Kent McLaughlin
Potters of the Roan Exhibit

Kent McLaughlin Biography

Kent McLaughlin is a studio potter who began his training in 1973 at Brevard Community College, the University of Central Florida, and Penland School of Crafts. He apprenticed with a production potter before opening his own studio in 1985. Kent works in porcelain and stoneware clays, making utilitarian pots. He and his wife, Suze Lindsay, own and operate Fork Mountain Pottery in Bakersville NC. In 2003, Kent began firing his cross-draft kiln using waste fry oil as an alternative fuel source. His glaze palette includes shinos, celadons, Mashiko khaki glazes, and iron reds, which reference the fertile grounds that surround his mountain studio and home.

He has taught at Anderson Ranch Art Center, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Penland School of Crafts, and Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts, J.C. Campbell Folk School and Brevard Community College in Florida. In the Fall of 2005, Kent, along with his wife, Suze, were visiting faculty members for West Virginia University's exchange program in Jingdezen, China for 5 weeks In January2008, Kent and Suze were invited to teach at Curaumilla Art Center, near Santiago, Chile. He exhibits locally as well as nationally, including invitational shows at The Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, Baltimore Clayworks, Santa Fe Clay, Charleston Clayworks and Gallery 1021, Chicago. He is a member of Southern Highland Craft Guild, Toe River Arts Council and the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts.

Kent McLaughlin Artist Statement

I make pottery because I'm attracted to the process and the limitless possibilities when working with clay. My pots are intended for daily use. I once heard it said that making the work is only a part of the process. The process is completed only when the object is used. I would hope that my work falls in the same category for the user as a comfortable pair of shoes, a memorable meal, or a favorite place to eat.

Kent McLaughlin Artist Resume

RECENT EXHIBITIONS

2008:

"PotPOURri: Pots That Pour", Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY

"Yunomi Invitational", AKAR, Iowa City, IA

"Table of Elements" Manchester Craftsman's Guild. Pittsburgh, PA

"Penland Instructor's Show', Penland Gallery, Penland, NC

"Teapots", Sparta Teapot Museum, Sparta, NC

"Triplets", Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC

"Go Green", Dowstudio, Deer Isle, ME

2007:

"Featured Artist", AKAR, Iowa City, IA

"Pitcher Invitational", University of N.C.- Pembroke, Pembroke, NC

"Cup Invitational", Dowstudios, Deer Isle ME

"Potters of the Roan" Rocky Mount Art Center, Rocky Mount, NC

" Yunomi Invitational" AKAR Gallery, Iowa City IA

"Cup of Tea" Penland Gallery, Penland, NC

"Influential Journeys" Mellwood Arts Center, Louisville, KY

" Mentor", Gallery Mad About Arts, Louisville, KY

" Different Directions : Coming Together in Clay 5", San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX

2006

"Six Functional Potters", Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM

" Pouring Vessels", Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, GA

"Style and Function : National Ceramics Invitational", Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC

"Ceramic Cup Invitational' Lux Center For The Arts, Lincoln, NE

"Mesa", Santa Fe Clay NCECA Invitational, Portland, OR.

"Tea Time: The Art of the Teapot", Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI.

"Tactile Appeal", Mark Woolley Gallery, Portland, OR.

"Odyssey Instructor Show" Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC.

"Potter's Showcase", Dowstudio Gallery, Deer Isle, ME.

"North Carolina Pottery Center", Seagrove, NC

2005

Southern Highland Craft Guild 75th Anniversary Exhibition, Arrowmont's Blain Gallery, Gatlinburg, TN.

"Endless Variations: Shino Review 2005", Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD.

"Out of The Cupboard: Into The Light", UNI Gallery of Art, Cedar Falls, IA.

"Potters of The Southern Mountains", Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO.

"National Teapot Show VI", Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC.

"American Pottery Festival", Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.

"Behold: The Mug", Sivertson Gallery, Duluth, MN.

2004

"Plates and Platters", Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.

"100 Teapots 2", Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD.

"NC Craft '04: A Celebration of Penland's 75th Anniversary", Wellington Gray Gallery, Greenville, NC.

"Haystack Faculty Show", Blue Heron Gallery, Deer Isle, ME.

"For The Table", Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM.

"American Pottery Festival", North Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN,

2003

"American Pottery Festival", Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.

"Hundreds of Cups", Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM.

"St Pete Clay Company", St Petersburg, FL.

2002

"Appalachian Regional Commission Exhibition", traveling show with Southern Highland Craft Guild, Washington, DC.

"Potters of The Roan", Charleston Clayworks, Charleston, SC.

"Faculty Exhibition", Anderson Ranch Art Center, Snowmass Village, CO.

"Feature Exhibit", Campbell House Galleries, Arts Council of Moore Country, Southern Pines, NC.

"Potters of The Roan", Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC.

"Pots Presented", Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD.

"For The Table", Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM.

"Potters of Penland". Winthrop Galleries, Rock Hill, SC.

1999

"The Ritual of the Table", Contemporary Ceramic Dinnerware, Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC.

"Cynthia Bringle, A Fiery Influence", Invitational retrospective show, Folk Art Center, Asheville, NC.

1998

"Penland Potters", Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA.

1997

"Penland Community Potters", Gallery 1021, Chicago, IL.