2012 Winter McKnight Resident Artists 
This winter, we welcome 2011 McKnight Residency recipient David Allyn, who will be in residence during the snowy and cold months of January, February, and March, 2012. Allyn is from Providence, Rhode Island, where he is the founding department head of ceramics at the Steel Yard, a for-profit organization located in the industrial valley district of Providence. The Steel Yard offers arts and technical training programs in welding, jewelry, ceramics, and glass.  

Allyn received his BFA from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh and his MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, where he was an instructor of ceramics. His functional wares and tiles have been included in such exhibitions as Using It Up, Rabbit Hole Gallery, New York, New York; Political Craft, Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, Massachusetts; and group, Art Interactive, Boston, Massachusetts.

Filled with color and imagery, Allyn’s work begins with porcelain tumblers, vessels and tiles, which are later decorated with photo decal transfers, stencils, and silkscreens. He intends to “offer an optimistic and futuristic vision of our contemporary culture” through the making of his objects. While in residence, Allyn hopes to gain a fresh perspective on his work, experimenting with the combination of his traditional images and various kiln atmospheres.

Join Allyn for a free slide lecture about his work on Tuesday, January 24, at 6:30 pm in NCC’s library. Refreshments will be served.  

The McKnight Ceramic Artist program is supported by The McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota. It reflects the Foundation’s interest in supporting talented individual ceramic artists who have already demonstrated their abilities and who are at a career stage that is beyond emerging. Each year, NCC awards two ceramic fellowship grants of $25,000 each, and two to four residency grants of $5,000 each. The fellowship awards support ceramic artists from Minnesota and can be used for a variety of purposes—from travel and studio additions, to equipment purchase and technical exploration. In addition to the monetary award, the residency grants provide non-Minnesota ceramic artists with three-month, rent-free studio space at the Clay Center, as well as firing and material allowances.

The application deadline for the 2012 McKnight Ceramic Artist Fellowships and Residency program is Friday, April 20, 2012, by 5 pm. Application forms and eligibility information are available here.