On The Verge submission - Sue Grier

Having worked in clay since 1984, Sue Grier has found great satisfaction in working with stoneware clay – creating forms and vessels to be enjoyed visually & tactiley. Her work primarily begins from wheel-thrown forms. She desires the energy this process gives the clay and through variety of altering techniques & the combining of forms, the works created have 3-dimensional interest, gesture & animation.

Sue’s work has grown to embrace the vessel form through her previous involvement & understanding of more traditional pottery forms. She maintains a desire to make work “function”, yet the definition of function has evolved to embrace the utilitarian as well as the intellectual aspects of the term. As a ceramic artist, Sue finds it is also important to keep originality & creativity in her work. Exploring new ideas and one-of-a-kind pieces allows for this.

Her current work uses techniques of throwing, altering, sprigging, hand building & assembling pots from multiple parts to create more interesting forms. Sue mixes her own glazes, which are then applied by dipping, spraying & brushing. More complex surfaces are investigated through the use of oxide washes, slips & multiple firings. Firing processes include electric, gas/soda & wood fired works.

Sue’s work is found in the collections of City of Columbia, SC and USC Sumter, along with many private collections. She submits work for exhibition nationally & regionally. Notable inclusions are Orton Cone Box Show (‘08 & ‘06); ACCSE Spotlight ‘07 exhibition, Arrowmont, TN; Wood Fire Natl. Exhibition NCECA ‘07, Louisville, KY; Clay On The Wall ‘05, Lubbock, TX, Clay Cup X ‘05, Carbondale, IL & Strictly Functional Natl. Exhibition ‘04, Lancaster, PA. Sue also pursues exhibition venues including solo shows at Brevard College, Brevard, NC (‘09) & USC Sumter, Sumter, SC (‘07); and group shows including Clemson Univ. Wood Fired Works at Anderson Co. Arts Center, Anderson, SC (‘08) & Fly Asheville Gallery, Asheville, NC (‘08). She participates with Leicester Artists Studio Tour held annually.

Originally from New Mexico, Sue and her husband moved from Columbia, SC to the Asheville area after completing her MFA at Clemson Univ. in 2004. (From 1984-2001, she was a production potter in the Columbia area). Sue currently teaches ceramics part time at Clemson Univ. and does workshops.