THE CUP, THE MUG 2019 a national juried exhibition of drinking vessels About the Exhibition Our fourth annual The Cup, The Mug exhibition, juried by ceramic artists Kelly B. Justice and Jeremy Randall, is a national juried exhibition of 80 drinking vessels in ceramic and wood by 44 artists from 19 states, plus work from both jurors. Juror Kelly B. Justice received her MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. She currently works as the ceramic studio manager at the Flower City Arts Center (formerly known as Genesee Center for Arts and Education) in Rochester, NY, where she maintains an active studio practice. Juror Jeremy Randall received his BFA from Syracuse University and his MFA from the University of Florida. He has been making his hand-built pottery professionally since 2005. He currently lives in Tully, NY, where he owns and operates his home studio. Jeremy is a visiting instructor of art at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia NY, and an adjunct professor of art at Syracuse University. Artists included: Hadi Abbas (Orlando, FL) Wade MacDonald (Birmingham, AL) Virginia Bacheler (Rochester, NY) Philip Matthews (Troy, OH) Jill Bell (Brooklyn, NY) Dominique Mediak-Pirigyi (Buffalo, NY) Emilie Bouvet-Boisclair (Chicago, IL) Ray Morales (Miami, FL) Horacio Casillas (San Angelo, TX) Zoey Murphy Houser (Newark, NY) Sam Chumley (Yorktown, IN) Heather Ossandon (Philadelphia, PA) Indigo Cristol (Williamsburg, VA) Helen Otterson (Morehead, KY) Jarrod Dahl (Ashland, WI) Ian Park (Baton Rouge, LA) Denise Desmond (Pavilion, NY) Gretchen Quinn (Raleigh, NC) Becca Dilldine (Cookeville, TN) Tyler Quintin (Bloomington, IN) Keith Ekstam (Springfield, MO) Billy Ritter (Gates Mills, OH) Betsy Foster (West Henrietta, NY) Randy Schutt (St. Paul, MN) Bobby Free (Capistrano, CA) Talon Smith (Pittsburgh, PA) Angela Gleeson (Charlottesville, VA) Debra Stern (Bellingham, WA) Bryan Hiveley (Miami, FL) Andrea Stocker (Woodstock, GA) Kate Hochbrueckner (Rochester, NY) Heidi Tarver (Berkeley, CA) Jotham Hung (San Marino, CA) Sara Truman (Gainesville, FL) Nasrin Iravani (Tuscaloosa, AL) Mark Vander Heide (Pittsburgh, PA) Devan Jimenez (Coconut Creek, FL) Lauren Visokay (Ruckersville, VA) Yeonsoo Kim (Athens, GA) Sarah-Anne Winchester (Milton, GA) Deidra Krois (Ridgway, CO) Cole Worden (Farmville, VA) Jennifer Lee (Bay Village, OH) Levi Yastrow (Chicago, IL) Hadi Abbas (Orlando, FL) “My passion for working with clay, and imparting knowledge to others is grounded in historical influence. Clay is more than throwing and glazing. It possesses a mysterious energy that puts us in touch with our past. Clay is a natural material that exists around us. Clay reflects the maker’s attitudes.” Hadi Abbas was born in Karbala, Iraq. His first contact with clay and glaze occurred when he was a boy visiting a factory that made tiles for mosques. As a child he would watch the potters in the market district make simple and elaborate vessels well into the night. Virginia Bacheler (Rochester, NY) “I create functional coffee mugs (and bowls) which hopefully inspire a conversation with those who use them. Nature is one source of inspiration as are fictional shapes and details. No matter how whimsical my work, it is always food safe, dishwasher safe and meant to be used in everyday life.” After 30-plus years of teaching broadcast journalism and writing at The College at Brockport, Virginia Bacheler retired and immediately returned to throwing pottery — an activity she had put on hold while she raised my daughter and pursued scholarship. Her functional ceramic work is decorated to bring a smile to the user. Jill Bell (Brooklyn, NY) “I am drawn to the inherent humor that exists amid life’s hardships. Life is often simultaneously laughable and heart wrenching. For me, the fascination lies in the contrasting emotions that exist together in the same moment. My work deals with the tension, irony and vulnerability that result from these conflicts.” Ceramic artist of over 20 years living and working in Brooklyn. Emilie Bouvet-Boisclair (Chicago, IL) “The parrot mug collection treads the line of finely detailed painting and a rougher more playful treatment of the medium, which is intended to show the tactile and responsive nature of clay. The subject matter deals with themes of sharing and friendship, depicted in joyful, punchy splashes of glaze.” Emilie Bouvet-Boisclair received her BA in Fine Art from SUNY Geneseo, NY. Originally a painter, her pottery practice blossomed when she began merging ceramics with detailed painting and embellishment. She currently lives in Chicago, IL where she has been creating nature and animal inspired pieces in ceramic since 2015. www.twinettepoterie.com Horacio Casillas (San Angelo, TX) “My work comes from a place of nostalgia. The dark grays and oranges from the atmospheric firings reference the facades of the places I grew up in and the playfulness of color reflect my memories as a boy.” Horacio Casillas was born in Chandler, Arizona and raised in Jalisco, Mexico until the age of 5. His family then moved back to the US to San Angelo, TX. In 2013 he received his BFA in from Angelo State University and in 2018 his MFA form University of North Texas. www.horaciocasillas.com Sam Chumley (Yorktown, IN) “Through touch, vision, and use, handmade pottery allows for an intimate connection between the object and user. This is pivotal to the vessels I make. My pots allow the user a brief respite from the factory mass produced objects that inundate our lives.” Sam currently resides in central Indiana and is pursuing his MFA in ceramics at Ball State University. www.samchumley.com Indigo Cristol (Williamsburg, VA) “I strive to capture the overwhelming magnificence of the world around me. I create functional pottery, using intricate textures and vibrant colors to encourage physical interaction with my pieces. I balance fluid, natural shapes with clean, geometric patterns, establishing a connection between extraordinary nature and everyday life.” Indigo Cristol is currently an artist in residence at the Cobb Mountain Art and Ecology Project in California. Indigo is originally from Williamsburg, Virginia, where she received her BA from The College of William and Mary. Her work is inspired by the balance of nature and geometry. indigocristolceramics.com Jarrod Dahl (Ashland, WI) “In earlier times woodenware was used by people around the world. In fact, woodenware in Northern Europe predates pottery. These cups are inspired by Viking York and by Japan where wooden lacquered tableware is used today. Wooden cups are warm, light, and quiet. Reconnect to trees by taking a sip!” Jarrod Dahl is a craftsperson, teacher, and writer. He designs and makes woodenware specializing in turning green wood into handled cups, bowls, and plates with both foot-powered and Japanese-style electric lathes. He carves spoons, teaches internationally, and writes about handcraft. www.woodspirithandcraft.com Denise Desmond (Pavilion, NY) “I use clay to fulfill my continuous need to create. Over 10 years of working in this medium, I feel I am always the student, ever learning and exploring the infinite possibilities.” Denise Desmond has studied pottery at the Flower City Arts Center in Rochester NY, and has traveled to many workshops, to further her education since 2008. She considers herself a forever student of the medium, and endeavors to let the clay continue her evolution as an artist. Becca Dilldine (Cookeville, TN) “I create utilitarian vessels for everyday use. My forms are thrown on the potter’s wheel and then altered and pinched to leave my own touch. I paint expressive imagery, inspired by my perception of environments I’ve encountered in my life. I carve through my imagery to reveal the terracotta underneath.” Becca graduated from the Appalachian Center for Craft with a BFA in Ceramics. She is currently the Gallery Manager at the Craft Center and is a full-time studio potter. She resides in Cookeville, Tennessee with her husband and their two cats and two rabbits. beccadilldineceramics.com Keith Ekstam (Springfield, MO) “As a ceramic sculptor, I do not consider myself a potter in the traditional sense. When making tea bowls, I try to bring a sculptural sensibility to bear on them, excessively working the material, drawing, altering, paddling, etc. I see ceramics as a difficult, humbling and fascinating adventure indeed.” Keith Ekstam is Professor of Art and Design at Missouri State University where he remains an active ceramic artist and art educator. His MFA is from The University of Michigan and his BFA from Minnesota State University-Mankato. He is a 2017 recipient of the NCECA Excellence in Teaching Award. keithekstamceramics.com Betsy Foster (West Henrietta, NY) “A contemplation and awareness is present while using handmade objects everyday — when feeling the warmth of drinking coffee/tea every morning or the tactility in washing and stacking dishes in the cupboard. There is a sensitivity in using anything handmade.” Betsy Foster is an artist from West Henrietta, NY. She received her MFA from The Ohio State University in 2019, and BFA from Alfred University in 2011. She has held positions at The Clay Studio, Wellsville Creative Arts Center, and Elsewhere Studios. Betsy Foster currently resides in Rochester, NY. betsy-foster.com Bobby Free (Capistrano, CA) “I have deep admiration for Asian and North American historical ceramics. I look to the past for inspiration and echo certain elements through my contemporary designs.” Bobby earned a BFA from Utah State University. He has been an Artist in Residence at the Clay Studio of Missoula, Redlodge Clay Center, MT, and Sonoma Community Center, CA . He currently works as the Senior Laboratory Technician of the Fine Arts Department at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California. www.bobbyfree.com Angela Gleeson (Charlottesville, VA) “The combination of form, function, and complex glaze palate and surface is meant to influence the users’ emotions, focusing on personal self-care and engagement with one’s community as a means to wellness.” Angela Gleeson received her BFA from Alfred University and her MFA from Hood College.