Artist: Joyce St. Clair-Voltz

Joyce St. Clair-Voltz, IOWA
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STATEMENT
I believe in the celebration of a resolute and lavish femininity. The dialogue between volume and ornament, substantiality and sensitivity, contemplates the relationship between culturally demanding ideals of femininity and what I understand to be my own sense of the feminine. These ideas inform the relationship between form and surface in my work. Resoluteness conveys determination through fullness and power; lavishness expresses decisive indulgence.

My ideas of femininity are pushed and pulled in the surfaces and decoration of stout voluminous forms. Embedded and sprigged ornamental gestures emerge and converge with regulated thrown lines to create undulating, indulgent curves. Robust colors connect the surface to the form through depth and decoration, providing generous intensity through glistening, thick rivulets. My work personifies an identity that is not characterized by sober traditions of restraint but rather is declared by substantial pots that recognize a genuine joy in a resolute femininity deserving of celebration.

I manipulate the language of porcelain by employing exaggerated volumes and gestures to convey the material's strength and durability as opposed to delicacy. The generous use of clay, glaze and decoration contrasts the historical cultivation of refined, delicate porcelain. Striking at the ideas of what is definably feminine, visually feminine, and my personal sense of the feminine, my work is my determined desire for a substantial understanding of feminine identity separate from social and aesthetic canon.

EDUCATION
2014
Master of Fine Arts – Ceramics, Wichita State University, Wichita KS
2011
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Ceramics, Bachelor of Arts – Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies, University of North Texas, Denton TX, summa cum laude

AWARDS
2015
“Emerging Artist” Ceramics Monthly
2011-2014
Clayton Staples Fellowship, Wichita State University
2011
Student Government Association Special Research Scholarship, Wichita State University
2007
Excellence II Scholarship, University of North Texas

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Sept 2017-Present
Long Term Artist in Residence, Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio, Cedar Rapids IA
Sept 2015-July 2017
Long Term Resident, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge MT
Aug 2011-May 2014
Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of Art and Design, Wichita State University, Wichita KS
June 2014
Workshop Assistant, Brenda Lichman, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada CO (2 day)
May 2013-Sept 2013
Private Throwing Instructor, Envision Inc, Wichita, Kansas 67213
Jan 2011-May 2011
Personal Assistant, Elmer Taylor, Regents Professor of Studio Arts, University of North Texas, Denton TX
Jan 2010-Jan 2011
Hourly Lab Assistant, UNT Studio Ceramics Department, University of North Texas, Denton TX

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2014
“Celebration: MFA Thesis Exhibition” Diver Studio presented by WSU Shift Space, Wichita KS
2007
“Betwixt: BFA Exhibition” UNT Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton TX

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017
"2017 Bienal de Curitiba" Botanique Cafe, Curitiba, Brazil
Curator: Dr. Royce Smith, Dean, College of Arts and Architecture, Montana State University, Bozeman MT
"Joyce St. Clair Voltz and Lars Voltz: Volumes and Gestures" University of Northern Colorado, Oak Room Gallery, Greely CO
"Rocky Mountain College Presents: RLCC Long Term Residents" Rocky Mountain College, Billings MT
"Beyond the Brickyard"
Juror: Josh DeWeese The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena MT
2016
"Primary: Color in Ceramics" The Ceramics Center, Cedar Rapids IA
"2015-2016 Resident Exhibition" Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge MT
"THIRST" Capsule Gallery, Houston TX
"4th Annual Juried Cup Show" Jensen Arts Center, Corvallis OR
"Bowls: A National Juried Exhibition"
Juror: Julia Galloway, Guildford Arts Center, Guilford CT
"Different Perspectives" NorthWest Gallery, Northwest College, Powell WY
Rocky Mountain College Presents: Red Lodge Clay Center Long-Term Residents, Ryniker-Morrison Gallery, Billings MT
2015
“Feast of Cultures: Montana Ceramic Artists Showcase” Lewistown Art Center, Lewistown, MT
“CERAMIC COLOR: the endless pursuit”
Juror: Josh DeWeese, Carbondale Clay Center Gallery, Carbondale CO
2014
“Create. Innovate. Play. A Showcase of Excellence in the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries at Wichita State University” Curtis Statehouse Building, Topeka KS
“Artworks Presents: Lars Voltz, Joyce St. Clair and Eric Carbrey” The Gallery at Artworks, Wichita KS
“Pots at Water Walk” Water Walk Plaza, Final Friday, Wichita KS
Curator: Kate Van Steenhuyse, Director Harvester Arts
“WSU MFA Thesis Exhibition” Ulrich Underground: Grafly Gallery, Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita KS 2
Curator: Jodi Throckmorton, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
2013
“Graduate Salon Style” WSU Project Space, Wichita State University, Wichita KS
“Form and Function” Karg Art Glass Gallery, Karg Art Glass, Kechi KS
Curator: Sherry Waters, Gallery Director
“ARTAID” The Cotillion Ballroon, Wichita KS
Curator: Cody Patton, Executive Director: Positive Directions, Jones Gallery
“Back to the Park” Fairmount Park Association Community Outreach, Wichita KS
“A Common Goal II” The Fibers Studio, Wichita KS
“Moving Fingers: WSU Graduate Student and Faculty iPad Research Projects” WSU Shift Space, Wichita KS
“Materials Hard and Soft” Meadows Gallery, Center for the Visual Arts, Denton TX
Juror: Jean W. McLaughlin, Penland School of Crafts
2012
“Negotiating Body and Space: WSU Graduate Show” WSU Shift Space, Wichita KS
Juror: Joseph Keehn, Curator of Public Programs, Salina Arts Center
WSU Ceramics Guild Exhibition, Jones Gallery at Positive Directions, Wichita KS
“Art 4 Life Art Show” The Cotillion Ballroom, Wichita KS
Curator: Cody Patton, Executive Director: Positive Directions, Jones Gallery
2011
“Murderin’ the Second Degree: Graduate Exhibition” WSU Shift Space, Wichita KS
“Earthwurx” UNT Union Gallery, University of North Texas Denton TX
Juror: Jerry Austin, Director College of Visual Art and Design
“Presenting Advanced Ceramics” UNT Lightwell Gallery, Denton TX
2012
“Nineteen Cubed” UNT North Gallery, Denton TX
“Advanced Ceramics” UNT Lightwell Gallery, Denton TX
2009
“A South Texas Ceramic Showdown: Beyond the Vessel” South Texas College, McAllen TX

DEMONSTRATIONS/ARTIST LECTURES
2016
Rocky Mountain College, Billings MT, Demonstration and Artist Lecture
2015
Fired Earth Pottery, Appleton WI, Demonstration and Artist Lecture
2014
Artist Lecture and Studio Tour – Senior Wednesday, Ulrich Art Museum
Workshop – Trinity High School, Euless TX
2013
Gallery Throwing Demonstration, Karg Art Glass, Kechi KS
Back to the Park Event – Throwing Demonstration, Fairmount Park, Wichita KS

PUBLICATIONS
Ceramics Monthly, May 2015 – Emerging Artist: Joyce St. Clair, page 70

RESEARCH TRAVEL
2012
Sydney Biennial, Sydney Australia - July 17-August 3, 2012
Havana Biennial, Havana Cuba - June 4-June 18, 2012
2011
Yokohama Triennial, Yokohama Japan - Oct. 20-Nov. 4, 2011