MELANIE FERGUSON

ARTIST STATEMENT

"My goal is to establish a form and surface visual that expresses an edge of uncertainty and vulnerability with the power to initiate a dialogue with the story discovered within — a story that invites pause and ultimately engages our next move."

Eroding hillsides, the swirling ripple on water's surface,

the rhythmic patterns of ocean flora and fauna all provide me with endless relationship intrigue; their associated shadow and reflection, sound, smell, and effortless energy feeds my inner spirit.

As an artist, these key sensory "notes" inspire creative concept by revealing a story that challenges my expression through any given medium, utilizing elements that demand physical involvement in building form and surface to expose the energy and freedom of spirit.

Using stoneware or earthenware, I hand-build my sculptural forms to preserve this symbolic gesture of energy. Coiling the clay, I paddle the form's surface to engage with its inner resonance, reminiscent of tidal rhythm and flow as the form evolves with direction and movement.

I then add oxide stains (usually copper and iron), clay-based slips, color pigmented underglaze, and sgraffito techniques to establish a surface visual that maps the spirited dance within. I engage many

firing methods appropriate for each work, with a preference for atmospheric firing.

How the surface elements attract and cast flame

plays an integral role in the evolution of the story that ultimately engages the beginning of my next work.

ARTIST BIO

Born in the seaport town of Newport, Oregon, Melanie Ferguson's interest in art is richly influenced by her ocean surroundings and nourished by assisting, studying, and working with coastal artists and native elders.

She experimented with many artistic forms of expression, subsequently focusing on the properties of hand blown sheet glass and the theory of "painting with light", evolving a personal narrative style applied to architectural and commercial glass commissions.

This venture in glass grew to include a love for the process of graphic design which prompted a move to Washington State's Puget Sound in 1983 where she later studied Visual Communication at Northwest College of Art.

Following a three-year placement as designer and account manager for

a leading Puget Sound advertising agency, Melanie firmly established herself as a freelance agent specializing in branding identity and product design, serving corporate, municipal, and non-profit clients

from 1990 - 2005.

A longtime desire to live in the Southeastern United States initiated a move to the state of Georgia where she began full-time study in contemporary ceramics at Roswell Art Center West in 2007, exploring the sculptural quality of hand-built form and the narrative grace of surface with a special focus on wood, soda, and atmospheric firing.

Today, her works are exhibited nationally and internationally as she continues her artistic exploration of sculptural form and surface from her Loch Highland studio near Roswell, Georgia.

ARTIST CV

EDUCATION

2008-2013 Art Center West, Roswell, GA - Atmospheric Firing

2007-2011 Art Center West, Roswell, GA - Handbuilding:

          Contemporary Ceramics

1984-1987 Northwest College of Art and Design, Poulsbo,

          WA - Visual Communication

CERAMIC EXHIBITIONS JURIED & INVITATIONAL (Select)

MAVERICK: The NEW at Cavin-Morris Gallery, Group Exhibition

February 18 - March 26, 2016. Cavin-Morris Gallery, NYC  

WINTER SHOWCASE: New Works by Gallery Artists, Haward/Mandville Gallery

February 18 - March 26, 2016. Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA

DE LA NATURALEZA, Juried Exhibition

January 9 - March 6, 2016. Juror: Sherrie Hawk, Curator: Eric Rausch

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens with Central Ohio Clay Arts (COCA), Columbus, OH 

POTTERY NORTHWEST UN-WEDGED 2015, Juried Exhibition
November 7 - 28, 2015. Juror: Richard Notkin, Pottery Northwest,

Seattle, WA 

WORKING WOMEN: 36 Contemporary Women Artists, Invitational Exhibition
September 17 - November 3, 2015. Marian Graves Mugar Gallery at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH 

RHIZOME! New Growth at Cavin-Morris Gallery
September 10 - October 10, 2015. Represented by Cavin-Morris Gallery, NYC  

ENFLAMED! New Ceramics at Cavin-Morris Gallery
June 15 - August 14, 2015. Represented by Cavin-Morris Gallery, NYC 

Pop Up Exhibition: Villa Stadtpark, Bochum Germany
May 17, 2015. Represented by Kunat Fine Arts Gallery, Kierspe Germany

IN DREAMS BEGIN RESPONSIBILITIES: 30 Years at Cavin-Morris Gallery
February 19 - March 14, 2015. Represented by Cavin-Morris Gallery, Chelsea District, NYC 

METRO CURATES New York City
January 22 - 25, 2015. Represented by Cavin-Morris Gallery, NYC 

ARKANSAS ART CENTER: 46th Collectors Show and Sale
November 14, 2014 - January 4, 2015. Represented by Cavin-Morris Gallery, NYC

ELEMENTALS: Women Sculpting Animism, Group Exhibition
November 1 - December 13, 2014. Cavin-Morris Gallery, Chelsea District, NYC

MAKING IT IN CRAFTS II, National Invitational Exhibition
September 26 - December 28, 2014, Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, Lafayette, IN

DIRECTOR'S CHOICE: Clay, Not The Usual Suspects, Invitational Exhibition
September 25 - November 7, 2014. The Gallery at Lakeland Community College, Kirtland, OH

METRO MONTAGE XIV, Juried Invitational Exhibition
July 19 - September 14, 2014. Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, Marietta, GA 

PRAISESONG FOR THE NUMINOUS, Group Exhibition
March 27 - April 26, 2014. Cavin-Morris Gallery, Chelsea District, NYC

INSIDE CHANDLER'S COVE, Solo Invitational Exhibition
April 10 - June 26, 2014. Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan, AL

THE METRO SHOW,  New York City
January 23 - 26, 2014. Represented by Cavin-Morris Gallery, NYC

RESTLESS II - A MIX, Group Invitational Exhibition
May 16 - August 16, 2013, Cavin-Morris Gallery, Chelsea District, NYC

AMBASSADOR J. CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: Artists for Peace and Common
Understanding between the Peoples of the Middle East and the United States, Juried Exhibition
April 4th – April 20th, 2013, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

THE ART OF HEALING: A Visual Arts Benefit, Juried Invitation Exhibition
October 2012. Southeast Alabama Medical Center Foundation / Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan, AL

B12 BIENNIAL EXHIBITION, Juried Invitational Exhibition
September 2012. Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan, AL

GEORGIA ARTISTS - A JURED EXHIBITION
April 2012. Abernathy Center for the Arts, Sandy Springs, GA

INTERNATIONAL INVITATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITION: Painting-Sculpture-Ceramic
March 2013. Sponsored by Usak Governorship, Usak Municipality, and Usak University, Usak Turkey

GEORGIA ARTISTS - A JURED EXHIBITION
April 2011. Abernathy Center for the Arts, Sandy Springs, GA

ROSWELL VISUAL ARTS, Juried Exhibition
Spring 2011. Third Place Juror's Award. Roswell Visual Arts Center, Roswell, GA

CATALOGS & PUBLICATIONS (Select)

MAVERICK: The New at Cavin-Morris Gallery

2016. Issuu Online Exhibition Catalog

UNWEDGED No. 5

2015. Print Exhibition Catalog. Pottery Northwest

WORKING WOMEN: 36 Contemporary Women Artists

2015. Print Exhibition Catalog. Marion Graves Mugar Art Gallery, Colby-Sawyer College

ENFLAMED: New Ceramics at Cavin-Morris Gallery

August 2015. Issuu Online Exhibition Catalog

THE ARTIST OMNIVORE, Polymer Arts Magazine
Summer 2015 Edition. Featured Artist Interview, Author: Donna Greenberg

INSPIRATIONAL Magazine
Feature Artist, Premier Issue: Autumn/Fall 2014. Editor/Author: John Hopper

AMBASSADOR J. CHRISTOPHER STEVENS Memorial Exhibition Catalog
Publication date: 2015. John Natsoulas Gallery

2014 POTTERS COUNCIL CALENDAR
Cover Artist. October 2014 Featured Artist. Potters Council

2014 POTTERS COUNCIL CALENDAR – A Sculpture Collection
June 2014 Featured Artist. Potters Council

2013 RESTLESS II! - A MIX

2013. Issuu Online Exhibition Catalog, Cavin-Morris Gallery

2013 POTTERS COUNCIL CALENDAR – A Sculpture Collection
November 2013 Featured Artist. Potters Council

INTERNATIONAL GROUP SHOW: International Mixed Exhibition: Painting-Sculpture-Ceramic
2013. Published by Usak University Press (Paperback)
Kentle Bulusma-III Uluslararasi Karma Sergi Resim-Heykel-Sermik

LA COCINA MEXICANA: Many Cultures, One Cuisine
Authors: Marilyn Tausend, Ricardo Muñoz Zurita; Photographer: Ignacio Urguiza
Cartographer / Illustrator: Melanie Ferguson. University of California Press, October 2012 (Hardcover)

DAILY ART MUSE: Monday's Muse

March 4, 2012, Online Featured Artist

http://www.dailyartmuse.com/2013/03/04/melanie-ferguson-mondays-muse/

ARTKERAMIC RUSSIA
Featured International Artist Interview, July 11, 2011
Мелани Фергюсон (Melanie Ferguson) американская керамистка
http://artkeramica.ru/stati/full/132/