Jon Kevin Blackburn

                              Born: July 25, 1956, Newport Beach, CA.

Education:

    Orange Coast College 1976-78

    Univ. of Washington, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramic Art, 1978-81

    Univ. of California, Irvine. Teacher Education, 1984-85

    Ford Foundation Scholarship

    American Ceramic Society College Show: Award Winner, Design Division

    Member Northwest Designer Craftsmen

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Exhibitions:

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1978- Group show, Orange Coast College, CA.

1978- American Ceramic Society College show, LA Valley College, Los Angeles, CA.

1981- “Salt of the Earth” Greenwood Gallery, Seattle WA.

1981- Bellevue Square Fine Arts show, Bellevue, WA

1998- Stanwood-Camano Arts Guild juried art show, Stanwood, WA.

1998- Everett Arts Center 11th annual juried art show, Everett, WA.

1998- "Sacred Places"  Solo Show- Francis Anderson Arts Center, Edmonds, WA

1998- First Invitational show, Main Gallery, Studio Art, Everett, WA

2001- “Evidence of the Body” NWDC invitational Exhibition,

            Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA.

2010- “Start with Art II” Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue, WA.

2018- “Off Center” International Ceramics Competition. Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA.

2019- “Clay Matters” Epperson Gallery, Crockett, CA.

2019- “Arts at the Port” Anacortes Arts, Anacortes, WA.

2019- "NWDC" Allied Arts Center, Richland, WA

2020- "Three Dimensions"  Blue Whole Gallery, Sequim, WA.

2020-" Imagery and Illustration" Clay Center of New Orleans "NOLA" New Orleans, LA.

2020- "Currents 2020" National Craft Exhibition and Symposium, Shack Art center, Everett, WA.

2020- "Artist's Vision" Marin county society of artists, San Rafael, CA.

2022- , "Art at the Port"  juried show, Anacortes, WA.

2023- "Earth and Fire", Wheeling, West Virginia.

 

Honors and Awards:

1978- Design division award, American Ceramic Society, LA Valley College

1981- Ford Foundation Scholarship Award, Seattle, WA.

1981- Purchase prize award, Bellevue art show. Bellevue, WA.

1998- Honorable mention, Everett Arts council, Everett, WA.

1998- Merit award, Frontier Bank

2020- Honorable mention.  Artist's Vision, San Rafael, CA

2022- T Bailey Corporate Award.  Art at the Park Juried show.

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Past Gallery Affliations:

    Whitebird Gallery

    Childhoods End Gallery

    Northwest Crafts Center

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthhandsfire

    Blogpost from ICCFA 2016: http://agoodgoodbye.com/tools-of-the-trade/handcrafted-cremation-urns-from-earthhandsfire/

 

     The first urns I started working on were a direct result of the death of my father in 1996. His passing and cremation got me thinking about precious vessels and cermonial urns, the type that could be used for cremated remains. The first urns were large and temple-like. Some had wood and clay "temple houses" for the urn to sit in. I wanted the urns to have an aged, ancient look or feeling, including a sense of the spirtual or mystical. Others were supported on legs of clay molded into organic shapes such as bones, wood carvings, carved bone and antlers. These pieces had wooden lids that were covered with gold leaf and could be fastened down with wing type wood flaps, sealing whatever precious contents were inside. I have simplified my approach and now incorporate a simple leather attachment system to hold the lids in place and the contents secure. I hope you take the time to browse through the variety of urns I am offering and find that special one for your beloved.

 

     Jon Kevin Blackburn