Christopher St. John
stjohch@iu.edu
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 2024
(Studied with Tom Bartel, Brad Schwieger)
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, 2002
(Studied with Kes Woodward, Michael Nakoneczny)
AWARDS and HONORS
Named Fellowship, Trisolini Fellowship, Ohio University, 2023-2024
Director’s Award for Excellence, Ohio Designer Craftsman Best of 2022
Graduate Recruitment Scholarship, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 2021 to 2024
Graduate Assistantship, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 2021 to 2024
Instructor of the Year-Maude Kerns Art Center, 2020
Special Prize for Painting, Lessedra Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2012
Ruben Tam Award for Painting, Artists of Hawaii, Honolulu Art Museum, 2007
TEACHING EXPERIENCE (Instructor-of-Record)
Resident Artist/Visiting Professor, Indiana University Southeast, 2024
Summer Studios Pre-College Program, Ceramics, Ohio University, Summer 2024
Hand Building, Ohio University, Spring 2024
Critique Community, Ohio University, Fall 2023
Intermediate/Advanced Ceramics, Ohio University, Fall 2023
Art + Design Pre-College, Painting + Drawing Studio, Ohio University, Summer 2023
Hand Building, Ohio University, Spring 2023
Foundations: Description + Drawing, Ohio University, Fall 2022
Summer Studios Pre-College Program, Ceramics, Ohio University, Summer 2022
TEACHING EXPERIENCE (Instructor-of-Record)
3D Design, Indiana University Southeast, Fall 2024
An introduction to Fundamental 3D Design. This class develops creative problem solving skills in the third dimension through the implementation of 3D design elements and organizing principals. Emphasis on comparative approaches in historical and contemporary modalities. Approaches to the design process as a community activity and its function in the development of artistic voice. Development of basic construction skills in additive/subtractive approaches, planar design and construction, modular construction, and the use of wire. AI as a devleopment tool addressed and used in projects.
Ceramics for Majors/Non-majors, Indiana University, Fall 2024
An introduction to hand-building techniques in clay. Stacked class for majors and non-majors. Instruction in handbuilding, wheel throwing, surface techniques, slips, glazes, and kiln firing. The semester builds to address more advanced techniques such as basic mold making, and conceptual problem solving through material and contemporary and non-traditional approaches to ceramics. Emphasis on placing contemporary understanding and developments of the field within historical contexts. 3D Printing and approaches to AI also taught and used in projects, including the use of TinkerCAD as a design tool.
Hand Building, Ohio University, Spring 2024
An introduction to hand-building techniques in clay. Includes diverse surface techniques, slips, glazes, and kiln firing. The semester builds to address more advanced techniques such as basic mold making, and conceptual problem solving through material and contemporary and non-traditional approaches to ceramics. Issues of identity and making are considered through Western and non-Western readings.
Critique Community, Ohio University, Fall 2023
Critique Community is a class for the development of individual studio art practices. Students pursue individual projects of study, research, and production within disciplinary, multi-disciplinary, and interdisciplinary frameworks. Students build upon skills initiated in their concentrated areas of study toward a new body of work as their culminating thesis project. This is an instructor-directed senior capstone studio course for students matriculating toward their BFA thesis exhibit.
Intermediate/Advanced Ceramics, Ohio University, Fall 2023
This course includes the exploration of alternative construction and surface application techniques in ceramics to foster expressive sophistication in the production of art. Mold-making is introduced as a tool for ceramic construction and to discuss contemporary issues in ceramics; such as reproduction, the found object, craft, and the multiple. Independent artistic production is fostered alongside technical skill building.
Art + Design Pre-College, Painting + Drawing Studio, Ohio University, Summer 2023
Foundational two-week drawing and painting course in ink painting and acrylic painting. The course emphasized skill building in wet media, conceptual development, history of ink painting in China and Japan, for high school students.
Hand Building, Ohio University, Spring 2023
An introduction to hand-building techniques in clay. Includes diverse surface techniques, slips, glazes, and kiln firing. The semester builds to address more advanced techniques such as basic mold making, and conceptual problem solving through material and contemporary and non-traditional approaches to ceramics.
Foundations: Description + Drawing, Ohio University, Fall, 2022
This course introduces drawing and other descriptive processes as an expansive practice and a means for developing perceptual and conceptual thinking skills. Various methods of image-making, three-dimensional modeling, and data mapping are used as tools for observation and expression. Through broad, hands-on exposure to materials and methods, students develop expressive, communicative, and analytical capabilities.
Summer Studios Pre-College Program, Ohio University, Ceramics, Summer 2022
This intensive summer studio course is a college-level introduction to a medium-specific area of study within the School of Art + Design. Through material research and hands-on making using professional tools and facilities, students develop their ideas and learn the skills to realize them in two, three, and four dimensions. Students gain an understanding of contemporary art and design practices through lectures, class discussions, guided studio practice, and critique.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE Community
Head Ceramics Instructor, Belvoir Terrace, Lenox, Massachusetts, Summer 2022-2023
This six-week course studio course introduces students to both hand-building techniques in clay as well as wheel throwing. Diverse surface techniques, object making, the use of slips and glazes, and fostering an appreciation of ecology in the pursuit of creative conceptual development while encouraging female empowerment through the medium of clay. Curriculum development and record keeping of student progress and preparation of final reports. Oversees the day-to-day operation of ceramics material storage, glaze lab, and classroom equipment, and supervises, supports, and facilitates instructors in their teaching roles. Ordering of materials, stock, and record keeping on usage. 6 days with 5 and 4 class load for 8 weeks.
Life Drawing Instructor, Maude Kerns Art Center, Eugene, Oregon, 2018-2022
8-week studio course developing skills in observing and drawing the human figure. The course was taught working from the model, covering basic approaches to the human form, anatomy, gesture, and value, with longer poses allowing students to make more developed drawings. Problems of foreshortening, balance, lighting, and fabric were tackled in both charcoal and pastel.
Figure Painting Instructor, Maude Kerns Art Center, Eugene, Oregon, 2018-2022
An 8-week studio course in which students learned oil painting techniques in the representation of the human form. Students gained a material understanding of the oil painting medium, and its historical development with the human form, and learned how to develop underpaintings through the depiction of light and shadow and blocking in the form. Proportion and anatomy were considered key elements of understanding composition to develop creative reach while working with the live nude model.
Plein Air Painting Instructor, Maude Kerns Art Center, Eugene, Oregon, 2018-2022
An 8-week outdoor studio course in which students learned to create landscape paintings in oils from on-site observations. Students learned approaches to developing observational oil paintings while considering the problems of light, value, perspective, and composition. Students learned the history and development of plein-air painting. Each week, students met at a different site to learn to paint different environments, including urban settings, water, and night scenes.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE (Teaching Assistant)
Handbuilding, Ohio University, (Assisted Professor Tom Bartel), Fall 2021
An introduction to hand-building techniques in clay. Includes diverse surface techniques, slips, glazes, and kiln firing. The semester builds to address more advanced techniques such as basic mold making, and conceptual problem solving through material and contemporary and non-traditional approaches to ceramics.
As a teaching assistant, I assisted in the preparation of the classroom for slide presentations, lectures, and demonstrations. I utilized Blackboard to facilitate communications with students, post course-related documents, and take attendance. In addition, I mixed and prepared the clay used for the classroom, fired all of the student work, prepared glazes and slips for student use, and maintained the cleanliness and order of the classroom.
CERAMICS EXPERIENCE
Research (Professional)
Handbuilding-large and small-scale zoomorphic and figurative sculpture using slab, coil, and pinch techniques in earthenware clays. Wheel throwing techniques to facilitate exploration of form. Specializing in low-fire and midrange glaze chemistry for surface development. Low-fire techniques with slips, vitreous engobes, and glazes on earthenware clays to mimic effects achieved in high-fire woodfire and reduction. Local clay research, including the collection and testing of local materials and acid mine drainage runoff, in low-fire and high-fire, in electric, woodfire, and gas reduction. Lowfire soda. Animation-hand-drawn and 3D computer software and sound integrated with ceramics. Active drawing and painting practice. Research across the sciences around mass extinction and biodiversity loss and exoplanet research as well as sound and collaboration across disciplines. Active exhibition record, including awards.
Ceramics Technician (Professional)
Operation and maintenance of Skutt and L&L electric kilns, test kilns, including changing elements and troubleshooting control boards. Maintained a university ceramics shop within safety guidelines for students, faculty, and visting artists, including cleanliness and organization, monitoring equipment and material usage. Operation and maintenance of indoor gas kilns. Operation and maintenance of outdoor soda, salt, raku, and woodfire kilns. Maintained logs for kiln use. Monitored tools and material usage and maintained organization of materials for both clay mixing and glaze use. Creation and use of spreadsheets to log hours/activities for the department. Liason to post-bacc students working in the Indiana University Southeast ceramics program.
Graduate Assistant, Ohio University
Operation and management of all ceramics facilities according to university standards and safety. Classroom, kiln room, plaster room, glaze mixing room, clay mixing room, outdoor kiln pad. Equipment management, glazes and glaze mixing, and multiple firing disciplines. This includes electric kilns, test kilns, gas kilns, reduction firings, raku, and loading/firing/unloading student work, professor work, visiting artists, and personal work. Regular studio upkeep and maintenance, including clay mixing, supply management, and inventory, regularly assisting with large shipments of clay materials at volume and using appropriate equipment, and managing a team of students to ensure that standards are met for all classes in the ceramics studio and labs, including the plaster mixing room. Continued to manage classroom studios while actively teaching as Instructor of Record. Troubleshooting kilns to diagnose problems and assist the Studio Technician in his work to facilitate quicker repairs. Managing both the wheel-throwing needs and the hand-building needs of the students. Graphic design work for the department for publication in Ceramics Monthly. Assisted Professor in Foundations classes helping students photograph their work, subbing, and engaging students in their process to push them toward fuller resolutions of their ideas.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
Department Communications Assistant, Ceramics Area, Ohio University, 2022-2024
Responsibility for the OU Ceramics social media pages (Instagram and Facebook), outreach to visiting artists, and promotion and marketing for the department as needed (design of Ceramics Monthly ads, pot sale ads and fliers, end of year cookout, etc).
Outreach and facilitation of the visiting artist program. Duties include picking up and dropping off artists to the airport/hotel and restaurants, fielding questions, and assisting the Visting Artist with technology needs for their artist talks.
Recruitment liaison for prospective grads, answering questions about the program, and coordinating campus visits and tours of the facilities.
Effective writing and communication to be the voice of the program, representing the diversity of the undergraduate, graduate, alumni, and faculty communities. Shared weekly news and announcements via social media about our community as well as updates from our instructors and students. (Wood firings, students projects, critiques, etc)
Responsibility for primary marketing tool for the OU Ceramics brand, including language and content of the weekly posts. Ensured the language and voice used in these communications was professional and respectful and represented the highest standards of Ohio University’s nationally-ranked program.
Acted as Graduate Recruitment Liason. Through email and telephone, coordinated and scheduled campus visits, and interviews with faculty via telephone and TEAMS. Conducted tours of the facilities and actively promoted and supported the ceramics program at Ohio University.
Curator, Show/Event Organizer, Lakewood Festival of the Arts, 2017-2022
Curated and organized a three-day outdoor summer arts festival with a 57-year history in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Developed themes and ideas in support of the growth of the Festival, and made annual presentations to the board on the status and growth of the Arts Festival. Community outreach and recruitment of artists local to Oregon to promote the region. Managed the online jurying process, selected jurors, managed communications with 124 selected artists, and managed load-in and load-out planning and facilitation of artists over a three-day city-wide art event. Coordinated a team of volunteers. Crisis management during a heat dome event to ensure that there were no heat injuries during one weekend.
Mentor, Ohio University, 2021, 2022-2024
Worked with BFA students in the development of their work and practice toward their thesis exhibitions with the development of a focused body of work, 2022-2024. Professional development.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Lifelike, Adamah Gallery, Columbus, Ohio (October 2024)
How Can We Know Aliens? We Can’t Even Know Rabbits. Trisolini Gallery, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio (March 2024)
2022
Vessels, The Arts Place, Portland Indiana (November 2022)
Connections, Bear Mountain Lodge Gallery, Silver City, New Mexico (July 2022)
Friends and Relations, Riversea Gallery, Astoria, Oregon, (May 2022)
Kinship, Salem on the Edge, Salem, Oregon, (April 2022)
2021
Other Animals, Eutectic Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2020
Shine, Sidestreet Arts, Portland, Oregon
2018
My Left, You’re Right-The Gallery at the Jupiter, Jupiter Hotel, Portland, Oregon, December/January
2017
Uninhabitable, Circuitous Succession Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee
Four Days After the Rabbit, AKA Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2016
Where the Grass Grows Over Me, Gallery at the Jupiter, Portland, Oregon
By the Moon, I Shall Know You, Guardino Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2015
Stories From Eden Corridor, Looking Glass Gallery, Portland, Oregon
Back in Detroit, Detroit Contemporary, Detroit, Michigan
2014
In the Woods of Glastonbury Hollow, Looking Glass Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2013
Spring Rites, Gallery at the Jupiter, Portland, Oregon
2012
Gargantua, Gallery at the Jupiter, Portland, Oregon
The Eden Corridor, The Galleries, Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, Oregon
2010
The Transformation of Icarus, Harrington Brown Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee
2009
The Elephant in the Room, Mariposa Gallery, Albuquerque New Mexico
Haven, Jandreau Art, Taos, New Mexico
2007
Big Hand Blues, Hawaii Pacific University, Kaneohe, Hawaii
2006
The Cloud Eaters, Bethel Street Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii
Everyone Rules the World, Bethel Street Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii
2003
Sprung, Pikes Peak Library District, Colorado Springs, Colorado
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Color Pop! Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY, Didem Mert, Juror
78th Annual Ohio Exhibition, Zanesville Art Museum, Zanesville Ohio, Max R. Barton II, Juror
Best of 2024 Ohio Designer Craftsman-Columbus Ohio, Jacqueline S. Nathan, Juror
Earth and Fire 2024, Oglebay Institute, Wheeling WV, Shoji Satake, Juror
Ohio Artist Registry Juried Exhibition, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, Ohio
2023
ORIGIN, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore MD, Kensuke Yamada, juror
Ohio Designer Craftsman New and Now: Emerging Artist Exhibition, Columbus Ohio,
Rachel Suzanne Smith, juror
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Juried Graduate Student Exhibition, Cincinnati Ohio
2022
Maps of the Intangible, Iowa Ceramics Center, Iowa
Biz’Art Biz’Art Le Vaudioux, France
Best of 2022 Ohio Designer Craftsman-Columbus Ohio
61st Midstates Juried Exhibition-Evansville Museum, Evansville Indiana
OH+5 The Dairy Barn Center for the Arts, Athens, Ohio
2021
Convene-Eutectic Gallery, Portland, Oregon
Biodiversity/Cultural Diversity-The Jay County Campus of Arts Place, Portland, Oregon
Sitka Art Invitational-World Forestry Center, Portland, Oregon
Eugene Biennial Revisited-Karin Clarke Gallery, Eugene, Oregon
Eugene Biennial-Karin Clarke Gallery, Eugene, Oregon
Biz’Art Biz’Art, Le Vaudioux, France
2017
Intemporel, Bizart Bizart Dijon, France
2015
Marianne, Biz'Art Biz'Art, Le Vaudioux, France
2014
Indomtes de l'Art #2, Galerie Jean Greset, Besancon France
2012
Painting and Mixed Media Competition, Lessedra Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
2007
Square Foot, AWOL Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
COLLECTIONS
Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon
Lessedra Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
Museum of the North, Fairbanks, Alaska
Hawaii State Art Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii
GRANTS
Bobcat Seed Fund Arts Launch Grant, Ohio University, 2022
Graduate Student Senate Original Work Grant, Ohio University, 2022
Graduate Student Senate Travel Award, Ohio University, 2022
Graduate Student Senate Travel Award, Ohio University, 2022
PUBLICATIONS
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Exhibitions Catalog, 2023
Ceramics Monthly “Exposure” Summer Issue, 2022
The Crossing Choir-The Music of Martin Bresnick-Artwork and Design for album release, 2024
The Crossing Choir-Born-Artwork and Design for album release, Grammy Award-winning, 2022
The Crossing Choir-The Arc in the Sky-Artwork and Design for album release, Grammy-nominated, 2018
Catalogue for 2012 Painting Competition, Lessedra Gallery, 2012
Modern Luxury Magazine, HAWAII Summer Issue, 2007
RESIDENCIES
The Roundhouse Foundation, Pine Meadow Ranch, Sisters, Oregon, 2021
East Creek Pottery, Willamina, Oregon, 2021
SpreadArt-Detroit Michigan, 2017
MILITARY SERVICE
USARMY: Field Artillery Mechanic, 4 Years Active Duty, Honorable Discharge
SKILLS
Adobe Animation Suite, including Photoshop, After Affects, Audition, Acrobat, Photoshop
Cinema 4D animation software
Video/Sound editing and mixing
Knowledge and experience in ceramics, including hand-building, throwing, and operation and troubleshooting of electric and gas kilns
Knowledge of glaze chemistry, particularly for low-fire ceramics
Plays flute, saxophone, and piano.
Drawing representational and contemporary approaches across many mediums in both wet and dry approaches
Painting-oil and acrylic painting in representational and contemporary approaches
Trail Runner
Organizations
NCECA
College Art Association
ArtAxis
Permanent Collections
Museum of the North, Fairbanks, Alaska
Hawaii State Art Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii
Teaching Philosophy
Students are a unique community, and the relationship of teacher and student is older than art. The longevity of this community has evolved in many ways, and I am the product of many different kinds of teaching, some good and some bad, but all instructive in this community I
have chosen to be a part of. I have found that elevating my student’s experience in an atmosphere of kindness, warmth, mutual respect, trust and openness, and a willingness to communicate and demonstrate vulnerability has contributed to the success of both my students and my teaching. I choose to be a teaching artist because the creation of a safe space that encourages risk taking and vulnerability is what aligns with the very best of art making. I believe that this kind of teaching, positive in its outlook, modeled around a willingness to explore failure and uncertainty, is the best contributor to the kinds of values that turn young art students into mature artists.
My teaching is built around a structured approach that emphasizes clear communication, critical inquiry, and positive reinforcement. I use a combination of project handouts/overviews, slideshow lectures, demonstrations, and individually guided work sessions based around conceptual problem solving, material understanding, and design skills. The fundamentals of 2D and 3D design and art history are important models for understanding the global present, and in ceramics, for emphasizing its importance in human culture. Visual examples in presentation support learning outcomes, and a diversity of creative approaches in contemporary artists as well as an emphasis on using history to bridge cultural and historical connections. Grading rubrics follows this structured approach, emphasizing aesthetics, craft, and conceptual development.
Being a teaching artist provides many opportunities for students to see me solving the same problems I have set for them, not to demonstrate my mastery but to level the playing field in a space where I build trust with my students, and I can share my own discoveries as new knowledge and use that as a model for sharing their own. I believe it is important for the teacher to demonstrate vulnerability in their decision making process, living by what I am teaching and demonstratting, taking risks, exercising curiosity, emphasizing understanding that not every solution needs to be an object, but when we choose objects, we choose them to be created with the highest intention.
CHRISTOPHER ST. JOHN 