The Potters of Energy Xchange
Featuring LeAnne Ash

This gallery exhibit and sale will be available for viewing February 11 through March 11 of 2006. An artist reception and opening party will be held from 5 pm to 9 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2006.

LeAnne Ash Artist Statement

LeAnne Ash lives and works in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and is a resident artist at the EnergyXchange. She makes wheel thrown and hand-built functional pottery fired in a landfill gas powered reduction kiln. The beauty of the mountainous landscape and its rich community of contemporary potters serve as great inspiration for her.

LeAnne grew up in Louisville, KY. She received her BFA in ceramics from the Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, OH. She furthered her education as an intern for sculptor Deirdre Daw in her Seattle, WA studio, and has attended and assisted several workshops at the Penland School of crafts in Penland, NC. She was a resident artist at the Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts in Asheville, NC from 2003-2005.

Of her work, she says, "I have always had an interest in food, cooking, and culture, so it feels natural for me to make pottery. As a potter, there is no greater joy than eating at a table filled with good friends, good food, and great pots. Pottery elicits a strong human emotion triggered by beauty, memory and touch, which can be very powerful. Although pottery can be very complex, I am drawn to the simplicity of its nature."

LeAnne Ash Resume

Education

2002 B.F.A. in ceramics, Cleveland Institute of Art. Cleveland, OH
Residencies and Continued Education

2005-current Resident Artist, EnergyXchange, Burnsville, NC

2003-2005 Resident artist, Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, Asheville, NC

2003 Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC. Ah Leon's summer teapot
workshop

2000 Studio of Deirdre Daw, Seattle, WA. Internship. Study of Maiollica
technique and history. Ceramic studio work

Work Experience

2005 Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC. Assistant to Ron Meyers and Chuck Hyndes. Summer "Loose Pots" Workshop

2003-current Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, Asheville, NC. Instructor

2004 Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina. Assistant to
Terry Gess. Summer salt-firing Workshop

2002-2003 Lark Books, Asheville, NC. Freelance Project Designer. Books Craft for The Spirit and Making Gingerbread Houses

2002 Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC. Assistant to Yih-wen Kuo.
Summer hand-building workshop

2001-2002 Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH. Teacher and Assistant for children's art classes based on CMA collection

2000-2002 Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland OH. Intern for Ceramics
dept.

2001 S.P.A.C.E.S, Cleveland, OH. Gallery Intern.

2001 CIA Student Independent Exhibition, Cleveland, OH. Committee member. Selection of Jurors and show prep for a student run, juried art exhibition

Group Exhibitions

2005

"Strictly Functional Pottery National," Market house Craft Center, Lancaster, PA

2004

"The Butter Dish Show," Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC

"Odyssey Residents," Asheville Area Arts Council, Asheville NC

2003

"Odyssey Residents Exhibit," Sheffield Wood Gallery of the Fine Arts, Greenville, SC

"Salt and Pepper Show," Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC

2002

"Student Summer Show'" Reinberger Gallery, Cleveland, OH

"BFA Thesis Exhibit," REinberger Gallery, Cleveland, OH

Publications

500 Cups, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing Co., New York, NY 2005