Owner, Heather Mae Erickson Ceramic Design
Greater Philadelphia Area
- Current
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- Adjunct at Rowan University
- Faculty-Ceramics Teacher at Clay Studio-Philadelphia
- Faculty-Crafts Lecturer at The University of the Arts
- Owner at Heather Mae Erickson Ceramic Design (Self-employed)
- Past
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- Faculty-Ceramics Teacher at Abington Art Center
- Faculty-Ceramics Teacher at Moore College of Art and Design-Continuing Education
- ceramics instructor at Interlochen
- Faculty-Ceramics Teacher at Interlochen Center for the Arts
- Ceramics Instructor at Ceramic Shop
- Ceramics Instructor at Belvoir Terrace Fine & Performing Arts Camp for Girls
- Substitute Teacher-Class 1 at Toledo Public Schools
- Director at SeaGate Gallery
- Education
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- Taideteollinen korkeakoulu - Konstindustriella högskolan
- Cranbrook Academy of Art
- University of The Arts
- Sylvania Southview High School
- Connections
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119
connections
- Industry
- Design
- Websites
Heather Mae Erickson’s Summary
I am interested in reaching beyond the confines of the art world and interacting with a variety of individuals from around the world. Our knowledge of the objects used in the dining ritual, and their assigned functions, which is born of historical usage and innate familiarity, is limiting and lacks creativity and vision. I explore the possibility of changing the way we treat the vital ritual of dining.
I am focused on creating new ways of containing and using these functional objects. I question function through combining the common and understood methods of use, and proposing new formats. I take simple objects, functions or aspects, and combine opposing elements through multiplicity, size or orientation.
I continuously pose questions to myself that enhance the guidelines and starting points. By broadening my scope, the possibilities for containing or displaying food become endless. It is easy to get stuck on the idea that a cup or bowl must take on a specific shape in order to serve its purpose. I do not really think in those limiting terms anymore. I focus my energies on thinking about a container, without preconceived ideas, and I know that my container can be any shape or size that I desire.
One might ask why I do not just have my pieces mass-produced, however, I enjoy my present circumstances because they afford me the ability to use my personal aesthetic while hinting at the ideas of contradiction and the industrial hand. My creative approach combines industrial clarity with unique artistic execution that requires intense amounts of handling. Even though it may look simple, it is not easy. The clarity and finish on my pieces is intensive, time consuming and laborious. Each piece is generally handled and refined so much that it looks like I never touched it.
Heather Mae Erickson
Excerpt From: “The Industrial Hand: Tableware Design” Statement
Heather Mae Erickson’s Specialties:
Ceramics:
Electric, gas, Blauww kilns from Holland, raku, smoke firing, clay mixers, extruders, sandblasters, spray booths, compressors, grinders, slab rollers, ceramic chemistry, glaze formulation, slip casting, plaster mold making, plaster models for molds, plaster wheel, studio maintenance and safety, handbuilding, and wheel-throwing. Wood fabrication: table saw, band saw, saber saw, drill press, nailer/stapler, scroll saw, sanders, surface planer, shaper, joiner.
Heather Mae Erickson’s Experience
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Adjunct
Rowan University
(Educational Institution; Arts and Crafts industry)
September 2007 — Present (1 year 11 months)
Upcoming Course: Experiencing Art for Non-Majors, 3 s.h.
This course provides art experiences as processes which, in a workshop environment, are developed by students into expressional plastic forms. This course introduces work with the tools, materials, processes, and purposes of art. Materials used may include clay, paint, wood, plastics, metals and fabric. For non-majors only. -
Faculty-Ceramics Teacher
Clay Studio-Philadelphia
(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Arts and Crafts industry)
September 2006 — Present (2 years 11 months)
Throwing, handbuilding, and moldmaking
This Summer and Fall '07, Moldmaking -
Faculty-Crafts Lecturer
The University of the Arts
(Educational Institution; Arts and Crafts industry)
September 2005 — Present (3 years 11 months)
2007
Molding & Casting 3.0 Credit Course (Co-taught with Larry Donahue)
Continuing Education-Wheel-Thrown Ceramic Design
Pre-College-Ceramic Studio
Faculty Mentor for the Pilot Program-Living Learning Community, "Design Collective II"
Courses Taught:
Ceramic Technology 1.5 Credit Course
Freshmen Ceramics, 1.5 Credit Course
Advanced Ceramics, 3.0 Credit Course (Co-taught with Liz Stewart)
2005-07
Course Taught:
Introduction to Throwing, 3.0 Credit Course (2005-2006 Co-taught with Jim Makins)
2007
Continuing Education-Wheel-Thrown Ceramic Design -
Owner
Heather Mae Erickson Ceramic Design (Self-employed)
(Self-Employed; Myself Only; Design industry)
2000 — Present (9 years)
I explore the possibility of changing the way we treat the vital ritual of dining. By designing functional tableware, I seek to direct the eye, hand, and mouth to treat food differently. I want to create ware that raises awareness of the situation and sparks contemplation before merely devouring the elements. I am not interested in making ceramic teapots that look and work exactly like the ones the world already knows. I am not sure how far objects can be manipulated using new concepts before the average person needs education and direction to utilize them. I am especially interested in making new objects that comment on the past, the now, and the future.
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Faculty-Ceramics Teacher
Abington Art Center
(Arts and Crafts industry)
January 2006 — May 2008 (2 years 5 months)
Throwing, handbuilding, moldmaking, raku
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Faculty-Ceramics Teacher
Moore College of Art and Design-Continuing Education
(Educational Institution; Arts and Crafts industry)
January 2007 — May 2007 (5 months)
General ceramics in Continuing Education.
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ceramics instructor
Interlochen
(Design industry)
2006 — 2006 (less than a year)
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Faculty-Ceramics Teacher
Interlochen Center for the Arts
(Arts and Crafts industry)
June 2006 — August 2006 (3 months)
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Ceramics Instructor
Ceramic Shop
(Arts and Crafts industry)
January 2005 — May 2006 (1 year 5 months)
Throwing, handbuilding, moldmaking
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Ceramics Instructor
Belvoir Terrace Fine & Performing Arts Camp for Girls
(Educational Institution; 51-200 employees; Fine Art industry)
June 2003 — August 2003 (3 months)
Lenox, MASS
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Substitute Teacher-Class 1
Toledo Public Schools
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
September 2001 — June 2002 (10 months)
K-12, all subjects
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Director
SeaGate Gallery
(Non-Profit; Fine Art industry)
January 2001 — September 2001 (9 months)
OI Building. Toledo, Ohio
Heather Mae Erickson’s Education
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Taideteollinen korkeakoulu - Konstindustriella högskolan
Fulbright Research , Ceramic Design , 2004 — 2005
Related Foreign Travel
2006
Finland: Helsinki, Jyäskylä, Korpilahti
2005
Netherlands: Amsterdam, Arnhem, Hertogenbosch,
Germany: Berlin, Switzerland: Luzern
France: Paris
2004
England: London
Finland: Helsinki, Turku, Jylväskylä, Poorvo, Korpilahti, Tampere, Suomenlinna, Karjaa, Luoma
Estonia: Tallin
Latvia: Riga
1998 Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Shigaraki, Shimane, Yokohama, Kobe- Activities and Societies:
- ASLA-Fulbright-CIMO Research Fellowship. Helsinki, Finland
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Cranbrook Academy of Art
MFA , Ceramics , 2002 — 2004
Bloomfield Hills, MI
- Activities and Societies:
- Semester elective with 3D
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University of The Arts
BFA , Crafts-Ceramics & Art Education , 1996 — 2000
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Sylvania Southview High School
HS Diploma , 1993 — 1996
Additional Information
Heather Mae Erickson’s Websites:
Heather Mae Erickson’s Interests:
ceramics, moldmaking, design, art, slipcasting, plaster, dinnerware, function, food, wine, photography, wood, galleries, musuems, culture, travel,
Heather Mae Erickson’s Groups:
Fulbright Alumni, American Craft, CAA, NCECA, International Visitors Council of Philadelphia
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ScandiFulbright -
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN - MODERNA -
The University of the Arts Alumni Association -
UArts Continuing Studies -
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts
Heather Mae Erickson’s Honors:
2009
Guldagergaard-International Ceramic Research Center. Residency. Skælskør, DENMARK (May-August, 2009)
2008-2009
Independence Foundation Arts Fellowship. Philadelphia, PA
2008
The 8th International Ceramics Competition, Honorable Mention for Dinnerware in White. Mino, Japan
Chelsea International Fine Arts Competition. Juror: Manon Slome, Chief Curator Chelsea Museum of Art. NY, NY
NICHE Awards, Double Finalist in Ceramics:Molded. Rosen Group. Baltimore, MD
2007
“4th World Ceramic Biennale 2007 Korea International Competition,". Icheon, KOREA
American Craft Show Searchlight Artist. ACC
2006
Abington Art Center, Annual Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention.
2004-05
ASLA-Fulbright-CIMO Research Fellowship. Helsinki, Finland
2004
Hunter Douglas Horizon Award, First Place. Museum of Arts and Design. NY
2003
Howard Kottler Merit Scholarship, Cranbrook.
Heather Mae Erickson’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
