Asheville in Atlanta 2008
Ken Sedberry

Ken Sedberry Artist Statement

One of the most critical choices in my life was to leave the urban arena of Washington, D.C., twenty seven years ago and move to the mountains of Western North Carolina. There seems to be a certain rightness here. There are larger rhythms. The trees and mountains shrink you right down. I’m less serious about clay than I have ever been. Other priorities such as family, friends and neighbors, running and soccer, take me away from the clay and yet seem to allow me to accomplish more with it.

Several years ago my wife, Connie and my two sons, Noah and Galen and I, spent quite a bit of time backpacking in Central America. The colors and imagery of the rainforests, the tropical flowers and the coral reefs of the Caribbean have greatly influenced my work. The colors on the surface of many of my pots, sinks and sculpture are anything but subdued! The work seems to bring smiles to people’s lives, and that happiness in returned to my family and me tenfold!

I chose, a long time ago, to finish most of my work in the wood burning kiln. This process is more common in Eastern pottery tradition than Western. Unlike firing in a gas or electric kiln, firing in a wood kiln is a process that demands constant attention. It requires gradually bringing the heat to approximately 2300 degrees.

I love the process of stoking the firebox. There’s a connection there. You stay right with it from beginning to end. Wood firing means allowing this process to take some part in the aesthetics of the work. The variables are infinite and one gives in to chance. There are two to three months work in every firing and there are no guarantees. It’s continual risk. Wood fired pots are traditionally earthen colored, subdued, reserved and muted shades which are beautiful. My goal, however, has been to achieve color in wood firing - colors which combine with the conventional wood firing hues to create surfaces not unlike those found in nature’s wildest fauna, flora and oceans!

Most recently I have developed a porcelain slip and clay body mined from a local deposit of primary kaolin. It is rich in impurities of mica, quartz and garnets. This porcelain body flashes red to red-orange and influences the color of other glazes. Historically most kilns were built near deposits of materials necessary to make pottery. It is very satisfying to process these materials and use them to make and decorate work. It deepens my appreciation for the work made in earlier times. 

Ken Sedberry Artist Bio

Ken received his M.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, R.I., in 1977. He accepted a Residency at The Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana where he studied and taught until 1979. Returning to the East Coast, he taught at The Catholic University of America until 1981.

Ken and his family moved to North Carolina where he designed and built his studio and wood fired kiln. He has been a full time studio potter in the small mountain community of Loafer’s Glory for twenty-seven years. He is a member of the Southern Highlands Handicrafts Guild, Piedmont Craftsmen and Potters of the Roan.

Ken has conducted workshops at the Penland School of Crafts, John C. Campbell School, Canton Clayworks, the University of Iowa, Western Carolina University, among others. He exhibits predominantly in galleries located in the southeastern United States.  

Ken Sedberry Artist Resume

1977 MFA Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
1974 BS Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD
1972 AA Prince George's Community College, Largo, MD

EXPERIENCE

1983 - Present Studio Potter Sedberry Pottery, Inc., Bakersville, NC

1979-1982 Instructor The Catholic University of America Wash DC

1979-1980 Instructor Montgomery College, Rockville MD

1977-78 Resident Artist Archie Bray Foundation Helena MT

1975-1977 Teaching Assistant, Rhode Island School of Design

1976-1977 Summer Instructor, Rhode Island School of Design

1974-1976 Studio Potter, Cranesville, WV

2008

Atlanta/Asheville Show MudFire Gallery Atlanta GA

Yunomi Invitational, AKAR, Iowa City, IA

"45 Years of Inspired Design" Milton Rhodes Gallery Winston Salem NC

"Wildlife" Invitational Cabarrus Arts Council Concord NC

National Teapot Show VII Cedar Creek Gallery Creedmoor NC

"Form: Contemporay Sculpture" Cedar Creek Gallery Creedmoor NC

"Southern Exposure: Atmospheric Pots & The Penland Connection" The Rye Arts Center Rye NY

"Wood Fired Clay from the NC Mountains" Hand in Hand Gallery Flat Rock NC

Handcrafted Home Furnishings & Architectural Elements Exhibition & Symposium Mountain Air Country Club Burnsville NC

Potters of the Roan Sparta Teapot Museum Sparta NC

Potters of the Roan in Triplicate Crimson Laurel Gallery Bakersville NC

2007

"Southern Appalachian Tradition: The New Wave" NCECA Clifton Center Louisville KY

Beverage Rituals Piedmont Craftsmen Winston Salem NC

2006

Contemporary American Ceramics in Hokkaido Biei Kamikawa County Hokkaido Japan

"Beasties Animals in Translation Penland Gallery Penland NC

2005

Norm Schulman: Master Potter, Master Teacher: A Life of Influence Invitational NC Pottery Center Seagrove NC

Crafting Community: 75 Years of the Southern Highland Craft Guild Asheville NC

2004

The Naked Truth 2004 International Wood Fire Conference Cedar Rapids IA

The Power of Excellence Piedmont Craftsmen SECCA Gallery Winston Salem NC

2003

New Directions, Southern Connections: Potters of the Roan & Tapestry Weavers South Exhibition Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts Gatlinburg TN

2002

HOT/ICE III: Teapots & Pitchers Blue Spiral 1 Asheville NC

Solo Show Master Series Cedar Creek Gallery Creedmoor NC

2001

Solo Show ERL Originals Winston Salem NC

28th Annual Functional Ceramics Wayne Center for the Arts Wooster OH

2000

Solo Show Showcase Gallery Blue Spiral 1 Asheville NC

Temple Beth-el Invitational Temple Beth-el St Petersburg Fl

1999

Wood Firing A Living Tradition NC Pottery Center Seagrove NC

Wood & Metal & Clay & Glass & Paint W.D.O. Gallery Charlotte NC

1998

Artists Tiles in Western North Carolina Western Carolina University Cullowhee NC

Tell Me a Story: Makers from Appalachia Ohio Craft Museum Columbus OH

1997

Penland Community Potters Lill Street Gallery Chicago Ill

Clay/Wood/Fire/Salt - A National Invitational Contemporary Artifacts Gallery Berea KY

1996

Teapots: Interprtations by Southern Artists Traveling Exhibition Artwalk at Lenox Square Atlanta GA

Wood Fired Clay Blue Spiral 1 Asheville NC

1995

UCF National Ceramics Invitational 1995 Art Gallery of the Dept of Art University of Central Florida Orlando FL

Celebrations in Clay Callen McJunkin Gallery Charleston WVA

1994

Tradition & Transformation: A Dialogue on NC Craft North Carolina Crafts Invitational Wellington B Gray Gallery East Carolina University Greenville NC

Contemporay Forms in Ceramics: A Regional Survey Moody Gallery of Art University of Alabama Northport AL

1993

Carolina in New York The National Arts Club NY NY

Ceramics Invitational Thompson Art Gallery Furman University Greenville SC

1992

"Summer Run" Pacific Gallery Laguna Beach CA

Seventh Annual Chicago International New Art Forms Exposition Navy Pier Chicago ILL

1991

American Woodfire '91 The University of Iowa Museum of Art Iowa City IA

Solo Show Department of Art Western Carolina University Cullowhee NC

1990

'90: A Recognition of Ceramic Excellence The Society of Arts and Crafts Boston MA

Carolina Clay: Four Artists High Point Arts Council High Point NC

1989

Spotlight '89 American Crafts Council SE Region Florida Craftsmen's Gallery St Petersburg FL

Ceramic Invitational Sylvia Ullman American Crafts Cleveland OH

1988 The American Collection Fortunoff NY NY

A Show of Hands 18th Annual Concord MA

1987 Green Meadow Invitational Spring Valley NY

"Gardenworks" The Craftsman's Gallery Scarsdale NY

1986

Contrast and Convergence Piedmont Craftsmen Inc Winston Salem NC

The Penland Experience The Waterworks Gallery Salisbury NC

1985

A Clay Expose Craven Arts Council New Bern NC

May Show Carol Hooberman Gallery Birmingham AL

1984

Clay USA '84 Radford University Radford VA

Spotlight Exhibition NCECA Atlanta GA

1982

Show of Faculty and Student Work The Catholic University of America Washington DC

1981

Benefit Show Archie Bray Foundation Helena MT

1980

14th Biennial Creative Crafts Council Exhibit MD

Two Person Show Salve Regina Gallery The Catholic University of America Washington DC

1979

Maryland Crafts Council Show Montgomery College Rockville MD

1978

Arts West Invitational Logan UT

Invitational Paris Gibson Square Show Great Falls MT

1977

Two Man Show Rhode Island School of Design Woods Gerry Gallery Providence RI

Earthworks Show Earthworks Gallery Kingston RI

1976

All Crafts Show Rhode Island School of Design Woods Gerry Gallery Providence RI

Collections

Columbia Museum of Art Columbia SC

City of Charleston Charleston SC

Ambassadorial Residence in Niamey Niger Africa Art in Embassies Program US State Dept Washington DC

First Charter Bank Charlotte NC