View JoAnn Axford’s works featured on Ceramics Now Magazine
“The flowers of the woodlands and gardens of my upstate New York home are the subjects of my work. The intricate beauty in nature compels me to employ a complex process to translate this to the surface of my pots. I choose to use porcelain because it is the most pure of clays and when left unglazed and polished , an enticingly smooth rich surface is revealed. I began carving my porcelain forms during graduate studies at Skidmore College with Leslie Ferst and Regis Brodie. I continued my exploration of floral forms and structures by pursuing postgraduate study in botanical illustration at The New York Botanical Gardens. I create the bas-relief botanical images by carving into the leather hard wheel thrown porcelain pot. It is a process that can take more than one hundred hours. Each piece is hand polished after the first firing, the bisque, and again after the final high temperature firing to achieve the smooth marble like sheen.
My pots are my response to the natural world and my wish for its preservation. I strive to record the resiliency of nature in the bas-relief botanical images. I attempt also to capture the delicacy and fragility of the blossoms that will ironically be outlived by my pots
As objects of contemplation, it is my hope that my pots will celebrate the beauty and strength of nature and encourage its preservation.” JoAnn Axford
In addition to teaching at both the college and community arts levels, JoAnn has exhibited extensively in juried exhibits throughout the United States, including The Strictly Functional Pottery National, Crafts National, and San Angelo National Ceramic Competition. She was recognized as an Emerging Artist by Ceramics Monthly magazine in 2006. Her work has been published In Clay Times Magazine, Surface Design for Ceramics by Maureen Mills, Lark Books, and 500 Raku by Lark Books.
JoAnn Axford’s C.V. (resume) – View her works
EDUCATION
– Masters 2000 The College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY (Graduate Honors Award)
– Bachelors 1974 The University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Ct (Summa cum laude)
– Post Graduate Studies – Skidmore College, with Leslie Ferst and Regis Brodie
– Botanical Illustration – The New York Botanical Garden
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2010 – Of a Botanical Nature – Mills Pond House Gallery, Juror, Wendy Hollander
– Carved Vase Contest – Clayscapes Gallery , Syracuse, New York
– The Scarab Vase- Celebrating 100 Years, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York
Jersey Shore Clay National, m.t.burton gallery, Surf City, New Jersey, Juror,Thomas Benner
20o9 – Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Juror; Pete Pinnell
– Vasefinder Nationals. 2009 ,www.Vasefinder.com, Juror, Michael Cohen
– Albany Saratoga Pottery Trail, Guest Artist
– Fine Crafts Sale Women’s Club of Albany, , Albany, New York
2007 – Laura Von Rosk and JoAnn Axford Gallery 100, Saratoga, NY, Invitational
2006 – Ceramics Monthly,Emerging Artist Online Showcase 2006, www.ceramicsmonthly.org
– Journeys in Clay 2006, Mountaintop Gallery, Windham, NY, Juror, Ruth Sachs
– Vasefinder Nationals, 2006, www.Vasefinder.com, Juror, Bill Farrell
– Faculty Exhibit The Arts Center of The Capital Region, Troy, NY,
2005 – Red Heat: Contemporary Work in Clay The University of Tulsa, Tulsa Oklahoma,
Juror, Patti Warashina
– JoAnn Axford and D. Jack Solomon Firlefanz Gallery, Albany, NY, , Invitational Show
– Clay on The Wall 2005 Clay National Texas Tech University School of Art, Landmark Arts Gallery, Lubbock, – Texas, Jurors, Glen R. Brown and Juan Granados
– Earth & Fire: Works in Clay Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, ,Juror, Mary O’Connell
– Pots: Objects of Virtue Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA, ,Juror, Mark Pharis
– Vasefinder Nationals, 2005, www.vasefinder.com,Juror, Jenny Floch
– Winter Ceramics Show, Invitational Firlefanze Gallery, Albany, NY,
– Faculty Exhibit The Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY,
2004 – Faculty and Student Show The Art Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY,
– Jersey Shore National m.t. gallery, Surf City, New Jersey, Juror, Jimmy Clark, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pa.
– Spatially InspiredWoman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, Juror, Ilse Bolle
– Winter Ceramic Exhibit ‘04Firlefanz Gallery, Albany, NY,
– Summer in Winter Mt Scott Art Center, Portland, Oregon, , Juror, Julie Martin
2003 – Artists of the Mohawk Hudson Region *University Art Museum, University at Albany, NY ,Picotte Companies Juror’s Award
– Schenectady Museum Purchase Prize, Juror, Maura Heffner, Whitney Museum of American Art
– Crafts National 2003*Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, Pa, Juror, Holly Hotchner, Director Museum of Contemporary Art & Design
– Fence 2003: Don’t Fence Me In The Art Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY, Juror, Sharon Bates, Director, Art & Culture Program, Albany International Airport
– July National Exhibition Franklin Square Gallery, Southport, North Carolina, Juror, Hiroshi Sueyoshi
2002 – Fourteenth San Angelo National Ceramic Competition*San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas, Juror, Jimmy Clark, Director of The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
– Northeast Fine Crafts Exhibit Schenectady Museum, Schenectady, New York, Juror, Chris Irick
– Asian Origins Frog Hollow Gallery, Manchester, Vermont,
2001 – The Ninth Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National *Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Juror, Linda Christianson
2000 – Inaugural Exhibit Adams Street Gallery, Delmar, New York
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
– The Schenectady Museum, Schenectady, NY
PUBLICATIONS
– Clay Times Magazine, December 2009
– Surface Design for Ceramics by Maureen Mills, Lark Books, published 2008
– 500 Raku, Lark Books, publish date spring 2011
AWARDS
2006 – Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist On-line Showcase, 2006
2003 – Artists of the Mohawk Hudson Region, Picotte Companies Juror’s Award
2003 – Artists of the Mohawk Hudson Regional, Schenectady Museum Purchase Prize
2003 – First Place $2000 Purchase Award, Mt Scott Art Center, Portland Oregon
TEACHING
– Sage College of Albany, Albany, New York, adjunct instructor
– Russell Sage College, Troy, New York, Adjunct instructor, 2002-present
– The College of Saint Rose, Albany New York, Adjunct instructor, 2001-2002, 2004
– The Art Center of The Capital Region, Troy,New York, Ceramic instructor, 2001-present, Ceramics Department Chairman 2005-2007
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