'Unbroken Traditions & Intuitive Teachings: The Life-Long Mentorship of Randy Johnston' art exhibition

August 25, 2016 – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Art Department presents an exhibition "Unbroken Traditions & Intuitive Teachings: The Life-Long Mentorship of Randy Johnston" Sept. 7-Oct. 14 in Gallery 101 in the Kleinpell Fine Arts building. This exhibition celebrates Professor Randy Johnston and his 23 years of teaching and service at UW-River Falls. Johnston and an invited group of alumni share Gallery 101 to present a collection of artworks demonstrating his life-long commitment of maker and mentor.

Johnston has a celebrated an illustrious 45-year career in ceramics. He is recognized internationally as an artist who has pursued functional expression and brought a fresh aesthetic vision to contemporary form, and for his many contributions to the development of wood kiln technology in the United States. Johnston has received recognition for both his creative works and teaching practice, receiving numerous awards throughout his career including a Bush Artist Fellowship, two Visual Artist Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Distinguished Craft Educator Award from the James Renwick Alliance/Smithsonian American Art Museum (2010) and the Excellence in Teaching Award from the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (2014).

Alumni included are from the St. Croix River Valley and throughout the United States: Megan Bauman, Matt Dooley, David S. East, Lisa Ellena, Jay Jenson, Katie Jae, Bri Larson, Jill Lawley, John McLaughlin, Shari McWilliams, Sarah Millfelt, Paul Moeller, Bayard Morgan, Wendy Olson, Brittany Polzin, Andy Rineck, Joe Singewald, Eric Troolin, Marjorie Wade, and Rhonda Willers.

A public celebration of Johnston's teaching career and service is Friday, Oct. 14, from 4-6 p.m. with an artist talk at 5 p.m. in Gallery 101. The exhibition and celebration are both free and open to the public.

Gallery 101 hours are noon-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 2-4 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, contact the UWRF Art Department at 715-425-3266 or email susan.m.zimmer@uwrf.edu.