Jean Griffith Returns to Pottery Northwest for a Retrospective Exhibition

SEATTLE - June 18, 2013 - PRLog -- Pottery Northwest is pleased to present "Jean Griffith," a retrospective exhibition of work by Jean Griffith. The show will run July 19th through August 16th at the historic home of Pottery Northwest at the Seattle Center, 226 1st Ave N., (just one block south of Key Arena). An opening reception with the artist will be held Friday, July 19th from 4-8 pm. The public is cordially invited to attend.

For over fifty years Jean Griffith has been a major contributor to the health and well being of the ceramic arts in the Pacific Northwest. A graduate of the ceramics program at the University of Washington, a pivotal role in the Seattle Clay Club, and a long association with Pottery Northwest at the Seattle Center have all been accomplishments. While Jean Griffith is well known for her leadership as director of Pottery Northwest for most of its first 40 years, she was also one of the first ceramist in this country to experiment with the raku firing technique, a process well known for taking work from a glowing red fiery kiln and manipulating the surface in that stage. This exhibition of work spanning over thirty years of a producing artists' career will showcase a number of different bodies of work including a number of raku fired pieces.

"It is hard to overestimate the impact that Jean has had on ceramics in the Pacific Northwest. She's cultivated a generation ... or two of artists," said Wally Bivins, Executive Director of Pottery Northwest.  While director at Pottery Northwest, Jean Griffith fostered hundreds of students, potters, sculptors and guest artists with studio space, classes, workshops and exhibitions. Often the guest artists were of international stature. The notion of community workspace for those passionate about pursuing clay was the motivation and it continues today.

In March, 2012 the National Conference on Education in the Ceramic Arts was held in Seattle. Jean Griffith was honored at the conference as the recipient of the Regional Award of Excellence for her many contribution to ceramics in the Pacific Northwest. She is also a past recipient of the Mayor's Award for the Arts. Pottery Northwest has endowed a fellowship in her honor bringing an outstanding artist to work in the studio community each year.

About Pottery Northwest

Pottery Northwest is the Pacific Northwest's premiere ceramic facility. Founded in 1966 as a non-profit arts organization, Pottery Northwest is a long time and vibrant source of programming in the Seattle arts community. Artists from around the world come to Pottery Northwest in the spirit of artistic dialog and as a formative step in their professional career. World class professional artist residencies, exhibitions featuring traditional and contemporary work, community classes and an engaging lecture series spanning many years are all features of this fixture at Seattle Center.

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 am to 5 pm and by appointment.  Call 206-285-4421.