Artist: Shane Mickey
Shane Mickey, NORTH CAROLINA
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am a maker of vessels and objects. My work is just as much a sculptural process as it is a functional pot. I approach each form with the end results in mind. The vessels are accentuated by line work, texture and color which all have influences ranging from nature to anthropomorphic origins. I tend to work with the idea of Flesh in mind. Clay relates to flesh in its; flexibility, softness, folds, and stretching. I work to capture these in my work.
The Ridgeline series is rooted in the idea of change and growth and how we embrace or reject these. Ridgeline refers to a silhouette of mountain peaks seen from a distance. Ridgelines are the abstraction of mountains, hiding thee actual complexity of its nooks, hollers, Valleys, and flora and fauna. The Qubba jars are an exploration of form, style and the human spirit for me. Qubba is a type of dome seen in middle eastern religious buildings of varying cultures. Jars have been seen historically as metaphors for holding the spirit while actually holding the body physically. Jars contain, protect and enshrine objects and beliefs.
BIO
Born in Ridgeley, WV where grew up in a family that worked with their hands and promoted a hard work ethic. Shane received a BFA in Ceramics from Frostburg State University and an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Tennessee. Shane has run a full-time studio in Bakersville, NC since 2001. He is currently the Chair of Mars Hill University’s Fine Arts program and Associate Professor of the Ceramics/sculpture program. Shane has exhibited nationally at Red Lodge gallery, Signature Shop, Blue Spiral 1, and AKAR. Shane has been an active board member on his local arts council, a founding member of the Spruce Pine Potters Market. Held memberships in the Southern Highland Craft Guild as well as the American Craft Council. He cowrote/received grants from Windgate foundation. Shane held a national career as one of the countries notable Kiln builders. Building in places such as Penland School of Crafts, Bringle Studios, Armory Art Center and many private clients.
EDUCATION
2000 MFA, Ceramics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
1996 BFA Art and Design, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Maryland
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022 Envision: a wood fire Invitational. Starworks Gallery
Starworks, Star, NC
2022 Yunomi Invitational 2022, AKAR gallery
Iowa City, IA
2021 Juried National VI, Red Lodge Clay Center
Red Lodge, MT
2019 Then and Now, North Carolina Pottery Center
Asheboro, NC
2018 Faculty Biennial, Weizenblatt Gallery
Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC
2017 Current Effects: Contemporary Woodfiring in Western North Carolina
Asheville Arts Council, Asheville, NC
2017 Lineage, Celebrating Rock Creek Pottery
Weizenblatt Gallery, Mars Hill Univ. Mars Hill, NC
2016-17 Confluence, Woodfire invitational in conjunction with International woodfire conf.
Starworks, Star, NC
2016 Steinfest
Claymakers, Durham, North Carolina
2015 Prized Pieces, The Makers Collection.
North Carolina Pottery Center, Seagrove, NC
2014 Mint julep invitational
Mary Anderson Arts Center, Mt. St. francis, IN
2013 Woodfire Invitational
Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL
2012 Source-Material
Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
2012 Cup, the intimate object
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
2011 Containment II,
Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
2009 Contemporary Crafts
Saint Francis Univ. Fort Wayne, IN
2008 Triplets
Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
2008 Yunomi cup show
AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
2007 ACC southeast spotlight show
Arrowmont School, Gatlinburg, TN
2007 THE NATIONAL JURIED WOODFIRED EXHIBITION
Thrown Together, Louisville, KY
2007 RON MEYERS WOODFIRE INVITATIONAL
Signature Shop Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2007 ROOM FULL OF LADIES, SOLO SHOW
Toe River Arts Council Center, Burnsville, NC
2006 FEATURED ARTIST SHOW
Signature Shop Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2006 TEAPOT INVITATIONAL
Rochester folk Art Guild, Middlesex, NY
2006 100 TEAPOTS, Atlanta teapot festival
Signature Shop Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2005 SOUTHERN POTTERS
Red Star Studios, Kansas City, KS
2004 WOODFIRE CLAY
Blue Spiral 1 Gallery, Asheville, NC
2004 ASHEVILLE IN ATLANTA
Mudfire Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2004 STRICTLY FUNCTIONAL POTTERY NATIONAL
Market House Craft Center, Lancaster, PA.
Susan Peterson, Juror
2003 NEW DIRECTIONS, SOUTHERN CONNECTIONS: POTTERS OF THE ROAN& TAPESTRY WEAVERS SOUTH EXHIBITION
Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN.
2002 NEW TRADITIONS
Southern Highlands Craft Guilds Folk Art Center, Asheville, NC
2002 THE VASE
Peck Gallery, Providence, Rhode Island
Nationally juried show, Jacquelyn Rice, Juror
2002 UTILITARIAN CERAMIC NATIONAL
Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana
Nationally juried show, Ron Meyers, Juror
2001 CLAY/ WOOD/ FIRE/ SALT
Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, Ohio &
Folk Art Center, Asheville, North Carolina
Invitational show, Gwen Heffner, curator
2000 CERAMICS USA
SOVA Galleries, University of North Texas, Denton Texas
2000 CLAY SHOW 2000
Core Art Space Gallery, Denver, Colorado
1999 USA CRAFT TODAY
Silvermine Guilds Art Center, New Canaan, Connecticut
Jeremy Admenson, juror
WORK EXPERIENCE
2016-present Assistant Professor
Ceramics and Sculpture
Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC
2001-present Owner Operator
Shane Mickey Pottery and Kiln designs
Bakersville, NC
2014~2016 Adjunct Faculty
Visual arts lecturer
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
2004 & 2015 “MAKING POTS FOR THE KILN” KILN BUILDING WORKSHOP
Instructor and kiln designer
Frostburg State University
2008-2015 Adjunct Faculty
Ceramics, craft marketing, craft enterprise, craft design, and Art appreciation
Western Piedmont Community College, Morganton, NC
2014 Adjunct Faculty
Professional Crafts, Pottery
Haywood Community College, Clyde, NC
2006-2011 Workshop Presenter
Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC
2008 Workshop Presenter
John C Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC
Responsible for Woodfired pottery class
2000-2001 Adjunct Professor
Maryville College, Maryville, Tennessee
Responsible for curriculum development and facilities management
For Ceramics, Photography, Foundations, Art Survey.
1997-1999 Adjunct Professor, Pellissippi State community college, Knoxville, TN
EXPERIENCE
2006-2013 ENERGY EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Chair of clay business incubator program
2003-2005 TOE RIVER ARTS COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Spruce Pine, North Carolina
2002-14 JURIED MEMBER POTTERS OF THE ROAN
Treasurer, Publicity Committee Chair
1998 & 2001 ARTIST INVITE ARTIST RESIDENCY Lead artist
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, Maine
2000-2012 JURIED SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS CRAFT GUILD MEMBER
PUBLICATIONS
2000 WOODFIRE CONFERENCES IN REVIEW
Ceramics Technical, Volume number 11, pages 98 –99
2006 500 Pitchers, lark books