ABOUT THE ARTIST
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I continue to explore the relationships between various forms in an attempt to reveal the emotive power and energy that exists within those forms. Most recently, I have been exploring the relationship of the depth and reflective qualities of glass with the solidity and mass that clay represents. Embodying the history of ceramics and the process of transformation by fire, I often use fragments of the ceramic process; shards, kiln parts, cone packs, and glazes along with common objects representing technology and industry to add content and to articulate the surface of the clay. Sometimes only the impressions of objects are left in the clay, sometimes the objects themselves are fired into the clay, and sometimes the actual objects are incorporated. Glass and colorants melt and run, metals oxidize, and plastics disintegrate with only trace elements remaining.
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biography
Robert L. Wood, is Professor of Design, and Head of the Ceramics Program at Buffalo State College. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics from Indiana State University in 1987 and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dallas in 1983. Participating in over 175 juried and invitational art exhibitions at the national and regional level, his work has received twelve national awards. His clay sculptures have been included in numerous publications, including The Ceramic Glaze Handbook: Materials, Techniques, Formulas, Making Ceramic Sculpture, The Ceramic Design Book, 500 Teapots, The Best of Pottery I and II, Electric Kiln Ceramics, Ceramics: Mastering the Craft; Ceramics Monthly; American Craft; Studio Potter; over 75 exhibition catalogs and his artwork is in numerous public and private collections throughout the country, including outdoor installations. He has been listed in Who’s Who in American Art, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and Who’s Who in the World and has juried national art exhibitions and given numerous lectures and workshop demonstrations on his work.
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resume
EDUCATION
1987
M.F.A./Ceramics, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana
1983
Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts/Ceramics, University of Dallas, Irving, Texas
SELECTED RECENT EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
2008
One Person Exhibition, Sisson Art Gallery, Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn, Michigan Invitational Exhibition
2007
Solo Exhibition, Arthur Butcher Gallery, Concord University, Athens, West Virginia
Clay Mechanics II, National Juried Group Exhibition, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Extraordinary Forms: Bi-National Clay, International Invitational Exhibition, Kenan Center House
Gallery, Lockport, New York
2006
Skin Deep: Ceramic Surfaces, National Juried Group Exhibition, Hyman Fine Arts Center Gallery,
Francis Marion Univ., Florence, South Carolina
Materials: Hard and Soft, National Juried Exhibition, Meadows Gallery, Denton, Texas
2005
Art Exchange 4th Quarter Alternative Media Exhibition, On-line National Juried Art Exhibition
Materials: Hard and Soft, National Juried Group Exhibition, Meadows Gallery, Denton, Texas
2004
2004 Art on Axis Clay Exhibition, National Invitational Exhibition, Axis Architecture, Indianapolis, Indiana
3rd Annual Ceramic Sculpture Exhibition, National Juried, Celadon Clay Art Gallery, Watermill, New York
Creating Old and New Ceramics, National Invitational Exhibition, Indiana Historical Society,
Indianapolis, Indiana
2003
Craftforms 2003, National Juried Group Exhibition, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, Pennsylvania
First Place Award, Ceramics 2003, The Fourth Biennial Exhibit of North American Clay, National
Juried Group Exhibition, Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, Connecticut
Ceramics USA 2003, National Juried Exhibition, University of North Texas Art Gallery, Denton, Texas
2002
Art Tech Mixed Media Award, Westmoreland Art Nationals 2002, National Juried Group
Exhibition, Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, Pennsylvania
14th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, National Juried Group Exhibition
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas
Edinboro National Ceramics Invitational Exhibition, Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pennsylvania
2001
Rendezvous 2001, National Invitational Exhibition, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, Nebraska
Craft Forms 2001, National Juried Group Exhibition, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, Pennsylvania
Individual Artist 2001 Recognition Award for Exceptional Contributions, Esprit de Corps, Burchfield-
Penney Art Center, Buffalo, New York
2000
Impressions in Clay, National Juried Group Exhibition, Chester Springs Studio Center for Visual Arts,
Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
Sculpture in Clay: Richard Hirsch, Nancy Jurs, Bill Stewart, Robert L. Wood, Invitational Exhibition
Rockefeller Arts Center Gallery, State University College at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York
21st Century Award for Achievement, International Biographical Centre, 2000
1999
Crafts USA Today, National Juried Exhibition, Silvermine Guild Galleries, New Canaan, Connecticut
Two Person Exhibition, Robert Wood and Mark Lavatelli, Gallery 101 Bistro, Buffalo, New York
1998
The National Award of Excellence, Best of Both Exhibitions, Westmoreland Art Nationals
National Juried Group Exhibitions, Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, Pennsylvania
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selected pubications included in
Piepenburg, Robert. The Spirit of Ceramic Design, 2008
_____. 500 Ceramic Sculptures. Asheville: Lark Books, 2008
_____. 500 Platters, Plates, & Chargers. Asheville: Lark Books, 2008. Photo, pgs. 24, 210.
Mills, Maureen. Surface Design for Ceramics, Asheville: Lark Books, 2008
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2006-07
Marquis Who's Who in American Education, 2006-2007, 2007-08
Marquis Who's Who in American Art, 1999, 2005-2006, 2007-08
"Ceramics 2003". Ceramics Monthly (October 2003): pp. 67-68
_____. 500 Teapots. Lark Books, 2002. Color photo, p. 99.
Zakin, Richard. Ceramics: Mastering the Craft. 2nd edition. Iola : Krause Publications, 2001. p. 74.
Burleson, Mark. The Ceramic Glaze Handbook: Materials, Techniques, Formulas. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2001. Three color photos, pp. 87, 96.
Acero, Raul. Making Ceramic Sculpture. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2000. Photo, p. 102.
_____. The Best of Pottery 2. Rockport, MA: Rockport Publishers, 1998. Color photo, p. 20.
_____. The Ceramic Design Book. Asheville, North Carolina: Lark Books, 1998. Photo, p. 170.
"Gallery". American Craft Magazine 56 (Dec. 1996/Jan. 1997): 72.
_____. The Best of Pottery. Rockport, MA: Rockport Publishers, 1996. Color photo of my work, p. 18.
"Alabama's Monarch National". Ceramics Monthly 44 (February 1996): 41.
"Rollerblading along the Erie Canal". Studio Potter Magazine Volume 24 Number 1 (December 1995): 60-80.
"Judgment Call: The 29th Ceramic National". American Craft Magazine 53 (October/November 1993): 1, 47.
"Gallery". American Craft Magazine 52 (June/July1992): 71.
"NCECA Member's Show". Ceramics Monthly 38 (October 1990): 77.
75 Exhibition catalogs and numerous newspaper articles.
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workshops and lectures
2008
-Artist demonstration and slide lecture for Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn, Michigan
2007
-Artist slide lecture for Virginia Technical University, Montgomery, West Virginia -Artist demonstration and slide lecture for Concord University, Athens, West Virginia
-Artview Television interview in conjunction with the Extraordinary Forms: Binational Exhibition. -Lewiston Porter High School slide lecture on my work, Lewiston, New York
2004
-Elected to Board of Directors for the Buffalo Arts Studio, Buffalo, New York
-Lewiston Porter High School Slide Lecture on my work, Lewiston, New York
-Catholic Academy of Buffalo Workshop, Buffalo, New York
2002
-An Insiders View of Craft Art Western New York 2002, Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo, New York
-Ceramics talk for Leadership Buffalo First Impressions
2001
-Visiting Artist Workshop for Lewiston-Porter High School for the Empire State Partnership grant “Writing on the Wall” project. In conjunction with the Castellani Art Museum, Lewiston, New York.
2000
-Workshop for "Western New York Clay Symposium", Nazareth College, Pittsford, New York
-Slide lecture on my work, SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, New York
1999
-Book signing slide lecture on my work, Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo, NY
1998
-NYSATA Conference Workshop, Non-Traditional Ceramic Surface Treatments, Buffalo, NY
1998
-Hosted WNY Clay Symposium, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, New York
-Slide Lecture and Workshop, SUNY Brockport, Brockport, New York
-Slide Lecture on my Work, Sylvia Rosen Endowment lecture, Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo, New York
1996
-Slide Lecture on Recent Work, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
-Slide Lecture on Recent Work, Appalachian Center for the Crafts Tennessee Technological University, Cookville, Tennessee
-Workshop for "Western New York Clay Symposium", SUNY College at Geneseo, Geneseo, New York
-Member of the Planning Committee and Coordinator of Volunteers for the 1996 national NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) conference.
1995
-Artist in Residence, Artpark, Lewiston, New York 1994
-Workshop for "Western New York Clay Symposium", SUNY College at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York
-Included in slide collection of the Library of the Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague, Czech Republic
-Visiting Artist Slide Lecture on my Recent Work, Niagara County Community College, Sanborn, New York
1993
-Slide Lecture on my Recent Work, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Buffalo, New York -Visiting Artist Lecture: SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
-Tile installation for the Cristel DeHann Fine Arts Center University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana
1992
-I was invited and had my work included in a lecture, "New Materials in Ceramics" at The Interaction in Ceramics: Art, Design and Research Conference held at the University of Industrial Arts Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. The lecture was given by Professor Richard Spiller, East Carolina University.
-I was invited and had my work included in a lecture, "American Ceramics of the 90's" at the Taipe Fine Arts Museum in China. This lecture was given by Professor Richard Hirsch, Rochester Institute of Technology.
-Visiting Artist Lecture and Workshop, SUNY College at Brockport, Brockport, New York
-Creativity Workshop for Fisher Price Art Department, Buffalo, New York
1991
-"Nonfunctional Functional" Lecture, Burchfield Art Center, Buffalo, New York
1990
-Slide Lecture on my Recent Work, Burchfield Art Center, Buffalo, New York
1989
-Slide Lecture on my Recent Work, Adam's Memorial Art Gallery, Dunkirk, New York
1988
-Visiting Artist Lectures: SUNY College at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York, SUNY College at Brockport, Brockport, New York
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exhibitions juried
2008
Co-Juror, 100 American Craftsman Exhibition, Lockport, New York
Juror, Edges 2008, Outdoor Sculpture Competition, Artpark, Lewiston, New York
2006
Co-Juror, Lewiston Art Festival, Lewiston, New York
2005
Judge for Awards, Tony Moeser Memorial Members Fall Art Show, Hamburg, New York
Co-Juror, Allentown Arts Festival, Buffalo, New York
2004
Co-Juror, Allentown Arts Festival, Buffalo, New York
2003
Co-Juror, Allentown Arts Festival, Buffalo, New York
1999
Co-Juror, Allentown Arts Festival, Buffalo, New York
1998
Co-Juror, 100 American Craftsman Exhibition, Lockport, New York
1997
Co-Judge for Awards, 23rd Annual Tarpon Springs Arts Festival, Tarpon Springs, Florida
1994
Made in Clay, Carnegie Cultural Center, Tonawanda, New York (Selected as juror)
1993
Co-Juror, Allentown Arts Festival, Buffalo, New York
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