The Dictionary of American Ceramics, 1945 onward
Dictionary of American Ceramics, 1945 onward
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Mark Johnson
EDUCATION
1978 AA Ceramics and Sculpture, Lakeland Community College, Mentor, Ohio
1980 BFA Ceramics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
1983 MFA Ceramics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
APPERNTICESHIPS AND RESIDENCIES
1983-1985 Resident Artist in Ceramics, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
2011 Artist in Residence, Watershed Center for Ceramic Art, Newcastle, Maine
PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE
1980-1981 Drawing Instructor, Lakeland Community College, Mentor, Ohio
1981-1983 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
1985-1987 Adjunct Ceramics Instructor, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, Connecticut
1987—Professor, Ceramics Chair, Maine College of Art, Portland, Maine
Mark Johnson creates either white stoneware or earthenware thrown functional pieces including vases, jars, bowls, baskets and pouring vessels. His work is often constructed using separate thrown parts which are altered before assembly into the final pottery form. The pieces are then decorated with glazes that are responsive to Johnson’s soda firing kiln atmosphere. In this body of work Johnson’s decorative approach can be characterized as abstract expressionist.
Johnson also produces a number of pieces using earthenware. This work is typically carved and incised before being decorated with realistic motifs drawn from nature and influenced by Middle Eastern imagery.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Arbuckle, Linda. 500 Plates and Chargers: Innovative Expressions of Function and Style. New York, NY: Lark Books, 2008.
“A Review of the Exhibition, American Ceramics Now.” NCECA Journal 8, no. 2 (1987).
Bodwell, Josh. “Celebrating Ceramics.” Maine Home and Design Magazine, September 2007.
Cushing, Val. The Ceramic Design Book. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 1998.
Down East Magazine, November 2008.
“Emerging Talent Artists.” NCECA Journal 8, no. 1 (1987).
Failing, Patricia, Janet Koplos, et al. A Ceramic Continuum: Fifty years of the Archie Bray Influence. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press, 2001.
Fina, Angela. The Best of Pottery v.1. Rockport, MA: Quarry Books/Rockport Publishing, 1996.
“Gallery Section.” American Craft 45, no.3 (June/July 1985).
Gess, Terry. 500 Pitchers: Contemporary Expressions of a Classic Form. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2006.
Gustin, Chris. The Best of Pottery v.2. Rockport, MA: Quarry Books/Rockport Publishing, 1998.
Hluch, Kevin. The Art of Contemporary American Pottery. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2001.
Johnson, Mark. “Flower Rafts: Compose and Contain.” Pottery Making Illustrated Magazine 18, no. 3 (May/June 2015).
Lawton, James. 500 Teapots: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design v.2. New York, NY: Lark Books, 2013.
“Monarch National: A Ceramics Monthly Portfolio.” Ceramics Monthly 37, no.9 (November 1989).
Peters, Lynn. Surface Decoration for Low-Fire Ceramics. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 1999.
“Portfolio.” American Craft 51, no. 6 (December 1991/January 1992).
“Side by Side: Couples in Clay.” Ceramics Monthly 47, no. 9, (November 1999).
Tourtillott, Suzanne J. 500 Bowls: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design. New York, NY: Lark Books, 2003.
__________________500 Teapots: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design. New York, NY: Lark Books, 2002.
“Upfront, Fifteenth Strictly Functional Pottery National Exhibition.” Ceramics Monthly 55, no. 5 (May 2007).
“Upfront, Review of Craft Forms 2003 Exhibition.” Ceramics Monthly 52, no. 5 (May 2004).
WEBSITE(S):
Citation: "The Marks Project." Last modified May 30, 2019. http://www.themarksproject.org/marks/johnson
