Artist: Shadow May

Shadow May, TENNESEE
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I work from the perspective that life is fleeting. That belief lends to the urgent and spontaneous nature of my sculptures. "Did I do enough in my life? Did I live in fear too often? Did I challenge myself to taste greatness?"

The fundamentals I gained from apprenticeships and production work early in my career have equipped me with a fearless method of creating sculpture - evolving rapidly. Although I spent many years working as a functional potter, I eventually found myself feeling confined by the restrictions of function. I wanted to create work that would challenge notions of what clay should be and do and look. Because of that desire I feel that my sculptures are intuitive and uninhibited and emphasize the value in taking risks.

Each sculpture is built from monolithic slabs of clay and thrown forms to create large, dynamic pieces. Instead of hiding the seams, I emphasize them by using unorthodox tools to seal the joints and create texture. The spontaneity of the building process is obvious when someone looks at the final product. The torn forms, unconcealed joints, and bent slabs reinforce the urgency I hope to convey my work.

EDUCATION
2008
Spring Board (8 week course), Business Planning Workshops. Chattanooga, TN
2001-2002
Haywood Community College, Ceramics Major. Western North Carolina.
2000
Penland School of Crafts, Ceramics Work Study (Don Reitz/Soda-Firing). Penland, NC
1998
University of Alaska, English & Art History Major. Anchorage, Alaska.
1990-1994
Home High School. Homer, Alaska

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2000-Present
Shadow May Studios, Sole Proprietor. Chattanooga, Tennessee
2008
Fine Living Program: "A Splash of Style", Television Spotlight on making the Vessel Sink. Fine Living Television Network (River Media)
2000
Two Rivers Studio, Studio Assistant. Dillsboro, North Carolina
1999-2000
Tropical Clay, Production Potter. Honolulu, Hawaii.
Paradise Pottery, Production Potter/Studio Assistant. Haleiwa, Hawaii.
Fyrewerks Pottery, Production Potter/Studio Assistant. Haleiwa, Hawaii.
Hula Lamps Hawaii, Production Assistant. Haleiwa, Hawaii.
Home High School Ceramics Department, Studio Assistant. Homer, Alaska.
Paul Dungan Pottery, Apprentice/Studio Assistant. Homer, Alaska.
1995-1996
Monsarratt Pottery, Apprentice/Studio Assistant. Friendsville, TN
1994
The Pottery School, Assistant. Knoxville, Tennessee.

KILN WORKING EXPERIENCE
2009-Present
Extensive electric Cone 6 Firing. 24 cu.ft. Olympic front-loading Commercial Electric Kiln. Chattanooga, TN.
2004-2009
Extensive electric Cone 6 Firing. 24 cu.ft. Commercial Electric Kiln. Chattanooga, TN.
Collin College Kiln Building Workshop Instructor. 24 cu.ft. Soda Cross-Draft Gas Kiln. Plano, TX.
Extensive electric Cone Firing. Olympic 20 cu.ft. Electric Oval Kiln. Knoxville and Chattanooga, TN.
2005-2006
University of Tennessee Wood Kiln. Fired Catenary Arch (40 cu.ft. Wood/Salt kiln). Knoxville, TN.
2001-2003
Built Fast-Fire Catenary Arch Wood Kiln. 45 cu.ft. Canton, NC.
Haywood Community College, Intensive Study Single-Firing Cone 10 Gas Car Kiln. Contributed to building the Phoenix Wood-Fired Kiln. Western North Carolina.
1999-2000
Homer High School, Maintained, Reconstructed, and Fired Lou Olsen 60 cu.ft. Fast-Fire Wood Kiln. Homer, AK.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2012
Workshop Instructor "The Fearless Sculpture", Adult Workshop, University of Tennessee. Chattanooga, TN.
Workshop Instructor "The Fearless Sculpture", Adult Workshop, Haywood Community College. Clyde, NC.
Workshop Instructor "The Fearless Sculpture", Adult Workshop, Cleveland State Community College. Cleveland, TN.
Workshop Instructor "The Fearless Sculpture", Adult Workshop, Appalachian Center for Craft. Smithville, TN.
Workshop Instructor "Bold Pots: Combining Slab and Thrown Pieces", Adult Workshop, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Gatlinburg, TN.
Workshop Instructor "Bold Pots: Combining Slab and Thrown Pieces". Adult Workshop, The Bascom. Highlands, NC.
2011
Lab Instructor/Adjunct Professor: Ceramics I. University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN.
Workshop Instructor "Bold Pots: Combining Slab and Thrown Pieces". Adult Workshop, Appalachian Center for Craft. Smithville, TN.
Workshop Instructor "Bold Pots: Combining Slab and Thrown Pieces". Saint Andrews Sewanee Adult & High School Workshops. Sewanee, TN.
2010
Workshop Instructor "Incorporating Soft Glass with Your Glazes". Adult Workshop, Appalachian Center for Arts. Norris, TN.
Workshop Instructor, "Creating Soft Pots". Adult Workshop, John C. Campbell Folk School. Brasstown, NC.
Workshop Instructor "Creating Soft Pots". Adult Workshop, Arkansas Craft School. Mountain View, AR.
Workshop Instructor "Creating Soft Pots". MIghty Mud Gallery/Studios. Knoxville, TN.
2008
Workshop Instructor, “Combining Wheel-Thrown Forms with Slabs”. Adult Workshop, Appalachian Arts Craft Center. Norris, TN.
Workshop Instructor, “Creating a Body of Work”. Ceramics Majors Workshop, Collin College. Allen, TX.
Workshop Instructor, “Exploring the Bowl”. Adult Workshop, Appalachian Arts Craft Center. Norris, TN.
Workshop Instructor, “Throwing Loose Pots”. Adult Workshop, Mighty Mud Studios. Knoxville, TN.
2007
Workshop Instructor, “Mastering the Mug”. Adult Workshop, Appalachian Arts Craft Center. Norris, TN.
Instructor, “Throwing and Hand-building”. Adult Workshop, Campbell’s Ceramics Supply. Knoxville, TN.
2005-2006
Instructor, “Throwing and Hand-building”. Adult Workshop, Campbell’s Ceramics Supply. Knoxville, TN.

EXHIBITIONS
2013
Tennessee Arts Commission Solo Show. TAC Gallery. Nashville, TN.
2012
2012 Instructor Show. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Gatlinburg, TN.
“American Craft Today”. The Bascom. Highlands, NC.
“Source Material”. Crimson Laurel Gallery. Bakersville, NC.
“Metal, Sticks & Stones”. Leiper's Creek Gallery. Franklin, TN.
2011
“Raising Standards: New Members of Southern Highlands Craft Guild Exhibition”. Southern Highlands Craft Guild Folk Art Center. Asheville, NC.
Andy Light, Shadow May, Isaac Duncan III Sculpture Show. Front Gallery. Chattanooga, TN.
“Summer Swan Invitational”. Swan Coach House Gallery. Atlanta, GA.
Faculty Show Exhibit. Appalachian Center for Craft. Smithville, TN.
Mudfire Gallery and Clay Center. Solo Exhibition. Decatur, GA.
“Eat, Sleep, Clay”. SAS Gallery Solo Exhibition. Sewanee, TN.
“Fired Works”. Regional Exhibition. Macon, GA.
2010
“20 Potters 20 Teachers”. John C Campbell Folk School. Brasstown, NC.
Mudfire Gallery and Clay Center. Solo Exhibition. Decatur, GA.
“Strictly Functional Pottery National”. Participant. Lancaster, PA.
2009
“Strictly Functional Pottery National”. Participant. Lancaster, PA.
2008
“Performances in Clay III”. The Gallery. Red Bank, TN.
“2008 Gallery Hop”. Loose Cannon Arts and Events. Chattanooga, TN.
Trunk Show for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. Hunter Museum of American Art. Chattanooga, TN.
“Palate 2 Palette”. Loose Cannon Arts and Events. Chattanooga, TN.
2007
“Performances in Clay II”. The Gallery. Red Bank, TN.
2006
Solo Show. Hanson Gallery. Knoxville, TN.
2004
Two Man Show. Bogartz Restaurant. Knoxville, TN.

AWARDS
2012
Susan Clayton Juror’s Choice Award. Saint Louis Art Fair. Saint Louis, MO.
Tennessee Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship Grant Recipient. TAC. Tennessee.
Merit Award. Des Moines Arts Festival. Des Moines, IA.
Best of Show. Magic City Art Connection. Birmingham, AL.
Juror’s Choice Award. 4 Bridges Art Festival. Chattanooga, TN.
Award of Distinction. Winter Park Art Festival. Winter Park, FL.
Award of Merit. Gasparilla Festival of Arts. Tampa, FL.
2011
Make Work Grant Recipient. Springboard. Chattanooga, TN.
Honorable Mention. Artisphere. Greenville, SC.
Best in Clay. TACA Spring Festival. Nashville, TN.
Best in Show. Magic City Art Connection. Birmingham, AL.
Best in Clay. Four Bridges Arts Festival. Chattanooga, TN.
2010
First place. Festival of the Masters. Orlando, FL.
Best in Clay. Atlanta Arts Fest. Atlanta, GA.
2009
Creative Clay Award. TACA. Nashville, TN.
Best Presentation. Columbus Arts Show. Columbus, OH.
Best in Clay. Atlanta Arts Fest. Atlanta, GA.
2008
ArtsMove Grant Recipient. Create Here Organization. Chattanooga, TN.
CERF (Craft Emergency Relief Fund) Grant Recipient. National.
Merit Award. Pink Palace Fine Arts and Crafts Show. Memphis, TN.
Purchase Awards (3). Artisphere. Greenville, SC.
Honorable Mention. Dogwood Arts Festival. Knoxville, TN.
2007
Merit Award. Pink Palace Fine Arts and Crafts Show. Memphis, TN.
First Place Overall. Dogwood Festival of Arts. Knoxville, TN.
Empty Bowls Award. TACA Spring Show. Nashville, TN.
Honorable Mention. St. Stephen’s Art and Craft Show. Coconut Grove, FL.
2006
Second Place Overall Fine Arts. National Shrimp Festival. Gulf Shores, AL.
Artist Patron Award. National Shrimp Festival. Gulf Shores, AL.
2005
Merit Award. AthFest Arts and Music Festival. Athens, GA.
Best of Show. Rugby Festival of British and Appalachian Culture. Rugby, TN.

GALLERIES
The Copper Fox. Franklin, TN
The District Gallery. Knoxville, TN
Crimson Laurel Gallery. Bakersville, NC
Mudfire. Decatur, GA
Silver Fox Gallery. Hendersonville,NC
Tin Roof Studio. Highlands, NC
City Woods Gallery. Highland Park,IL
Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Santa Barbara, CA

ORGANIZATIONS
Southern Highlands Craft Guild
Association for Visual Artists
Foothills Craft Guild
TACA

PUBLICATIONS
“The Bridge”; AVA Arts. Vol. 2, 2012
“Photo Moment: ‘The bug for clay’”; Chattanooga Times Free Press. September 5, 2011
“Trio of Sculptors: Duncan, Light, May”; Chattanooga Times Free Press. July 10, 2011
“Arts & Geometry”; The Pulse. Vol.8; Issue 28; July 14, 2011
Ceramics Monthly. April 2011
The Mountain Mirror, Chattanooga, TN. July 2009; Pgs.B6
Clay Times. Volume 15; Issue 83; Sept/Oct 2009; pg.14
Ceramics Monthly. Dec 2009 issue