Art and Design’s Visiting Artist Series welcomes artist Frank Martin to present a lecture and demos Feb. 6 and 7.

Presentation by the artist (free and open to the public)

Wednesday, Feb. 6 – 5 p.m.

Demonstrations by the artist (free and open the the public)

Wednesday, Feb, 6 – 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 7 – 9:30 to noon and 1:30 to 5 p.m.

All events will be held in the Hughes Fine Arts Center, Paul E. Barr Memorial Lecture Room (room 227)

"The focus of my work explores the possibility of going beyond the limits of utility. Through the use of color and form, an investigation of the division and the reassembling of disparate elements is considered either for special celebration or for everyday use. I am inspired by the results of process, the interactions of color and form, and the physiognomic perception of an object. In my work, intent of function is vital and inescapable. My goal is to challenge the viewer’s notion of an object’s “use,” while assuring that the vessel performs flawlessly in its function and beautifully in its appearance."

Frank Martin earned his his from bachelor's from Kansas City Art Institute and his master's from Cranbrook Academy of Art. He has taught at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Rhode Island School of Design, The State University of New York at New Paltz, and was Departmental Director at Chautauqua School of Art, Worcester Center for Crafts, and the 92nd Street YM-YWHA in Manhattan. He was craftsman-in-residence at Pewabic Pottery (1989-90) and received two distinction awards from the Detroit Artist Market for “Michigan Ceramics.” Since 1987, he has conducted numerous workshops throughout the country, was a recipient of two Worcester Cultural Arts Lottery grants (1992-93) and received awards from the 92nd Street Y for professional development (1996-2001) and a recent recipient of a FY09 Individual artist Fellowship, Tennessee Arts Commission Competition Award.

His work was chosen for the Young Americans Exhibition at the Museum of American Craft (1988). His work is in the collection of the Charles A. Wusum Museum of Fine Arts in Racine, Wis. and the Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art, New York. In 1995, he served on a panel of jurors for the Wyoming Arts Council. His work has been included in various articles and was published in 500 Platters & Chargers: innovative expressions of function & style (2008), Electric Kiln Ceramics: A Guide to Clay and Glazes (2004), The Ceramic Design Book (1998), and Make it in Clay (1997). Martin’s work has been collected widely and is currently represented by the John Elder Gallery in New York City.