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George Whitten

Biography to Display: 

 Born 1949

 

EDUCATION

BFA Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida

1974 MFA Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas

 

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1974 – present Full-time artist

2017 – present Executive Director, Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield, Ohio

 

BIOGRAPHY

George Whitten is best known for large ceramic sculptures composed of drape-molded, slab-built and or wheel thrown elements. Surface techniques include stamping, carving, tearing, and thin glaze applications. Whitten formulates his clay body and glazes using commercially available components. Sculptures are up to four foot high abstracted vessel forms with built up glazed and raku fired surface.    

An apprentice uses cardboard templates to cut out parts which are to be textured and slip is applied before the sculpture is reassembled. Whitten then alters and decorates each piece, applying colored terra sigillata, low-fired glazes, and a copper matt finish. First firing is in an electric kiln and then he raku fires each piece up to Cone 5 as many as 25 times.

Whitten’s sculptures are featured in the TV series Miami Vice.  Whitten is also an abstract painter.

 

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Public Collections to Display: 

American Museum of Ceramic Art , Pomona, California

Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio

Canton Museum of Art, Canton, Ohio

Memphis Academy of Arts, Memphis, Tennessee

Monroe Community College Art Collection, Monroe, Michigan

Ohio Arts Council Collection, Columbus, Ohio

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bibliography to Display: 

Hasselle, Robert. “George Whitten.” Ceramics Monthly¸ 48, no. 4 (April 2000). ceramics-monthly-apr00-cei0400d.pdf (ceramicartsnetwork.org)

Hasselle, Bob. “George Whitten: Icons and Artifacts.” In Raku, Pit & Barrel. Firing Techniques. Ceramic Arts Handbook Series, edited by Anderson Turner. Westville: The American Ceramic Society, 2007.

Whitten, George. “Ohio Potters.” The Studio Potter, 11, no. 1, (December 1982): 60. Digital Issue: Woodfiring - Vol. 11 No. 1 | Studio Potter

 

 

 

 

 

Center for CraftCenter For Craft

 

 

AMOCA American Museum of Ceramic ArtAMOCA American Museum of Ceramic Art

 

Typical Marks

Whitten inscribed.

Jar
Date: 1980
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown and Altered
Dimensions: 2.25 inches in diameter
Surface Technique: Glaze
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.218
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.218
Photo: TMP
1980
Jar
Date: 1980
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown and Altered
Dimensions: 3 inches in diameter
Surface Technique: Glaze
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.219
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.219
Photo: TMP
1980
Photo: TMP
Jar
Date: 1980
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown and Altered
Dimensions: 3.75 inches in diameter
Surface Technique: Glaze
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.220
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.220
Photo: TMP
1980
Photo: TMP
Jar
Date: 1980
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown and Altered
Dimensions: 4.25 inches in diameter
Surface Technique: Glaze
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.221
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.221
Photo: TMP

Citation: "The Marks Project." Last modified March 17, 2023. http://www.themarksproject.org:443/marks/whitten