Sandra Jean Blain, Sandy Blain

1941 Born Chicago, Illinois

EDUCATION

1964 BS Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois

1967 MS Art University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1972 MFA Ceramics University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1964—Practicing Professional Craftsperson

1964-1969 Art Teacher, William Horlick High School, Racine, Wisconsin

1968-1970 Summer, Assistant Director, Craft Workshop, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

1968-1978 Summer, Assistant Director, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

1969-1973 Ceramic Instructor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

1973-1979 Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

1978-1979 Interim Director, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

1979 Associate Professor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

1980-2001 Director, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

1984 Professor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

2006—Adjunct Faculty, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, Arizona

BIOGRAPHY

Sandra Blain is known for functional hand built and thrown studio pottery which has changed and evolved over the years. During the 1960’s and 1970’s Blain focused on producing hand built functional stoneware work. In the 1980’s and 1990’s Blain began using earthenware to create thrown or hand built sculptural and functional works.

After her retirement, she continued to create sculptural and functional works of stoneware or earthenware creating a body of work by manipulating and combining both thrown and hand built components. The surfaces of these pieces are characterized by relief surfaces either made by carving and building up the surfaces or by impressing found objects into the damp clay. Slips and glazes are then drawn, brushed, stenciled, and airbrushed surfaces often added between multiple firings.

Blain gathers discarded materials which she uses to create surface textures on her work and in doing so makes a statement about the throwaway mentality of contemporary society.

Blain was an influential teacher throughout her career and after her retirement from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Interview with Lloyd Herman recorded on May 19, 2009, for the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, is available here: https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-sandra-jean-blain-16052