"Follow Your Bliss"
I grew up in a large family outside of Boston, MA. From the time I was a child all manner of artistic expression fascinated me, and ”coloring outside the lines” was encouraged.
I attended Alfred University, a premier ceramics school in New York state, where pottery quickly became my passion. After graduating I taught, sold my work and worked as a production potter for a time. In 1976 my photographer husband and I moved to southern California and had two wonderful daughters. I set clay aside for 25 years.
2001, time to get my hands dirty again! Pottery is like riding a bike - you never forget.
In 2007 I was juried into the prestigious Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, a “Top 10 Art Shows in the US,” held for two months every summer. My teapots gained recognition and several pieces are now housed in the permanent collection of the American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA), private collection of Sonny and Gloria Kamm, Saddleback College permanent collection, and the Kamm Foundation collection.
Fast forward to 2012. I retired from my “day job” in marketing and moved with my family to Northern Virginia, now able to pursue my passion full time. I just completed a four year residency at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA showing my work at the Scope Gallery in the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, and the Workhouse galleries.
And now a new chapter... back to Massachusetts! We built my new studio overlooking beautiful Demond Pond in Rutland. I'm looking forward to now building a business here in central MA, near family and friends. Please call me at 949-573-3244 and come visit sometime.
I went away to college (Alfred University) to study art in the ‘60s and fell in love with clay. During this period pottery was bound by tradition, defined by utilization. This aesthetic was being challenged at the time by Paul Soldner, a pioneer in the field. With his influence the basic approach to clay work expanded and ceramics started the journey from craft to fine art.
In 2001, after a 25 year break to raise my family I came back to ceramics. What Soldner started had taken hold and it was exciting to learn that now nearly anything goes. This opened a whole new world of opportunities for me.
Serendipity is the order of the day in my studio. I make pottery because its fun and all-encompassing, and I learn (and perhaps teach) something new every day. The greatest pleasure for me is the idea of sitting down with 50 pounds of clay, playing with form and discovering the variations and possibilities held within.
The teapot form captured my imagination after a creative accident a while back, and I’ve taken this form in a myriad of directions since. I pile on little cups, cut the forms, crush them, add miniscule teapots, create funky lids, add feet, alter the shapes, and more... making them functional... or not. Folks smile and often laugh out loud when they see my work - it’s truly rewarding!
My multi-piece sculptural teapots have evolved to include bowls, platters, etc. Always with an eye to balance and the interplay of light and space, each piece becomes its own voice.
"Family" teapot sculpture, pictured above, is from my original family series, and is currently in the Kamm Foundation Permanent Collection
Misc. info here - and see resume...
Directors Collection | 2015: Lorton, VA Selected artists highlighted for year long recognition |
Creative Crafts Council Exhibition | 2015/2016: Biennial showcase; traveling to 4 VA & MD locations Juror's Kiln Club award |
Collectors Showcase | 2013, 2014, 2015: Lorton, VA Best of Show award 2015, 2nd Place 2016 |
Prison to Arts Center | 2014: Lorton, VA - Workhouse Arts Center Vulcan Gallery entry |
Lifetime of The Arts Center | 2014: Cheltenham, PA |
Scope Gallery at Torpedo Factory | 2014: Alexandria, VA Juror's Award |
International Small Teapot Biennial | 2006-2014: Pomona, CA 2nd place 2008 |
100 Under 200 | 2013: Lorton, VA - Workhouse Arts Center McGuire Woods Gallery |
Wood Fire, Ceramic Residents Show | 2013: Lorton, VA - Workhouse Arts Center Vulcan Gallery |
Studio 4 Pride Show | 2013: Alexandria, VA |
NVHG Art and Craft Annual Show | 2013: Vienna, VA |
Burke Centre Festival | 2013: Burke, VA |
Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival | 2013: Reston, VA - Annual juried exhibition of fine art |
Laguna Beach Festival of Arts | 2007-2011: Laguna Beach, CA - two month “outdoor museum" |
Studio Arts Festival | 2001-2011: Irvine, CA - Annual Irvine Fine Arts Center event |
Let’s Table This | 2011: Pomona, CA - Exhibit of tabletop vessels from AMOCA’s permanent collection |
Affair of The Art | 2010: Los Angeles, CA - By invitation, to benefit Ryman Arts |
IFAC 30th anniversary show | 2010: Irvine, CA - Exhibition of instructor’s work |
All Media | 2009, 2010: Southern CA - Regional juried exhibition |
Ceramics 2008 | 2008: Irvine, CA - Presentation of work juried by Steve Davis |
Diversity in Clay | 2008: Pomona, CA - Juried by ACGA, exhibited at AMOCA |
Art Circuit | 2005: Irvine, CA - Fine Arts Center all staff exhibition (all media) |
Winter Sawdust Festival | 2004: Laguna Beach, CA |
Clay in Action | 2003: Irvine, CA - Resident artist show, curated by Susie Munger |
Throwing Off the Hump | 2015: Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA |
Teapot demo | 2014: The Fine Arts Company, Hagerstown, MD |
Ceramics instructor | 2013-2016: Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA |
Ceramics instructor | 2013: Fairfax County RECenter, Springfield, VA |
From Table to Teapots | 2011: Cultural Arts Division, Torrance, CA - All day workshop |
Throwing demo | 2008, 2011: Laguna Woods Art Association, Lake Forest, CA |
Ceramics instructor | 2005-2011: Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, CA |
Art Forum teapot demo | 2003, 2010: Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, CA |
Throwing demo | 2002-2006: Orange County Fair Fine Arts, Santa Ana, CA |
Workshops/Demos
I love teaching workshops, and am happy to offer demos and/or workshops customized to your needs... 3 hour mini-demo, a 2-day hands-on workshop, or whatever works for your needs. Costs are dependent on location, time and participants.
If you’re interested in a workshop hosted by Carol Tripp Martens, please contact her at carol@iokapottery.com or call 949-573-3244.
Teaching
I offer private and semi-private lessons in Rutland, MA. Contact me at carol@iokapottery.com or call 949-573-3244.
I am not currently teaching classes at the art center. Watch for updates. Thank you!