Stan Irvin is a “2008 Art in the Round Contest” participant.
3 Vessels by Stan Irvin (copyright, Stan Irvin)
General info:
My work is “single fired”, which means the typical bisque firing is eliminated and the work is fired once up to maturing temperature. This is a very risky process in terms of increasing the likelihood of loss due to explosions of work in the kiln. However, single-firing adds to the immediacy of process by making it possible to glaze and fire the work while the ideas are fresh.
Artist’s Statement:
I grew up in a small town in rural Arkansas. My family worked hard and always maintained a large garden that served an essential purpose but demanded constant attention. Though beauty was not the objective, it could often be seen as a by-product of their inventive spirit and their reverence for nature and it rhythmic cycles. The life of a potter has similar cycles and demands the same kind of constant attentive care and attention. The value my parents placed on being able to produce something of tangible value continues to inspire my work.
Though my pots are functional vessels, I am just as concerned with their role as a metaphor. The vessel may contain ideas, energy, and certain character qualities that suggest, for example, a strong presence or quiet serenity. I like to give my forms a sense of orientation and movement that also carries implications of the vessel as a vehicle of transport. In the forming stages I like to think of the interior as the most sacred part, as it defines a certain internal energy and the spirit. For me, the process of making art is as much discovery as it is expression.
Education:
University of Texas, MFA in Ceramics, 1974
Henderson State University, BS in Education, Major in Art, 1970
Employment:
St. Edward’s University, 1976-present, currently Professor of Art
Courses taught:
Clay l & ll
Advanced Clay Projects
Drawing ll
Advanced Drawing Projects
Three Dimensional Design
Art Exhibition Techniques/Portfolio
Beginning Sculpture
Austin Museum of Art:
Set up Ceramics Program, 1974, and taught for two years
Selected workshops and other involvement:
- “Workshop Intensive with Stan Irvin”, Clayways of Austin, July 2006, a one-week long workshop focusing on wheel and hand building.
- “Color and Surface Development”, Clayways of Austin, January 2001, April 2002, a one-week intensive course in glaze formulation theory, testing procedures, and techniques of decoration
- “Color and Surface Development”, Hill Country Arts Foundation, summer 1998, a one-week intensive course in glaze formulation theory, testing procedures, and techniques of decoration. This course emphasized the use of “Insight” glaze calculation software.
- Juror for the “Ninth Annual Stars of Texas Exhibition”, January 2007, This was a statewide painting competition sponsored by the Brownwood Arts Council. Approximately $7,000 in awards were presented to the winners.
- Juror for the Texas Society of Sculptors, Juried Annual Membership Exhibition, 1998
Selected Exhibitions:
- “Ishmael Soto Retrospective”, Mexi-Carte Museum, February 2007. The exhibit featured work of Soto’s former students.
- “The First Annual Texas Teapot Tournament”, sponsored by the Houston Potters Guild, January 2007
- “Art of the Pot”, Austin, Texas, May 2006
- “GACA Membership Exhibition”, Guadalupe Arts Center, November 2004
- “23rd Annual Regional Juried Exhibition”, Hill Country Arts Foundation, September 2004
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