resumE—Susan McHenry

Education

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Writing and Literature (focus in Poetry). Bennington College, Bennington, VT, 1999. 

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English Literature.  College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY, 1992. Magna Cum Laude.

Shows & Exhibitions

  • Michigan Ceramic Biennial Exhibition and Competition. Juror: George Rodriguez. 2024.

  • “For a Feast” juried contest, Ceramics Monthly, September 2024.

  • Summer is Served: Garden Party. Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. Summer 2024.

  • Habitat and Home (Invitational). Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. Spring 2023.

  • Cup: The Intimate Object XVIX (Invited). Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. 2023.

  • Winter Warmers Cup Show. Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham, WA, 2023.

  • Cup: The Intimate Object XVIII (Invited). Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. 2022.

  • Cup: The Intimate Object XVII. Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. 2021.

  • Breathing Space. (Invited). Lark & Key, Charlotte, NC. July 2021.

  • Cup: The Intimate Object XVI. Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. 2020.

  • Featured Artist Exhibition (Invited). Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. August 2020.

  • Lip Service. Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Saratoga, NY. Juror: Mary Barringer. August 2020. *Juror’s Choice Award.

  • Last Call V. Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN. Juror: Naomi Clement. 2020.

  • Functional Ceramics 2020 Exhibition (Invited). Wayne Center for the Arts, Wooster, OH. March 2020.

  • Cup: The Intimate Object XV. Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. 2019.

  • The Functional Canvas IV (Invited), Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. 2019.

  • Strictly Functional Pottery National 2018, Lancaster, PA. Juror: Ben Carter. 2018.

  • Cup: The Intimate Object XIV (Invited). Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. 2018.

  • Cup: The Intimate Object XIII (Invited). Charlie Cummings Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC. 2017.

  • Cup: The Intimate Object XII. Charlie Cummings Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC. 2016.

  • Kirk Newman Art School Faculty Show. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI. 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2023.

  • New Works: Solo Show. Midtown Gallery, Kalamazoo, MI. 2012.

  • Coffee, Tea, or… Juror: David Toan. Terra Incognito, Oak Park, IL. 2012.

  • Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition. Michiana Annual Art Competition. Juror: Rhonda Root. St. Joseph, MI. 2011. *Purchase Prize Award.

  • West Michigan Area Show. Kalamazoo, MI. Juror: John Glick. 2011.

  • Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition. Michiana Annual Art Competition. Juror: Susan Wilczak. St. Joseph, MI. 2010.

  • 17th Annual Strictly Functional National, Lancaster, PA.  Juror: Pete Pinnell. 2009.

  • Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition. Michiana Annual Art Competition. Juror: Marvin Bartel. St. Joseph, MI. 2009.

  • National Juried Cup Exhibition. Juror: Pete Pinnell. LUX Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE. 2009.

Publications & Press

McHenry, Susan. “Brittany Mojo: Liminal Spaces.” Ceramics Monthly, September 2024.

McHenry, Susan. “Nan Coffin: Working Smarter, Not Harder.” Ceramics Monthly, March 2024.

McHenry, Susan. “Clay Culture: Artaxis.” Ceramics Monthly, September 2023.

McHenry, Susan. “Joris Link: Blending Precision with Unpredictability,” Ceramics Monthly, March 2023.

McHenry, Susan. “Susan Feagin: Assembling the Parts.” Ceramics Monthly, February 2023.

McHenry, Susan. “East Fork: Where Pottery is Political.” Ceramics Monthly, February 2023.

McHenry, Susan. “Kat West: Healing and Generational Belonging.” Ceramics Monthly, September 2022, pp. 30-33.

McHenry, Susan. “BMX Culture Meets Clay Culture in Mark Arnold’s Abstracted Surfaces.” Ceramics Monthly, September 2022, pp. 44-49.

McHenry, Susan. “Tearing Down the Gates: Crating Community Reclaims What Was Lost.” Ceramics Monthly, April 2022, pp. 28-31.

McHenry, Susan. “Rashida Ferdinand: Sculpting the Land, Revitalizing a Community.” Ceramics Monthly, April 2022, pp. 38-41.

McHenry, Susan. “Jane Shellenbarger: Still Learning.” Ceramics Monthly, March 2022, pp. 40-45.

McHenry, Susan. “Elena Vasilantonaki: Finding a Sense of Place.” Ceramics Monthly, January 2022, pp. 42-46.

McHenry, Susan. “Virginia Felix: Enlivened By Words and Nature’s Art.” Ceramics Monthly, December 2021, pp. 30-33.

McHenry, Susan. “Seth Charles: Inner and Outer Landscapes.” Ceramics Monthly, March 2021, pp. 42-45.

McHenry, Susan. “Andy Bissonnette: Seeking Order in Symmetry.” Ceramics Monthly, March 2021, pp. 32-37.

McHenry, Susan. “Theo Uliano: State of Flux.” Ceramics Monthly, September 2020, pp. 32-35.

McHenry, Susan. “Studio Visit.” Ceramics Monthly, September 2019, pp. 28-31.

SW Michigan Spark Magazine. Interview with Zoe Fulsom. November 2016.

Kalamazoo Lively Arts. Featured segment. 2013.

Teaching & workshop Experience

Presenter, Michigan Mud, Traverse City, MI. June 2023.

Workshop presenter. San Antonio Potters Guild, San Antonio, TX. 2-day workshop. November 2023.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI. Ceramics Instructor/Lead Instructor for Red Earthenware. 2010-present.  Adult classes in beginning and advanced wheel throwing and hand building.

Park Trades Center, Kalamazoo, MI. Instructor for Maple Street Middle School. 2011. Taught summer program in ceramics for middle school students. Curated gallery exhibition of student work.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI. Children’s Instructor. 2007-2010.  Taught multimedia art classes, art camps, and ceramics classes to children and teens ages 4-17.

Bennington College, Bennington VT.  July Program/Reading & Writing Specialist.  July 2000. Worked with high school students in a one-on-one setting; offered help with reading and writing difficulties, specifically building grammar, study, and reading comprehension skills.                                                                                       

College of St. Rose, Albany, NY. Writing Center Tutor. January 1995-December 1995.  Assisted undergraduate and graduate students, in a one-on-one setting, in identifying and amending grammatical problems and overall writing difficulties.  Additional responsibilities included maintenance of student progress reports and files.

Ceramics Positions

Owner/Proprietor of Susan McHenry Ceramics (formerly Empty Vessel Pottery), Kalamazoo, MI. 2012-present.

Freelance Feature Writer, Ceramics Monthly, Westerville, OH. 2020-present.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI. Assistant Studio Technician. 2006-2008. Assisted with mixing clay and glazes, loading and firing kilns, and general studio maintenance.  

residencies

Pentaculum, Arrowmont School of Arts and Craft, Gaitlinburg, TN, Spring 2024.

affiliations

·       2022-present. Artaxis, Member. Juried database.

·       2019-present. National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), Member.

Curator & Juror experience

·     Red Earthenware: Student Exhibit. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kirk Newman Art School, 2016.

·     Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Art Fair Juror. 2015, 2017.

·     Pouring Vessels: Student Exhibit. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kirk Newman Art School, 2014.

·     Cups & Mugs: Student Exhibit. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kirk Newman Art School, 2013.

·     Loosen Up: Student Exhibit. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Kirk Newman Art School, Kalamazoo, MI. 2012.

gallery Representation