Artist: Emily Free Wilson
Emily Free Wilson, OREGON
Bio
Emily Free Wilson is a ceramic artist and entrepreneur in Gardiner, Oregon. She owns her business Free Ceramics and runs it with her husband Matt Wilson. Emily is the Executive Director of the non-profit the Oregon Coast School of Art (OCSA). Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Emily grew up in Roseburg, Oregon. After college in Madison, Wisconsin Emily spent 10 years as the gallery director at a non-profit residency program called the Archie Bray Foundation. While in Montana she started Free Ceramics with her husband and brother and converted an old funeral home into a thriving community art center. In 2019 she moved her family and Free Ceramics to Gardiner, Oregon where they purchased the old Jewett middle school and founded the OCSA. Emily Free Wilson is a visionary, community builder and the mother of two super wonderful kids.
Statement
I need to make fun, happy, colorful things out of clay. This need to create and for those things to be shared with others, is inherent in who I am. Hand built pieces and functional pottery are created out of a mid-range porcelain. The majority of my current work is done collaboratively through my pottery business Free Ceramics. Having my hands in both an artistic business and my own studio allows me to push my designs, ideas and challenge myself to keep evolving as an artist. Simple and inviting pots are made on a wheel or pinched out of large coils by hand and decorated with quick black lines and colorful dots. My imagination can turn images of rain, fireworks or candy into fun abstract designs that dance across the forms. I strive to make a beautiful and whimsical piece of art that makes you smile and is a joy to use.
Occupation
Artist, Potter, Entrepreneur, Community Builder
Executive Director - Oregon Coast School of Art, 2020-current
Owner - Free Ceramics, 2009-current
Education
BFA, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 2001
Roseburg Senior High School, Roseburg, OR, 1997
Work Experience
Gallery Director, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana, 2005-2015 - Expanded programming. Managed Classes, Volunteers, Gallery, Exhibitions, and raised millions of dollars through world-wide fundraisers, exhibitions & auctions.
Co-creator and owner of the Studio Art Center, Helena, Montana, 2014-2019: Funeral Home converted to Art Center. Nine private studios and communal great room for events, live music, performances, art exhibitions and art classes.
Co-Owner – M.E. Properties, Property Management Co., Helena, MT, 2014-2019
Business Manager, Aspen Construction, Helena, MT 2002-2015
Awards
2022 Artist Relief Grant, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon
2021 Artist Relief Grant, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon
2018 Strategic Investment Grant for the Arts, MT Arts Council, MT State Government
2015 Strategic Investment Grant for the Arts, MT Arts Council, MT State Government
2011 Professional Development Grant, MT Arts Council, MT State Government
2008 Purchase Award of Merit, Clay Times, Strictly Functional Pottery National
2007 Professional Development Grant, MT Arts Council, MT State Government
2007 Individual Artist Grant from the Myrna Loy Center, Helena, MT
2001 Grant for BFA Exhibition from the Albert K. Murray Arts Foundation
2001 Scholarship for "Blossom", Workshop at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
1997 Running Scholarship, Track & Cross Country, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Workshop Instruction & Presentations
2023 “Wild & Free”, Free Spring Workshop, 2 day demonstration workshop with Susannah Israel at the Oregon Coast School of Art, Gardiner, OR
2019 Visiting Artist, 2 Day Workshop at Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
2018 Presenting Artist, Ceramics Ireland International Festival, Kilkenny, Ireland Presenter, "Making Happiness" TEDx Helena, Helena, MT
2017 Speaker/ Presenter at Montana Artrepreneur Program Conference, Helena, MT Presentation at MFA Ceramics Dept., UofM, Missoula, MT
Hosted mental health advocate Suzy Hamilton. Proceeds split with Non Profit Organization Girls Thrive. Suzy spoke of life with Bi-Polar w/guest Jason DeShaw.
Slide presentation for Art Career Lecture class, MSU, Bozeman, MT
Slide presentation and decorating demo at Bozeman High School, Bozeman, MT
Member, Toastmasters, Helena, MT
Invited Poetry Reader, 9th Annual Community Leaders Poetry Reading, Lewis & Clark Library Foundation, Helena, MT
2016 Head volunteer organizer for the Holter Museum of Art Gala Auction
2015 & 2017 Organizer for statewide gathering of Montana Clay in the MT Capital Rotunda --This event featured artists hand building, throwing on multiple wheels, art display of current and historic ceramics, and non-profit organization participation. In 2017 added a slide presentation and a reading of a letter of support by Lt. Governor Mike Cooney from Governor Steve Bullock.
2015 Demonstrating artist, Arts on Fire, Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, Great Falls, MT
2011 Visiting Artist, Pottery Northwest, Seattle, WA
2010 Visiting Artist with Bobby Free, Jackson Art Association, Jackson, Wyoming
Publications
Oregon Coast School of Art offers art and community in tiny Gardiner, Danita Cahill,
Feb 19, 2022; Oregon ArtsWatch, Arts & Culture News
What Makes A Potter, Functional Pottery in America Today, Janet Koplos, 2019
The Clay Studio: 100 Artists 1000 Cups, Naomi Cleary, pg 209, 2016
Electric Kiln Ceramics: A Guide to Clays, Glazes, & Electric Kilns, Richard Zakin, 2015
American iPottery: the eBook; one of 256 potters featured with 3-dimensional imagery and detailed information available on iTunes, 2014
Ceramics Monthly, Working Potters Feature, June/July/August 2011, pages 34-37 and Front Cover
Ceramics Monthly, Up-Front Section, image of plate from “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” exhibition in Port Chester, NY, February 2011
Clay Times, Purchase Award of Merit, Image of pitcher, pg 18, 2008
Ceramics Monthly, Annual Poster, Image of platter, March 2008
Ceramics Monthly, Featured Emerging Artist, May 2007, pg 37 & pg 5
Other Accomplishments/Volunteering
Elected Board Member, Gardiner Rural Fire District, Douglas County, Treasurer 2021-current, Organized the successful grant of $20,000 from Three Rivers Foundation for Safety Equipment, 2022
Junior High Cross Country Head Coach, August 2023-current
Reedsport Junior & High School Assistant Cross Country and Track Coach, 2021-current
Toastmasters Member, 2017-2019
Board Member, Lewis & Clark Library Foundation, 2017-2019
BSA Cub and Scout Leader, 2014-current