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Patty's Pottery =^.^=

Meet the Artist

In the beginning...

I fell in love with pottery during my first college ceramics class in the spring of 1993, but the desire to "play in the mud" must have exisited since childhood. There are pictures of me as a little girl covered from head to toe with mud after enjoying an afternoon of mud sliding on the mound of dirt in my backyard.

I graduated with a BA in studio art in 1996, and began taking the first small steps toward becoming a working artist. I created my first Celtic works in 1999 and have since focused my work on this unique style.

Artist Statement

I create mostly one-of-a-kind, functional pottery. I use interlacing knotwork and spiral patterns as a decorative element to my wheel-thrown porcelain vessels. The choice to make decorative, functional pottery is a reflection of my faith that God can shape us into beautiful and useful people.

Interlacing knotwork and spiral patterns are seen throughout many parts of the world and are common among many different cultures. Most of what we think of today as "Celtic" knotwork, is really an amalgamation of designs from various cultures created by medieval monks while illuminating manuscripts. We don't really know what the original designs may have meant, but today interlacing knotwork has come to symbolize the interconnectedness of life. This is one of the reasons why I am attracted to using these designs in my work. For me, the designs connect us to our past and to other cultures.

Education

1996 Bachelor of Arts in studio art;
Bethel College, St. Paul, MN

Awards/Honors

2002 1st place Traditional Category; 2002 Celtic Art Exhibtion & Contest
Gallery O, Dallas, TX

Exhibitions

Desborough Plate 2010 History in the Making V: Ceramic Traditions Contemporary Pots
A national juried exhibition
The Firehouse Gallery at Genesee Pottery, Rochester, NY
Inverted Goblet Vase with Vines Inlaid Celtic Ribbons - Square Place Setting Celtic Knotwork Clouds Place Setting 2010 Dining In III: An Artful Experience
A national juried exhibition
18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX
Celtic Cross Tile Mural Triskelion Communion Set 2010 2010 Cross View Christian Art Festival
A juried exhibition of Christian art
Cross View Lutheran Church, Edina, MN
Celtic Knotwork Candle Cup II Celtic Knotwork Bowl with Scalloped Rim 2010 Porcelains and Celadons
A juried exhibition
The Myers Gallery at Muddy's Studio, Santa Ana, CA
All Dressed Up... 2010 The Foot in the Door 4
An open exhibition to all Minnesota residents
MAEP Gallery, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Celtic Spirals Candle Globe VI Celtic Knotwork Candle Cup III 2009 Illuminations: The Art of Light
A national juried exhibition
18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX
Scalloped Celtic Knotwork Bowl 2009 History in the Making IV: Ceramic Traditions Contemporary Pots
A national juried exhibition
The Firehouse Gallery at Genesee Pottery, Rochester, NY
Celadon Celtic Knotwork Place Setting Red-Gold Celtic Knotwork Place Setting 2009 Dining In: An Artful Experience
A national juried exhibition
18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX
Celtic Knotwork Basket II 2007 Empty Spaces: Bowls
A juried exhibition
Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Celtic Knotwork Globe XV 2006 1st Biennial Concordia Continental Ceramics Compeition
A regional juried ceramics competition
Concordia Gallery, St. Paul, MN
Pierced Knotwork Bowl 2005 Salon 300: Minnesota State Fair Overflow Show
A MN State Fair overflow show
Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN
  2004 Salon 500: Minnesota State Fair Overflow Show
A MN State Fair overflow show
Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN
Creator 2004 Juried Religious Art Show
A juried exhibition for Minnesota residents
Grace United Methodist Church, Minneapolis, MN
Egyptian Lotus Canister 2002 Strictly Functional Pottery National
A national juried exhibition
Southern Market Center, Lancaster, PA
Celtic Tree of Light 2002 2002 Celtic Art Exhibition & Contest
A juried exhibition and contest; 1st place Traditional Category
Gallery O, Dallas, TX
Celtic Spirals I Celtic Luminary 2001 Winterfest 01
A juried exhibition
Period Gallery, Omaha, NE
Celtic Waves 2001 Strictly Functional Pottery National
A national juried exhibition
Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA
Nebula Bowl Iris Nebula 2001 2001 Christian Art Festival
A juried exhibition
Woodbury Luthern Church, Woodbury, MN
Aurora Celtus 2001 Handcrafted
A juried exhibition of ceramics, fiber, glass, metal, and wood
Rocky Mount Arts Center, Rocky Mount, NC
  2000 Functional Art Show
A juried exhibition
Art Collective, Minneapolis, MN
Water Lily 2000 18th Annual Christian Art Festival
A juried exhibition
Cross View Lutheran Church, Edina, MN
Celtic Lite (Celtic Knotwork Globe 1) 2000 Transformations
A juried exhibition of fine crafts
Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Wayzata, MN
Celtic Tealite 2000 The Foot in the Door 3
An open exhibition to all Minnesota residents
MAEP Gallery, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
  1996 24th Annual Raspberry Monday
A juried student exhibition
Eugene Johnson Gallery, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN
  1996 Sojourn
A senior thesis group exhibition
Eugene Johnson Gallery, Bethel College, St Paul, MN
  1995 23rd Annual Raspberry Monday
A juried student exhibition
Eugene Johnson Gallery, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN

Publications

  • Crafts insight: Ceramics, The Crafts Report, April 2004, 19
  • 2004 Clay Lover's Calendar, February & September

Professional Affiliations

There are numerous organizations for artists and potters that work toward promoting the arts. The following are organizations of which I am currently or have previously been a member. The years of my membership are in parenthesis.

Patty's Pottery
by Patty Rau
Minneapolis, MN
thropots@prrpots.com