Ann Gardner

In 1984, Ann Gardner came to Arts/Industry on two separate occasions. She used the first period to learn the technology making a model, block mold, case molds, and working molds for a simple form. This laid the groundwork for the large molds she made during her second residency. Experimenting and pushing the limits of both materials and technology, Ann was able to finish eight, ten-foot Good Spirit Poles. She refers to them as primitive, contemporary figures. With their stacked spherical, spiked, and triangular shapes, they have a distinct tribal, ritualistic appearance. When Ann returned for a brief time in 1986, she worked in the Foundry to cast a series of masks assembled from various objects and factory discards. Ann studied ceramics in Oregon at the University of Oregon in Eugene; Portland State University, Portland; and the Maud Kerns Art Center, Eugene. In 1986, she received a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Her work has been commissioned by the State of Washington, the City of Seattle, and by various private collections. It has been exhibited in galleries all around the country and has been featured in Artweek, Art in America, American Craft, and American Ceramics.