007.
18th Annual Juried Teapot Exhibition, On the Road Again. Chairoscuro Galleries, Chicago, IL. April 2007.
Fired Works 2007 Ceramics Invitational Exhibition. Central City Park Hall, Macon, GA. April 2007.
Draw Project - Invitational Exhibition. Valdosta State University Center, Valdosta, GA. March 2007.
The Firm NCECA - 2007; Inspiration & Evolution - Juried Exhibition. Krantz Gallery, JCTC, Louisville, KY. March 2007.
Valdosta State University, Art Faculty. Okefenokee Heritage Center, Waycross, GA. March 2007.
Cup: Intimate Object V - Juried Exhibition. Charlie Cummings Clay Studio, Ft. Wayne, IN. November 2006.
10 x 10; Southern Artists League Members Exhibtion. Hildegard's, Valdosta, GA. November 2006.
18th Annual Art in Gadsden - Juried Exhibition. Gadsden Arts Center, Quincy, FL. November 2006.
"Funk-Tion" National 3 - Juried Ceramics Exhibition. Stretch Gallery, Pineville, NC. November 2006.
Performances in Clay, 2006 - Invitational Exhibition. Red Bank Gallery, Chattanooga, TN. November 2006.
Ceramics Biennial, 2006 - Juried Exhibition. New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH. October 2006.
Southern Artist League, Fall 2006 - Juried Exhibition. Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, GA. October 2006.
Blue-Grass Clay National - Juried Exhibition. Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY. October 2006.
Perspectives 2006: Georgia Potters & Collectors 4, Invitational. OCAF Arts Center, Watkinsville, GA. August 2006.
Valdosta State University, Annual Art Faculty Exhibition. VSU Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta, GA. August 2006.
Michael T. Schmidt, Featured Artist - Solo Exhibit. Signature Shop & Gallery, Atlanta, GA. July 2006.
Thomasville Juried Art Exhibition. Thomasville Cultural Arts Center, Thomasville, GA. June 2006.
19th Annual Spring Into Art - Juried Exhibition. Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, GA. May 2006.
Atlanta Teapot Festival: 100 Teapots - Invitational Exhibition. Signature Shop & Gallery, Atlanta, GA. April 2006.
16th San Angelo National Ceramics Competition - Juried Exhibition. Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX. April 2006.
Urban Affair, 17th Annual Juried Teapot Exhibition. Chairoscuro Galleries, Chicago, IL. April 2006.
8 Fluid Ounces 2, Juried Cup Exhibition. LSU, Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA. March 2006.
Bainbridge Juried Art Exhibition, 2006. Bainbridge, GA. March 2006.
Fired Works 2006 - Ceramics Invitational. Macon Community Gallery, Macon, GA. March 2006.
The Firm NCECA, Works in Clay - Juried Exhibition. The Real Mother Goose Gallery, Portland, OR. March 2006.
National Teapot Invitational. Taylor Gallery, University of Arkansas, Monticello, AR. February 2006.
Figurative Ceramics Invitational Exhibition. Cervini Hass Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ. February 2006.
"Funk-Tion" National 2 - Juried Ceramics Exhibition. Stretch Gallery, Pineville, NC. November 2005.
Beautification 2: Contemporary Design & Type - Invitational Exhibition. Bates Gallery, EUP, Edinboro, PA. October 2005.
Southern Artist League, Fall 2005 - Juried Exhibition. Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, GA. October 2005.
Perspectives 2005: Georgia Potters & Collectors 3, Invitational. OCAF Arts Center, Watkinsville, GA. August 2005.
Valdosta State University, Annual Art Faculty Exhibition. VSU Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta, GA. August, 2005.
Hot Ice 2005, Juried Teapot Exhibition. Blue Spiral 1 Gallery, Asheville, NC. June 2005.
5th Annual National Juried Cup Exhibition. Gallery 138, Kent, OH. May 2005.
The Firm '05, From 4 Directions - Juried Exhibition. Merwin & Wakeley Galleries, IWU. Bloomington IL. April 2005.
16th Annual Juried Teapot Exhibition, On the Road. Chairoscuro Galleries, Chicago, IL. April 2005.
Michael T Schmidt, New Work - Solo Exhibition. Art Center West, Roswell, GA. March 2005.
NCECA Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Retrospective - Invitational Exhibition. Baltimore, MD. March 2005.
The Firm, Works in Clay. Group Exhibition. South Gallery, FCCJ, Jacksonville, FL. January 2005.
Edinboro University Ceramics Alumni Invitational. Bruce Gallery, EUP, Edinboro, PA. January 2005.
Cup: Intimate Object III, Juried Exhibition. Charlie Cummings Clay Studio, Ft. Wayne, IN. November 2004.
About Surface - Invitational Exhibition. Mountain View College Gallery, Dallas, TX. September 2004.
Perspectives: Georgia Potters and Collectors 2, Invitational. OCAF Arts Center, Watkinsville, GA. August 2004.
Valdosta State University, Annual Art Faculty Exhibition. VSU Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta, GA. August 2004.
Muglomania - Juried Exhibition. Heart & Hand Gallery, Mt. Holly, NJ. May 2004.
15th Annual Juried Teapot Exhibition. Chairoscuro Galleries, Chicago, IL. April 2004
Teapots-A-Go-Go 2, Juried Exhibition. Mudfire Ceramics Center, Atlanta, GA. April 2004.
Dinnerworks '04, Inviational Exhibition. Louisville Art Association, Louisville, KY. January 2004.
"The Firm." Group Exhibition. Schuster Gallery, Gannon University, Erie, PA. September 2003.
Perspectives: Georgia Potters and Collectors 1, Invitational. OCAF Arts Center, Watkinsville, GA. August 2003.
Valdosta State University, Annual Art Faculty Exhibition. VSU Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta, GA. August 2003.
Crafts National 37 - Juried Exhibition. Zoller Gallery, Penn State University, PA. June 2003.
2nd Annual Soda National, 2003 - Juried Exhibtion. The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT. May 2003.
Jackpot! Juried Teapot Exhibition. Contemporary Arts Gallery, Las Vegas, NV. May 2003.
3rd Annual National Juried Cup Exhibition. Gallery 138, Kent, OH. May 2003.
Functional Review: 2003 - Juried Exhibition. The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT. April 2003.
The Clay Cup IX, Juried Exhibition. University Museum, SIUE Carbondale, IL. March 2003.
An Affinity for the Cup - Juried Exhibition. Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA. February 2003.
33rd Annual Ceramics Exhibition, Invitational. Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI. January 2003.
Valdosta State University, Annual Art Faculty Exhibition. VSU Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta, GA. August, 2002.
Michael T. Schmidt - Solo Exhibition. Lowndes - Valdosta Arts Commission, Valdosta, GA. June 2002.
2nd Annual National Juried Cup Show. Gallery 138, Kent State University, OH. May 2002.
Clay and Canvas, Group Exhibition. Heeschen Gallery, Meadville, PA. May 2002.
Plates '02, Juried Exhibition. Riverside Community College Gallery, Riverside, CA. April 2002.
Michael T. Schmidt, Recent Works: Solo Exhibition. SGFAC Quitman Gallery, Quitman, GA. April 2002.
DysFunctional National Juried Ceramics Exhibition. Art Center, Manitou Springs, CO.
Soda National 2001 - Juried Exhibition. The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT.
Edinboro University Annual Student Juried Art Exhibition. Bruce Gallery, EUP, Edinboro, PA.
12th Annual Juried Teapot Exhibition. Chairoscuro Galleries, Chicago, IL.
The Clay Cup VIII - Juried Exhibition. University Museum, SIUE Carbondale, IL.
'00 Clarion County Arts Council Coffee Mug Exhibition - Juried Exhibition.. Clarion, PA.
2nd Annual Ceramics Group Exhibition - Juried Exhibition. Bates Galley, Edinboro, PA.
26th Annual October Evenings Exhibit - Juried Exhibition. Heeschen Galley, Meadville, PA.
Two Person Exhibit: Two Rogue Painters - Juried Exhibition.. Bates Gallery, Edinboro, PA.
Large Scale Outdoor Sculpture. Kemenyffy Studios, McKean, PA.
UW-Whitewater Alumni Invitational. Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI.
Erie Art Museum Annual Juried Spring Show. Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA.
Edinboro University Annual Student Juried Art Exhibition. Bruce Gallery, EUP, Edinboro, PA.
2000 NICHE Student Awards Exhibition - Juried Exhibition. Philadelphia, PA.
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