Nell DevittNell Devitt
Statement I try to live and work with clay in a simple, direct way. Connecting with the earth through the timelessness of clay provides me with a balance for experiencing American pop culture, post-nuclear world politics, and music of all kinds. With clay, the images, symbols and systems affecting my life through media, advertising and consumer products can be turned into meditations on finding the truth
Technique These clay tiles are made individually with a slab roller. A template is used so that the basic patterns can be duplicated in limited numbers. The use of slips, oxides and different carving techniques allows me to vary textural detail. Each tile is then smoke-fired with straw, producing a highly varied surface. The imperfect and uneven quality is intentional.
NELL DEVITT 1994 I am committed to quality, integrity in design, consistency and a sense of professionalism. 1985-1993 Worked with various post-firing techniques. Began American Craft Council Craft Fairs. 1978-79 Set up studio in Bloomfield, Indiana and began producing a line of functional stoneware pottery and experimenting with various forms of Raku and post-firing techniques. Marketed directly to galleries and craft shops, and traveled to juried craft fairs. 1976-1977 Apprenticed with Ono Yoshi, Kasama, Japan 1974-1975 Apprenticed with Sun Hai Pottery, Huntingburg, Indiana EXHIBITIONS 1993 Crafts National, University Park, PA; Group Show, Art Forms, Red Bank, NJ; The Fine Art of Fine Craft, Gallery G, Pittsburgh, PA; Holiday Group Show, Avante Gallery, Cleveland, OH 1992 Shadow and Light, Adams Art Gallery, Dunkirk, NY; Two Person Exhibition, The Gallery, Bloomington, IN 1991 Monarch Tile National, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas The Covered Vessel, Placesetters, Florham Park, New Jersey 1990-91 American Craft at the Armory, American Craft Council, New York, New York 1989 Primitive Fire, The Clay Pot, Brooklyn, New York; Fireclay Group Show, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky Indiana Crafts Invitational, Artlink Art Space, Fort Wayne, Indiana Two Person Exhibition, The Gallery, Bloomington, Indiana 1988 The Art of Clay, Harcus Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts Clayfest '88, Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana 1987 Women in Clay, Leeds Gallery, Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana Clay Spectrum 5, Craftsman's Gallery, Scarsdale, New York Treasure Boxes, Pinch Potter, Northampton, Massachusetts Clayfest '87, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 1986 Pottery About Pottery, Pinch Pottery, Northampton, Massachusetts One Person Exhibition, Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana Collector's Choice, America House Gallery, Tenafly, New Jersey Two Person Exhibition, The Gallery, Bloomington, Indiana 1985 National Crafts Invitational, Hamm Brickman Gallery, Albany, New York Contemporary Design and Decoration, Artlink Art Space, Fort Wayne, Indiana 1984 Earthenware: Red, White and Black, Pinch Pottery, Northampton, Massachusetts Clayfest '84, Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana 1983 One Person Exhibition, Brown County Craft Guild, Nashville, Indiana 1982 Indiana Potters Guild Invitational, Indiana University South, Albany, Indiana 1981 National Cone Box Show, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana SELECTED GALLERIES Art Forms, Red Bank, NJ The Gallery, Bloomington, IN Art Effect, Chicago, IL Avante, Cleveland, OH The Conservatory, Ann Arbor, MI Roche Bobois, Philadelphia, PA Cross Harris, New York, NY Show of Hands, Denver, CO Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Discoveries, Tustin, CACOMMISSIONS 1988-1993 Domus Realty Limited, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; U.S. Trust Bank, Corporate Office, Boston, MA; G. Bosworth, D.C.C.A., Wilmington, DE; Pawling Properties, Architects, Kupieckoutsomitis, New York, NY; Positively Fourth Street, Bloomington, IN;