Resonance

Henry Ford College and Eastern Michigan University host “Resonance” Exhibitions Showcasing Ceramics Artwork until Sept. 30 and Oct. 13, respectively

News Summary: Henry Ford College and Eastern Michigan University host “Resonance,” dual ceramics exhibitions on both campuses from now until Friday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 13, respectively.

September 15, 2016, Dearborn, Mich. — Henry Ford College (HFC) and Eastern Michigan University (EMU) are hosting “Resonance: Eastern Michigan University Ceramics Alumni Under the Tutelage of Susanne Stephenson & John Loree,” a dual exhibition showcasing ceramics artwork running concurrently at both HFC and EMU from now until Friday, Sept. 30, and Thursday, Oct. 13, respectively.

The HFC “Resonance” exhibition is on display in the Sisson Gallery, located on the first floor of the MacKenzie Fine Arts (Building F on the main campus). The Sisson Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The closing reception is Friday, Sept. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The EMU “Resonance” exhibition is in the Ford Gallery, located in Ford Hall on EMU’s main campus in Ypsilanti. The Ford Gallery hours are Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The exhibition reception is Friday, Sept. 23, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“Resonance” is co-curated by HFC Ceramics Instructor Steve Glazer and EMU Art Professor Gregory Tom. Both “Resonance” exhibitions feature the artistry at both locations of 30 artists who studied ceramics under retired EMU Art Professors Stephenson and Loree between 1962-91. Glazer, a 1976 EMU alumnus, studied under them as well.

“I have used many of the techniques they’ve taught me in my classes. This is a great way to honor these two phenomenal art professors,” said Glazer.

In fact, “Resonance” is the brainchild of Glazer. He came up with it when HFC hosted Michigan Mud 2015, the Michigan Ceramic Art Association (MCAA) biennial conference. He wanted to honor Stephenson and Loree in light of all the students under their tutelage who went on to become prominent artists and/or art educators in their own right.

Among the artists in this joint exhibition:

• Joe Zajac, who recently retired after 40-plus years leading the ceramics program at Wayne State University;
• Tom Phardel, head of the ceramics program at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit;
• Robert Piepenberg, retired head of the ceramics program at Oakland Community College (OCC)–Orchard Ridge;
• Pi Benio, who recently retired after 40 years of heading the ceramics program at Adrian College;
• John Murphy, an internationally-renowned artist who teaches ceramics at Schoolcraft College in Livonia;
• Ray Katz, who has taught sculpture and welding at OCC–Auburn Hills for 40 years;
• Sandy Happel, OCC’s Manager of Art Dept.;
• Tom Venner, dean of Arts and Sciences at EMU;
• Prominent secondary school teachers Gail Piepenberg, Dan Parrish and Catherine Rehbein, all of whom are art educators at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Milford High School in Milford and Jefferson High School in Monroe, respectively;
• Local prominent studio potters Darcy Bowden, David Nelson and Steve Olszewski;
• Gail Kendall, head of the ceramics program at University of Nebraska;
• Anat Shiftan who teaches at State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz;
• Mike Padgett, a studio potter who’s taught for years in North Dakota and Minnesota;
• Mary Coss, of Seattle, an internationally-recognized artist as well as Ford Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts grant recipient;
• Todd Johnson, of Knoxville, Tenn., who has taught at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Tennessee (U-T);
• Ed Risak, owner of Risak Pottery in Marquette;
• Jim Bell, owner of Under the Oaks Pottery in North Carolina;
• Studio artists Jeff Zischke, of Arizona; Paula Sibrack Mariam, of Connecticut; and Diane Devall, of Florida; and
• Glazer, who’s taught ceramics for 30 years, 12 of which at HFC.

“EMU was THE place to go in Michigan if you wanted to study ceramics throughout the 1960s and well into the 1980s. Prof. Stephenson and Prof. Loree were truly inspirational people. Along with a lot of ceramic dust, a good portion of magic was produced in the old ceramics studio in Sill Hall at EMU. It’s funny, people didn’t realize how big this program was at EMU inside this little room at Sill Hall,” said Glazer.

These joint events are free and open to the public. For questions and further information, please contact Glazer at 313-845-6485 or sglazer@hfcc.edu.