Val Murat Cushing

1931Born Rochester, New York

2013 Dansville, New York

EDUCATION

1952BFA New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, New York

1956MFA New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1952-1954Instructor, Military Police and Recreational Crafts, US Army

1952-1957Instructor in Pottery, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois

1957-1965Director, Pottery, Alfred University Summer School

1957-1997Professsor of Ceramics, New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University

BIOGRAPHY

 Val Cushing spent his long career exploring the possibilities offered by working with pottery forms such as the bowl, pitcher, casserole, and lidded jar. Working within the confines of these forms, respecting both function and material, Cushing created a unique body of work that places itself squarely between functional and sculptural. Cushing was fascinated by glaze chemistry and many of the matte and satin glazes used today are based on his original formulas.

In 1957 he began teaching at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred where he spent the next 40 years building a highly respected ceramics program.  He began his career at a time when many of his peers were moving away from traditional pottery methods.

In 1962 he was a founding member of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA).

 An interview of Val Cushing conducted April 16, 2001, by Margaret Carney, for the Archives of American Art’s Nannette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America is available at:
http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-val-cushing-12255.