The Saint John’s Pottery awarded $50,712 for Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Program
June 16, 2014
A group photo taken at the end of the most recent firing of the Johanna Kiln.
The Saint John's Pottery and Saint John's University have received a Jerome Foundation 50th Anniversary Grant of $50,712. This two-year award funds an annual program inviting emerging artists from Minnesota and New York City to create artwork at The Saint John's Pottery.
The Saint John's Pottery and Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Program is a short-term, intensive clay studio residency for artists to use local and natural ceramic materials. It is the only emerging artist program in the region that supports visual artists interested in indigenous materials and issues of sustainability.
The Saint John's Pottery conducted similar programming from 1984-2006 before embarking on the national exhibition tour "Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay," curated for SJU by Matthew Welch, deputy director and chief curator at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
The Jerome Foundation, created by artist and philanthropist Jerome Hill, supports the creation, development and production of new works by emerging artists. The Jerome Foundation has supported emerging artists and artist programs in Minnesota and New York City for 50 years.
The Saint John's Pottery was founded in 1979 by Master Potter and Artist-in-Residence Richard Bresnahan, and has grown to include apprenticeship and visiting artist programming.
"As The Saint John's Pottery celebrates its own 35th anniversary, we are truly honored to further our historic partnership with the Jerome Foundation," Bresnahan said.
With funding from the Jerome Foundation 50th Anniversary Grant, program participants at The Saint John's Pottery are provided studio space, clay, access to technical assistance, an award stipend and room and board. Works from these residencies will be fired in the Johanna Kiln, the largest wood-burning kiln of its kind in North America.
Applications open in late 2014, and the program begins in spring 2015. Selected works from former Jerome Foundation Emerging Artists working in the program are currently on display throughout Alcuin Library at SJU. For more information on The Saint John's Pottery and Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Program, visit The Saint John's Pottery website.