Art and Art History
College of Liberal Arts
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem, Oregon 97301
503-370-6136 voice
503-370-6738 fax
- Heidi Preuss Grew
- Associate Professor of Art
- Ceramics, Drawing, Design, Writing for Artists
- Art Building 302
- 503-370-6925
- hpgrew@willamette.edu
- Personal Home Page
Heidi Preuss Grew
Artist Statement
Most of what I encounter on a given day provides potential inspiration for my work. Fleeting moments of conversation, a given hand gesture used by a close friend, a proverb, a character in a novel, or a simple detail in a painting can inspire an idea. When an experience or memory transforms into something more permanent, such as a sketch or drawing, the creative process begins to take hold. These sketches accompany my hands and mind through the more physical stages of making figurative sculptures with clay. I choose clay for its responsiveness and immediacy, an ideal material to capture the recorded essence of a sketch.
My artistic output consists largely of portraits: friends, community members, legendary people in history, or fictional characters inspired by literature and art. I seek to reveal the vulnerable and pathetic side of the human condition as well as the heroic and beautiful. Animal and human features meld together to develop specific meaning, symbolism, and psychological impact. This combination also allows for greater freedom in the creative process.
Teaching Experience
Willamette University, Salem, Oregon (Fall 1999- present). Associate Professor of Art (since 2005)School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (January-May 1999)
Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, Illinois (August 1998-May 1999)
Ohio University, Athens, Ohio (August 1995-November 1997)
Education
Ohio University in Athens
Master of Fine Arts, 1997
University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Crafts, 1995
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History, 1994
Bachelor of Arts in Germanic Languages and Literature, 1994
Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany, 1991-1992
Solo Exhibitions
2006
Brian Marki Gallery, Portland, Oregon, NCECA juried show of the “Mardi Gras Series”
2005
Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, Oregon
Ameen Art Gallery, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana
2004
Fine Arts Center Gallery, Viterbo University, LaCrosse, Wisconsin
International Gallery of Ceramic Art, Ceský Krumlov, Czech Republic
International Gallery of Ceramic Art, Ceský Krumlov, Czech Republic
2002
International Gallery of Ceramic Art, Ceský Krumlov, Czech Republic
Group Exhibitions
2006
Portland Art Museum, Oregon, “Oregon Biennial”
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, Texas, “16th National Ceramic Competition”
Froelick Gallery, Portland, Oregon, “Bestiary”
Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA, “Clay?”
Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois “Ceramics Invitational”
Grossmont College Gallery, El Cajun, California, “Viewpoint: Ceramics 2006”
Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, Illinois, “30/30”
Kellogg University Art Gallery, Pomona, California, “Ink and Clay 32”
2005
Taipei County Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei, Taiwan, Diverse Domain-Contemporary North American Ceramic Art”
Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center, Skaelskor, Denmark
John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, “A Tale to Tell”
Wichita State University National Juried Clay Exhibition, Wichita, Kansas, “All About Love”
Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, “Earth and Fire”
2004
Ceramic Biennial, New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire
The Ameen Gallery, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana
Sculpture Invitational, Mount Hood Community College, Portland, Oregon
2003
Sculptural Ceramics, Portland Advancement of Culture Project, Portland, Oregon
International Group Invitational, Ceský Krumlov, Czech Republic
Invited Ceramists Exhibition, year long, Governor's Mansion, Salem, Oregon
2002
Contemporary Ceramics of West Coast Artists, Santa Rosa Junior College, California
14 Artists and Mentors, Contemporary Craft Gallery and Museum, Portland, Oregon
Northwest Documenta, Salem Art Association, Salem, Oregon
Japanese, Korean, American Artist Exchange, Florida Atlantic U, Miami, Florida
Walbrzych Poland Porcelain Symposium Exhibition, Frechen, Germany
Permanent Collections
Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center, Skaelskor, Denmark
Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, Oregon
Hong-Ik University Ceramics Collection, Korea
International Ceramics Gallery, Ceský Krumlov, Czech Republic
Kurashiki-City Cultural Center, Japan
Museum of Ceramic Art, Bechyné, Czech Republic
Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague, Czech Republic
Regional Museum of Walbrzych, Poland
Private collections
Symposiums, Residency
Resident Artist, Keramik Center-Berlin (Spring 2007)Resident Artist, Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center, Skælskør, Denmark (Summer 05)
Resident Artist, Agency of Czech Ceramic Design, Ceský Krumlov, Czech Republic (January 2004)
Resident Artist, Agency of Czech Ceramic Design, Ceský Krumlov, Czech Republic (Fall 2001)
International Porcelain Symposium, Walbrzych, Poland (September 2001)
International Symposium Reunion, Bechyné, Czech Republic (August 2000)
18th International Symposium of Ceramics, Bechyné, Czech Republic (July 1998)
Grants, Awards and Fellowships
2006
Third place, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA, “Clay?”
Honorable Mention, Ink and Clay Exhibition 32, Pomona, California
2005
Second Place, Wichita State University National Juried Clay Exhibition, Wichita, Kansas
2004
Faculty Research Grant, support traveling exhibition “Porcelain and Other Stories”
2003
Atkinson Research Grant, support for new sculpture within architectural spaces
2002
Oregon Arts Commission Artist Fellowship
Atkinson Research Grant, support for large outdoor sculpture
Fulbright-Hays Sponsored Group Research Trip (retracing the Silk Road in China)
Lectures/Workshops
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL (March 2005)Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA (February 2004)
Viterbo University, LaCrosse, WI (October 2004)
Fine Line Arts Center, St. Charles, Illinois (October 2003)
Oregon Potter's Association, Portland, OR (May 2002)
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida (January 2002)
Other Professional Experience
Invited Panel Reviewer, Oregon Arts Commission Fellowship Award (June 2004)
International Slide Lecture Series Coordinator, National Conference of Educators for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) 2003 to present
Grant Writing Workshop Presenter, Portland State University, Portland, OR (Jan. 2004)
Grant Writing Workshop Presenter, Regional Arts and Culture Council, Portland, OR (Dec. 2002, April 2003)