Biographical Statement
I received my B.A. degree in Art Education from Northeastern State University of Oklahoma, B.F.A. degree from the University of Kansas and my M.F.A. degree in Ceramics Art from the State University of New York College of Ceramics at Alfred in 1974. In 1974 I joined the University of Dallas faculty in Irving, Texas. During my tenure at the University of Dallas, the ceramic studios in the Haggerty Art Village grew from a single room to an expansive two building facility with two out door kiln patios that offered few if any limitations to its undergraduate and graduate students. As a Full Professor, I was privileged to serve the Department of Art as Chairperson for a decade. During the time I spent as Chairperson, the department completed its 7.5 million dollar facility master plan. The University of Dallas proudly offers its undergraduate and its Braniff full scholarship graduate students one of the most diverse, most extensive, best equipped studios in the region. Most studio equipment was designed, built and maintained by students. The extensive and practical knowledge offered, empowered the students with a sense of ownership while receiving the comprehensive education they deserved. The Department of Art held an EPA and OSHA safe environment ranking. My teaching career produced national and international artist and teachers while sponsoring "Fulbright Scholars" and "Field Researchers".
I have conducted field studies to museums in the United States of America, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Greece, Island of Crete and the Peoples Republic of China. I have received grants, awards and commissions that include the Texas Commission of the Arts, the National Endowment of the Arts and The Southland Corporation commission for "The Olympia Award". "The Olympia Award" was a limited edition of a 523 B.C. Greek Replica Amphora that was awarded to the 1982 USA Summer Olympic Gold Medalist.
I maintain a private home studio "HandCrafted Ceramics" where I have produced architectural ceramic shell lighting, large scale monolithic ceramic sculpture as well as functional ceramics since 1974 in Irving, Texas. Workshops and exhibitions have been conducted throughout the United States. My ceramic work has been included in exhibitions at the Farrell Collection Gallery in Washington DC, Collectable Crafts, Handwork Gallery New York, Ohio Ceramic and Sculpture Show, Butler Institute of Art, South Central Regional Exhibition, Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado, New Art Forms Exposition, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois. Work is also included in private and in the corporate collections of Xerox Corporation, Dallas, Texas, Taylor Widmer Winery, Bath Hammondsport, New York, Jingdahzen Ceramic Institute, Jingdahzen, Republic of China, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, The Southland Corporation, Dallas, Texas, and The National Cash Register Corporation, Dayton Ohio.
I developed and served as consultant/project manager for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts award winning PBS style film series. The film series focused on the icons of American ceramic art. Currently "The Spirit of Ceramics" film series has produced five DVD's. The goal for the film series was to record individuals that have blazed the trail in American Ceramics for others to follow.
I served the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts organization in 2005-2009 as a member of the Executive Committee and the NCECA Secretary/Treasurer; 2003 consultant and project manager for "The Spirit of Ceramics" film series, through a grant from NCECA. In 1998 as On-Site-Chair for NCECA I hosted the Dallas & Fort Worth, Texas annual conference. In 1983 in the Atlanta, Georgia Conference, I chaired a panel presentation on "Ceramic Fiber as an Alternative Refractory" and I introduced for the first time, filming demonstrating artists at the annual conference. In 1979 I was a member of the search committee for Honors and Awards.
After retiring from the University of Dallas in 2017 as Professor Emeritus with Distinction in Art, I am enjoying producing ceramic objects full time in my home studio - HandCrafted Ceramics in the Republic of Texas.
I have conducted field studies to museums in the United States of America, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Greece, Island of Crete and the Peoples Republic of China. I have received grants, awards and commissions that include the Texas Commission of the Arts, the National Endowment of the Arts and The Southland Corporation commission for "The Olympia Award". "The Olympia Award" was a limited edition of a 523 B.C. Greek Replica Amphora that was awarded to the 1982 USA Summer Olympic Gold Medalist.
I maintain a private home studio "HandCrafted Ceramics" where I have produced architectural ceramic shell lighting, large scale monolithic ceramic sculpture as well as functional ceramics since 1974 in Irving, Texas. Workshops and exhibitions have been conducted throughout the United States. My ceramic work has been included in exhibitions at the Farrell Collection Gallery in Washington DC, Collectable Crafts, Handwork Gallery New York, Ohio Ceramic and Sculpture Show, Butler Institute of Art, South Central Regional Exhibition, Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado, New Art Forms Exposition, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois. Work is also included in private and in the corporate collections of Xerox Corporation, Dallas, Texas, Taylor Widmer Winery, Bath Hammondsport, New York, Jingdahzen Ceramic Institute, Jingdahzen, Republic of China, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, The Southland Corporation, Dallas, Texas, and The National Cash Register Corporation, Dayton Ohio.
I developed and served as consultant/project manager for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts award winning PBS style film series. The film series focused on the icons of American ceramic art. Currently "The Spirit of Ceramics" film series has produced five DVD's. The goal for the film series was to record individuals that have blazed the trail in American Ceramics for others to follow.
I served the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts organization in 2005-2009 as a member of the Executive Committee and the NCECA Secretary/Treasurer; 2003 consultant and project manager for "The Spirit of Ceramics" film series, through a grant from NCECA. In 1998 as On-Site-Chair for NCECA I hosted the Dallas & Fort Worth, Texas annual conference. In 1983 in the Atlanta, Georgia Conference, I chaired a panel presentation on "Ceramic Fiber as an Alternative Refractory" and I introduced for the first time, filming demonstrating artists at the annual conference. In 1979 I was a member of the search committee for Honors and Awards.
After retiring from the University of Dallas in 2017 as Professor Emeritus with Distinction in Art, I am enjoying producing ceramic objects full time in my home studio - HandCrafted Ceramics in the Republic of Texas.