Thomas Bartel Pathos Figure
EDUCATION
1996 MFA, (Ceramics), Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
1993 BFA, (Ceramics), Kent State University, Kent, OH.
1987-89 Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2003 Summer Faculty, OX-BOW (SAIC) Summer School of Art, Saugatuk, MI
2001-present Assistant Professor of Art, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
1999- 01 Assistant Professor of Art, Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI.
1998 Instructor (ceramics and fundamentals) Allegheny College, Meadville, PA.
1998 Instructor; Head of Studio (ceramics) Horizons, The New England Craft Program, Williamsburg, MA
1996-99 Studio Technician (ceramics and sculpture), Allegheny College, Meadville, PA.
1995-96 Associate Instructor (ceramics) School of Fine Art, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN Instructor (ceramics) Summer In The City Program, Oberlin, OH
1994-95 Associate Instructor (drawing) School of Fine Art Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 1994 Instructor (ceramics) Summer in The City Program, Oberlin, OH
1993-94 Graduate Assistantship (ceramics) School of Fine Art, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
1992-93 Studio Assistant, Kirk Mangus and Eva Kwong, Kent, OH
1994-95 Studio Assistant, Tom Phinney-Studio Potter, Oberlin, OH
1993 Studio and Gallery Assistant, Bures Porcelain/Elements Gallery, Penninsula, OH
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2003 Solo Exhibit, Gallerie Hertz, Louisville, KY
Solo Exhibit, Capital Arts Center, Houchens Gallery, Bowling Green, KY
“New Work:” Solo Exhibit, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2001 “Disembodiment, “ Merwin and Wakely Galleries, Ames School of Art Illinois Weslyian University, Bloomington, IL
2000 “Heads, Hands, Feet, and Wheels,” Firelands College, The Little Gallery, Bowling Green State University, Huron, OH
1998 "Bodies of Clay," Solo Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
"Disguising The Figure," Trumbull Art Gallery, Warren, OH
"New Work," Sloan Art Gallery, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA
"Head, Hands and Feet: Ceramic sculpture and drawings," Gallery Schanz, Erie, PA
"New Work," Martha Gault Gallery, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA 1997 "Clothing and Skin," Eells Gallery, Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
1996 "New Work," Sculpture Gallery, Kent State University, Kent, OH
"Window To Sculpture," Emerging Artists Exhibition Series, The Sculpture Center,
Cleveland, OH
"Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition," Indiana University Museum, Bloomington, IN
"Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition," Kent State University, Kent, OH
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2003 SIDESHOW: Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University Grand Rapids, MI
New Faculty Exhibit: Joon Sung/Tom Bartel, Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Gallery, Bowling
Green, KY
2002 Group Exhibition and Symposium-“Exchange: Korea, Japan, U. S. A.” Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Florida Atlantic University, Miami-Dade Community College Kendall Gallery, Miami-Dade Community College Wolfson Gallery, Miami, FL
2002 Group Show, “Found Objects and Mixed Media,” Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
2001 “Minor Works by Major Ceramacists: A Mail-Art Project,” Anitioch College, Yellow Springs, OH
2000 “Japan, Korea, America: Contemporary Art Ceramics Exchange Exhibition,” Art Museum Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
“Play On,” Invitational Exhibition: Tom Bartel / Nancy Mladenoff, The Pump House Regional Art Center, La Crosse, WI
“Group Exhibition,” The Odin Gallery, La Crosse, WI
1st Annual Art Educators Exhibition, The Pump House Regional Art Center, La Crosse, WI "Faculty Exhibition," Viterbo University, Fine Arts Center Gallery, La Crosse, WI
1999 "Looking In The Mirror," Aspects of Figurative Ceramics, Riley Hawk Gallery, Columbus, OH, Curator – Gail M. Brown (In conjunction with NCECA)
" Of and About Clay 3," Gallerie Hertz, Louisville, KY
" Of and About Clay 2:" Gallerie Hertz, Louisville, KY
1998 "Refiguration," Hiestand Gallery, Miami University, Oxford, OH
"Alterations:" SPACES, Cleveland, OH, (announcement)
1997 "Forms in Space: Ceramic Sculpture:” Emison Art Center, Depauw University, Greencastle, IN
"Personal to Surreal," Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA
"Of People, Time, and Place:" Firelands Association of The Visual Arts, Oberlin, OH
"Celebration of Crafts: Alumni Exhibition," Kent State University Museum, Kent, OH
1996 "MFA Ceramic Student Exhibition," SOFA Gallery, Henry Hope Radford School of Fine Art, Bloomington, IN
"Of and About Clay:" Gallerie Hertz, Louisville, KY
1995 "Oh, Grow Up," Campus Community Arts Center, Bloomington, IN
"MFA Ceramic Student Exhibition," SOFA Gallery, Henry Hope Radford School of Fine Art, Bloomington, IN
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS / REVIEWS
2004 Watkins. James and Wandless.Paul, Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques: Raku/Saggar/Pit/Barrel, Lark Books
2004 Brown. Gail M, Art Doll Quarterly, “The Figure as Object, “ Winter
2003-04 American Craft Magazine, December/January
2003 Clark Jimmy, NEUE KERAMIK, “14 Nationaler Keramik-Wettbewerb”, San Angelo, USA, May/June
Godfrey, Robert. Citizen Times, “VISUAL ARTS: Figurative exhibit reaches beyond the ordinary”, August. 22.
Ceramics Monthly, “The Fourteenth San Angelo National Ceramic Competition," January, Volume 50 , no. 7
2002 Cloonan, Mary K. Ceramics Art and Perception, ”Flesh and Emotion,” September, Issue 49.
“Up Front,” Ceramics Monthly, “ Found Objects and Mixed Media Exhibit” April, Volume 50, no. 3
Murray, Diane, San Angelo Standard-Times, “Art: Bartel previously held top honor,” April 19
Hakenson Colby, Joy. The Detroit News, “Pewabic Pottery Showcases Traditional and Bizarre Forms, “ Friday January 25
Guten Cohen, Keri. Detroit Free Press, “Grit and play combine at Pewabic, Sunday, January 27.
Mickelson, Taylor, Leigh, Clay Times, “Human Forms,” January/February Vol. 8, No.1
Heilenman, Diane. The Courier-Journal, Art & Living: “Gallery Hertz,” Sunday, February 24
2001 McQuiston, Julie Pratt, Dialogue, Persona: The Ethos of Identity, School of Fine Arts Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, February
2000 De Boos, Janet. Ceramics: Art and Perception, “Looking in the Mirror: Aspects of Figurative Ceramics,” Issue 40
Finkelstein, Lydia B. Bloomington Herald Times, “Artists’ identity explored in exhibit,” Sunday, October 15
Making Ceramic Sculpture: by Raul Acero, Lark Books
Up Front, Ceramics Monthly, Solo Exhibition: “Heads, Hands, Feet, and wheels, ” September
Bartel, Tom. Connections, “Art Department Hosts Visiting Clay Artists this Week,” October 9, Volume 14 number 7
Jaekel, Beth. “New Sculptor has Intense Focus,” School of Fine Arts: Bright Star Season Catalog, Viterbo College
Touchstone, National Fine Arts and Poetry Publication, La Crosse, WI
“Up Front,” Ceramics Monthly, “National Ceramics Invitational In Wisconsin,” February
1999 Brown, Gail. "Looking in the Mirror; Aspects of Figurative Ceramics," Ceramics Monthly, June/July/August,
Young, Jennifer. Arts Editor, The Lumen, La Crosse, WI
American Craft Magazine, February/March
1998 The Meadville Tribune, "Allegheny Prof's. 'Clay Bodies' of Work on display," June, 1998
American Craft Magazine, June/July
The Ceramic Design Book: a Gallery of Contemporary Work, Lark Books
1997 Sandstrom, Karen. The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Friday, December 26
Tranberg, Dan. The Cleveland Free Times, Vol. 6, Issue12, "Alterations: 5 ring circus"
1996 Van Wagoner, Megan. "Thomas Bartel brings life to clay," The Sculpture Center Quarterly Newsletter, October, Cleveland, OH
Monroe, Michael. "The Eleventh Annual San Angelo National” Ceramics Monthly, November
American Craft Magazine, August/September
Cavanaugh, Molly. "Artists convert pain of loss to artful display" Cleveland Plain Dealer, October
AWARDS
2003 Clay Times Award, NCECA Clay National Exhibition, R.B. Stevenson Gallery,
Third Place, “The Fourteenth San Angelo National Ceramic Competition," San Diego, CA Merit Award, “All Kentucky Juried Fine Art Exhibition,” Capitol Arts Center, Ervin G. Houchens Gallery, Bowling Green, KY
2002 San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, San Angelo, TX, Juror – Jimmy Clark
Merit Award, “All Kentucky Juried Fine Art Exhibition,” Capitol Arts Center, Ervin G. Houchens Gallery, Bowling Green, KY
2001 First Place-Ceramics, 16 Annual FIRSTAR Juried Exhibition, Bowling Green, KY
President’s Award, “All Kentucky Juried Fine Art Exhibition,” Capitol Arts Center, Ervin G. Houchens Gallery, Bowling Green, KY
1999 Best of Show, “Time Will Tell,” The Target Gallery, Alexandrea, VA
2000 Jurors’ Choice Award, “Clay Show 2000,” CORE: New Art Space, Denver, CO (In conjunction with NCECA).
1999 Award of Excellence, "Feats of Clay XII," Lincoln Arts, Lincoln, CA
Best of Show, “Time Will Tell,” The Target Gallery, Alexandrea, VA
Award of Excellence, "Feats of Clay XII," Lincoln Arts, Lincoln, CA
Merit Award, "Clayfest XI," Christel De Haan Fine Arts Center, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Best of Show, "Ceramics '99," The Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, CT
1998 The Dick Blick Award, "Craft Forms 98," The Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
Honorable Mention, "International Ceramics Exhibition," The Zanesville Arts Center, Zanesville, OH
Second of Show, "BOX: All Media National Exhibit," Fine Art Gallery, Broward Community College, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Second Place (Festival Award), The Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburg,. PA
Juror's Special Mention Award, "The Hoyt National Art Show," The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, New Castle, PA
Third In Show, "USA Craft Today," Silvermine Guild Gallery, New Canaan, CT
1997 MCA Award, " The Twenty Third Annual October Evenings Exhibition,” Meadville Council on the Arts, Meadville, PA
Gail Rosenthal Award, "Clay Today," Main Line Arts Center, Haverford, PA
Merit Award in Sculpture, "The Hoyt National Art Show," The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, New Castle, PA
Second of Show, "The 7th Annual Elizabethtown College Art Exhibition," Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA
1996 Best of Show, "The San Angelo National Ceramic Competition," San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, San Angelo, TX
October Evenings Award, "The Twenty Second Annual October Evenings Exhibition," Meadville Council on the Arts, Meadville, PA
Cedar Heights Clay Company Award," Crossroads in Clay Competition," Middletown, OH
Merit Award, "The Third Muskingum National Art Exhibition," Muskingum College,
New Concord, OH
1995 Second In Show," New Generation: " The Third Annual National Graduate Student Exhibition, Habitat/Shaw, Pontiac, MI
Third In Show, "45th Annual Quad State Exhibition," Quincy, IL
Merit Award, "Clayfest 9," The University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Best of Show, "The Cleveland State Student Annual," Cleveland, OH
He also has received more than seven grants, numerous scholarships and several assistantships.
He has been invited to lecture, jury and be a visiting artist at several locations, including Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Ox-Bow and NCECA.
He has been shown in over 80 juried exhibitions and over 30 invitationals.
Artist's Statement
Clay is my chosen material; ceramics is my chosen medium. I cannot do what I do with any other material or process; clay and its firing process usually allow me to manifest my ideas best.
I have always been fascinated by human form and tend to use this as a starting point in my work. My work questions various stages of life, which are determined primarily by the biological development of the body from birth to death. I see the human life cycle as an experience containing many beginnings and endings many “births and deaths”; the connection between the beginning and ending of life is a continual source of inspiration. I am observant of how powerful time can be and am intrigued by the many ways in which we are affected by its passage. The changes that take place over time are frighteningly subtle.
The ceramic surfaces I obtain are a vital component of my work through which I intend to confront the viewer’s attention with the outermost “skin” of the work. I am attracted to heavily worn, patinated surfaces that reveal the “history” of an object. I see our skin as having the same potential as the surfaces by which I am intrigued. Throughout our life as we age our appearance inevitably and slowly changes and in the process our skin records this story.
Tom Bartel
