{"title":"Lauren Smith","description":"\u003ch2\u003eBio\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen I was little, I would play in the creek beds behind our house in Rockwall, Texas, fishing for crawdads and making mud sculptures. I have always loved making things, no matter what the material. Growing up, I knew I wanted to be an artist so I would practice drawing. I took a drawing and painting class during high school and community college; but it wasn't until I transferred to the University of North Texas in 2002 that I took my first ceramics class. It did not take long before I fell in love with the process, the environment, and clay. I had only made a few hand-built sculptures before I declared myself a ceramics major and in 2005, I graduated with a BFA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2011, I completed a MFA in Ceramics at UNT. I was a resident artist at Center Street Clay in Sandwich, Illinois one summer during my graduate studies, where I worked with Steven Hill, who is a renowned artist known for his spraying techniques; whiche I've adopted and incorporated in to my glazing process. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn August 2011, I moved to Riverside, California. I have set up a studio in the garage where I continue to make work and show nationally. In May 2012, I was invited to Art of the Pot in Austin, Texas for their 9th Annual Mother's Day Studio Tour and Sale. I have taught classes at the American Museum of Ceramic Art, in Pomona, CA as well as, Ceramic Services in Ontario, CA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the summer of 2014, we relocated to Butte, Montana. My husband teaches at Montana Tech and I work in my studio basement. I have since been a short-term summer resident at the Archie Bray Foundation as well as Red Lodge Clay Center. For the past year, I’ve been a production potter for Emily Free-Wilson of Free Ceramics and I am teaching a community ceramics class at the Archie Bray. I continue to pursue teaching workshops, showing nationally, and networking with local Montana Clay artists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eArtist Statement\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\"I love making functional pottery. I want to share my work and create daily rituals amongst my collectors and admirers. I am constantly fulfilled every day that I can turn a ball of clay into something that someone can treasure. As I work at my wheel, I imagine my pots being used at a fancy dinner party with cake stands and flower vases decorating the table; or perhaps a favorite mug being filled with hot, steaming coffee or warm tea. My inspiration comes from nature, specifically flowers and the way their petals unfold and the infinite patterns they make. I always have a camera with me in case I see an interesting flower or beautiful bird. I look at antique and historical pottery, glassware and other current potter’s work to inspire and energize my own work. I am very lucky to be able to wake up every morning and do what I love to do. I have always been a maker and I will always be one.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0585\/7784\/6471\/collections\/1000005662.jpg?v=1755097374","url":"https:\/\/belgerarts.org\/collections\/lauren-smith.oembed","provider":"Belger Arts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}