Biography

CHIP CLAWSON - CERAMIC ARTIST

Biography

Chip Clawson was born August 14, 1945. He graduated from Penn Hills High School, Penn Hills, PA in 1963 and Edinboro State College (ESC) in 1967. As an officer and air traffic controller he served in the USMC from 1967 to 1971. Upon returning from the service he established a ceramic studio at the Episcopal Youth Center in Edinboro and enrolled as a special student at ESC. He was the ceramics technician at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor from 1975 to 1977.

As the Clay Business Manager of the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena, Montana he developed a strong revenue base for this non-profit residency program. He worked with several directors from 1977 to 2005 and helped the foundation grow and continue to maintain its national and international reputation in the ceramic arts. He concluded his career at the Archie Bray Foundation as the Owner’s Representative for the building of the David and Ann Shaner Resident Artist Studios. He then returned to making ceramic art with a public art project “All Women Are Role Models” at the Montana Women’s Prison (2003-2005) and has continued to create public art from his studio in Helena

For many years he has been an activist in the area of peace and social justice. His current activist is centered on working with the Depleted Uranium Education Project.

Living in Montana has provided the opportunity to climb mountains, telemark ski, backpack, whitewater kayak and hike in the western US and abroad. He has taken advantage of opportunities to travel to Africa, Asia and South America.

Resume

EXHIBITIONS, PUBLIC ART, AWARDS and GRANTS

2007 Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Honored as "Distinguished Alumni".
Professional Development Grant Montana Arts Council

2006 Southern Lights Commissioned by homeWORD of Billings, MT to integrate public art into the architecture of a twenty unit, low income, apartment complex.
"All of the Above, None of the Above" A public art project commissioned by the Helena Public Art Committee, Helena, Montana.
"Emergence" Ceramic sculpture by Chip Clawson The Ester
And John Clay Fine Arts Gallery, Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

2005 Chip Clawson and the "Women of the Montana Women Prison" The Bill McIntosh Gallery, Billings, Montana.
"All Women Are Role Models" project at the Montana Women's Prison, a public art project of the Montana Arts Council.

2004 Grants to Artists Myrna Loy Center, Helena, Montana.
Summer Arts Gathering Carroll College, Helena, Montana.
Clay Invitational Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur 'Alene, Idaho.
Inspired by Nature One-man show, Holter Museum of Art, Helena, Montana.
"Top of the Stack" a public art project installed at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, Montana.

2003
Bray Community Show Downtown, Helena, Montana.

2002 "Jaffe Garden Arch" Commissioned, Portland, Oregon.

2001 "Bray Odyssey Arch" a public art project at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, Montana.

EMPLOYMENT

1997- Present Ceramic Artist Making architectural ceramics, sculpture and pottery in a Helena studio.

2004-2005 Owner's representative, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts Responsible for representing the Foundation during the construction of the David and Ann Shaner Resident Artist Studio Complex.

2003-2005 Ceramic Artist Received a public art commission to build three ceramic arches at the Montana Women's Prison in Billings, MT.

1977-2004 Clay Business Manager, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts Responsible for the management of a retail pottery supply business, which includes manufacturing pottery clay. In 1985-1986 designed and built a system of eight machines for manufacturing pottery clay. This business provides significant financial support to the foundation and the residency program, the core of the Bray.

1990-present Member Facilities Committee, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts Helped develop a master plan; responsible for oversight of construction projects.

1990-1993 Owner, Enviro Products Produced and sold high quality canvas bags.

1975-1977 Studio Technician, University of Michigan Responsible for the smooth operation of a large ceramic studio. Worked with three ceramics professors, 125 undergraduate students and six graduate students. Maintained, fired and built kilns. Developed detailed, easy-to follow instructions for each kiln.

1974-1975 Assembler-Welder, General Electric Corporation Assembled large, 3-dimensional parts of locomotives from blueprints. Worked in a large factory environment.

1971-1974 Studio Potter, Edinboro, Pennsylvania Established a ceramics studio including two gas kilns, and developed a line of functional pottery.

1972 Machine Operator, Erie Technological Products Operated press/punch machine making ceramic computer chips. Worked in a large factory environment.

1967-1971 Officer, U S Marine Corps Aviation-related schools and jobs. Last position as Commanding Officer of an Air traffic control unit with 50 men.

EDUCATION

1974 Welding School, Erie Vocational High School, Erie, Pennsylvania Certified Welder.

1971-1972 Edinboro State College, Edinboro, Pennsylvania "Special student" Taking art courses with a concentration in ceramics.

1967-1970 United States Marine Corps Naval Flight School, Radar Intercept Officers School, Air Traffic Control School.

1963-1967 Edinboro State College, Edinboro, Pennsylvania Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Earth and Space Science.

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