Still Life with Teapot

Cast Terra Cotta with underglaze pigments
20"x6"x6"
1994

Artist Statement

My current work is slip cast and assembled, cone three terra cotta. Surface decoration is accomplished with sprayed, airbrushed, and hand painted under glazes and glazes. Further surface embellishments are non-fired gold and metallic pigments. This body of work is entitled "Neo-Industrial Art Objects" and consists of decorative and functional pieces including halogen lighting as well as sculptural and functional ceramics.

Technique and process are of some value to me. I fully exploit whatever appropriate technology is required. No process or methodology is sacred. My work is idea driven by design, the underlying structure and context of my ceramic work being most important.

I have always made pottery that is functional. "Neo Industrial Art Objects" are an attempt to push some of the limits in ascribing form for human usage. Architectonic design elements present a diverse context that interests me, both in a historical as well as contemporary genre.

Resume

Jonathan Kaplan
Ceramic Design Group
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80477
(303) 879-9139

EDUCATION

1973        Bachelor of Fine Arts, Rhode Island School of Design
1975        Master of Fine Arts, Southern Illinois University 
            Edwardsville 

 EXPERIENCE

1976-1988   Jonathan Kaplan Stoneware and Porcelain
        Kaplan Huling Pottery Manufaturing
        Bowmansville, Pennsylvania
        Director/Curator, Firesign Contemporary Crafts Gallery
        Bowmansville, Pennsylvania

1988-1992   Manager, Paragon Ski and Sport
            Telluride,  Colorado
        Owner, CMP Asian Cusine
            Telluride Colorado
        Manager, Sport Stalker
            Steamboat Springs, Colorado

1990-present Ceramic Design Group, Steamboat Springs, Colorado


TEACHING

1973-1975   Belleville Area College, Belleville, Illinois
1975-1976   Millersville University, Millersville, Pennsylvania

PUBLICATIONS

1974        "Salt Glazing Ceramics"     Ceramics Monthly
1975        "Making Ceramic Decals"     Ceramics Monthly
1980        "Two Production Potters"    Ceramics Monthly
1982        "Variations in Raw Materials"   Studio Potter
1984        "Solutions for the Stacked Brick Door"  Studio Potter
1989        "Burnout!"              Studio Potter
1993        "Low Temperature Redware"   Ceramics Monthly
            

EXHIBITIONS

1971        Fifty Second Annual Cleveland May Show
        Cleveland Museum of Art
1972        Ninth Annual Southern Tier Exhibition
        Corning Museum of Art
1973        Fall River National
        Tweed Museum of Art
1974        Ceramic Invitional
        Western Illinois University
1975        Twenty-Seventh Ceramics and Sculpture Exhibition
        Butler Institute of American Art    
1975-1976   Marietta College Crafts National
1975        Contemporary Crafts
        Delaware Art Museum     Purchase Award
1976        Third Annual Ceramic Invitational
        Weber State College
1981-1983   Functional Ceramics
        Wooster College
1981        Teapot Invitational
        Southern Illinois University
1986        Functional Vessals for the Table
        McLean Arts Center
1987        Annual Summer Show
        Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen     
1993        SummerArt 1993
            Steamboat Springs Arts Council
        Purchase Award
        Honorable Mention
        Four Directions Gallery Award
1993        The Light Show
        Vermont State Craft Center
        Tabletop Concepts Invitational
        American Ceramic Society