Ceramic vessels by Michael Lalone (copyright Michael Lalone)
Artist’s Statement: I have been working in clay for over 20 years. I started by taking a teacher recertification class and haven’t stopped yet! As a former basketball standout, I was teaching physical education classes and coaching when, in 1981, I decided to take a year off and do a summer intensive study at Alfred University with Val Cushing and a year at the Kansas City Art Institue with Ken Ferguson, Victor Babu, and George Timock. The following summer was spent assisting various professional clay artists at Arrowmont.
Returning to Dr. Phillips High in Orlando, I proceeded to build one of the nation’s top ceramic programs. With a lot of help from potter friends, students, and the community, I built wood and salt kilns, a raku area and the traditional electric firing that is the mainstay of the high school program.
I was honored by the Daniel Clark Foundation as an exemplary instructor and have received numerous teaching awads, twice being named Teacher of the Year. I was nominated twice from my school for the Walt Disney Teacheriffic Award, winning top program recognition in 1991. Most recently, I received the Kessler Foundation Award for excellence in art education.
My work has appeard in Clay Times Magazine, local news publications and several movies shot in the Orlando area. National shows, such as “The Strictly Functional National” and the “Ceramics Biennial” showcased my work to folks across the country. My work is in the collection of schools in China and Japan. Regionally in the Florida Governors’ mansion and galleries in Georgia and North Carolina.
My strength is in my love of teaching and sharing what others have so freely given to me. Clay folks are among the most giving, genuine people I have met and for this reason, I was immediately drawn to that type of personality. Being a teacher at the Boys and Girls Clubs at the age of 14 and teaching and coaching at the public school level for 31 years has allowed me to fulfill my dream of being a person who gives back to help others.
I continue to teach at the John C. Campbell Folkschool in Brasstown, North Carolina. In 2005 I was given the honor and opportunity to become part of the Folkschool faculty. Being selected as the resident potter allows me to bring in top talent to continue the tradition of strong clay education at the Folkschool. My goal is to build an already strong program even stronger.
Artistic Resume:
Education -
- University of Central Florida, BA, 1972
- Kansas City Art Institute (art certification), 1981
- Western Carolina University, MA, 1996
Teaching experience -
- Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, Florida, 1973-2005
- OCPS Community School (ceramics, drawing, sculpture), 1988-2005
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida, 1997-1999
- John C. Campbell Folk School, 2005-present (resident potter)
- Cherokee County Public Schools, substitute teacher, 2007-2008
Awards -
- OCPS Excellence in Program Award Recognition, 2005
- Kessler Award for Teaching Excellence, 2004
- Governor’s First Lady Award, 1999, 2000, 2003
- United Arts of Central Florida, Award of Excellence, 1995
- Daniel Clark Foundation Award, Studio Potter Foundation, 1994
- Walt Disney Teacheriffic Award of Merit, 1991
- Teacher of the Year, 1978, 1991, OCPS
- Third Place, State of Florida FAEA Convention, 1986
- Best of Show, Fiesta in the Park, 1985, 1986
- College Park Art Show, First Place, 1970
- Epstein Award for Fine Art, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, 1964
Exhibitions -
- Museum at Five Points, Cleveland, Tennessee, Guest Artist
- AMACO NCECA Exhibition, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2003
- Young Guns and Ol’ Geezers, City of Orlando, City Hall Exhibition
- Orlando Biennial, City of Orlando Gallery, 1998
- OCPS Three Dimensional Guys (an invitational in the rotunda)
- Western Carolina University, Graduate Exhibition, 1996
- Eitharong Gallery, Orlando, Florida, 1986
Collections -
- Wolfe Gallery, DeLand, Florida
- Artistic Hand Gallery, Oviedo, Florida
- Gallery at Red Bank, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- John C. Campbell Gallery, Brasstown, North Carolina
- Stechoa Art Center, Stechoa Valley, North Carolina
- Grove Arcade Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina
For contact information, email Art in the Round.
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[...] in Murphy, NC. We went to get a behind-the-scenes tour from their awesome Potter-In-Residence, Michael Lalone. The Folk School is a great place to go and spend a week or week-end learning a craft from a [...]