About the Artist

-Artist's Statement

As a ceramic artist in the beginning stages of my career as a potter, my work is primarily motivated by exploration rather than expression. Whether functional or sculptural, my pieces reflect a curiosity into the nature of materials and firing processes. My passion for ceramics is influenced by a background in mathematics and chemistry. I use a scientific approach when testing materials, which helps me to make work that is technically innovative as well as aesthetically pleasing. Though I often take advantage of modern technology, it is important for me to remain connected to the rich history of ceramic art. While calculating glazes and firing modern gas and electric kilns stimulates my technological interests, digging, processing, and throwing native clays and firing traditional wood kilns provides me with a balance between art and science.


I aspire to make pottery that reflects the meditative nature of working in clay. The ordered chaos found in the natural world provides me with endless sources of inspiration. Ultimately, I hope for the precision and complexity that is found in nature to be reflected in the forms and surfaces of my artwork.

 

Publications

2006 - “Up In Smoke: Challenges to Wood Firing in Today’s World”, 2006 NCECA Journal, review of conference panel discussion

2006 - “Raw Materials - Minerals - Clays”, 2006 NCECA Journal, review of conference panel discussion

2005 - “Clays, Slips, and Glazes for Wood Firing”, Ceramics Monthly June/July/August issue

2005 - “M.C. Richards: The Fire Within”, 2005 NCECA Journal, review of conference panel discussion

2003 - “Creating Large Plates and Platters”, Pottery Making Illustrated, Part 1 March/April issue; Part 2 May/June issue

 

Professional Resumé

2005-2008 - Teaching position at Linn Benton Community College, ("Experimental Salt Firing" class), Corvallis, OR

2007 - Group exhibition "Contained" curated by Scott Lykens, University of Arkansas, Monticello, AR

2006 - Kiln building workshop at Northwestern Missouri State College, construct and fire a large scale train kiln

2006 - Group exhibition "Invited Woodfire Artists" International Woodfire Conference at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

2006 - Group exhibition "Extravagence of Salt and Pepper" curated by Gail Brown, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2006 - Wood firing workshop at City of Boulder Pottery Lab, Boulder, CO

2006 - Group exhibition "Decade: Ten Years of Hikarigama," part of the 2006 NCECA conference, Hillsboro Art Center, Hillsboro, OR

2005 - Kiln building workshop at Northwestern Missouri State College, design, build, and fire four different styles of wood kilns

2005 - Group exhibition "School's Out!" curated by Gail Brown as part of 2005 NCECA conference, Baltimore, MD

2004 - Ten pieces in group exhibition "Out of the Fire", national juried show at Blue Trout Gallery, Newberg, OR

2004 - Teaching position at Linn Benton Community College, (parent-child "Partners In Clay" class), Corvallis, OR

2004 - Resident Artist (one month) at the Goshogowara International Woodfiring Residency, Kanayama studio, Japan

2003 - Wood fired vase in group exhibition Clearly Black and White at Tierra Solida Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA

2003 - Solo Exhibition at Chagrin Falls Library, part of the Local Art Series, Chagrin Falls, OH

2002 - Guest lecturer at Youngstown State University, OH, "Woodfiring in Education: the Kent State Anagama"

2002 - Visiting Artist at the Aomori International Woodfiring Festival, Japan (seven pieces donated to Aomori city museum)

2002 - Vase selected for the Pewabic Pottery exhibition of Recent Graduate Students, Detroit, MI

2002 - Visiting Artist at Amherst Elementary school (5 week mask making workshop, grades 1-4), Massilon, OH

2002 - Platter selected for the 10th Annual Strictly Functional National exhibition, juried by Jack Troy, Lancaster, PA

2002 - Teaching position at Massilon Museum (beginner/intermediate handbuilding and throwing), Massilon, OH

2001 - Two cups selected for the Kent State National Cup exhibition, juried by Kirk Mangus, Kent, OH

1999-2002 - Master of Fine Arts degree from Kent State University (studied with Kirk Mangus and Eva Kwong)

1999-2001 - Handbuilding/Ceramics I Teaching Assitantship at Kent State University

1999 - Visiting Artist at The Kinkaid School, (7 day wheel-throwing workshop & exhibition) Houston, TX

1997-1999 - Apprenticeship at Hively Pottery (assist Doug Hively with high fired porcelain production), Monmouth, OR

1996 - Semester abroad in Paris, France studying art history and Parisian culture

1993-1997 - Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton College (major-studio art, minor-french studies), Northfield, MN

 

©2008 Sam Hoffman Pottery