Artist Of The Month – July 2006

	Kurt Madison Greenacres, WA

What do you love about Art Clay? As an artist, I have always worked with a wide range of materials. What I love about Art Clay Silver is that the product line has been developed for working with a range of different materials. This works extremely well with the way I design, and my multi–media interests.
What other media do you work and/or teach in? I think of myself as an artist. I work in a wide range of materials, mostly 3–dimensionally. That being said, over the last 5 years, I have been painting a certain amount, particularly traditional Japanese brush painting. I recently did a group of large–scale abstracts in oil on canvas that I was very happy with. I give workshops and demonstrations, as well as teaching at my local community college and art school.; I have given demonstrations and workshops around the state of Washington as well in British Columbia, Montana and parts East. I currently teach a regular series of workshops at Rings and Things in downtown Spokane, WA. Other Subjects taught: 3–d Design; Introduction to Art; Non–Western Art Perspectives; Art of the Electronic Age; Metalsmithing; Glass Fusing for Jewelry; Stained Glass; Drawing; Visual Communication; Designing for Stained Glass and Japanese Brush Painting.
Biography: My first metalsmithing experiences were in 1971. Since then I have branched out and studied sculpture, hot, warm and cold glass techniques; as well as a number of other art making methods, techniques and materials. I have a bachelor’s degree in Art from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture from Tyler School of Art, Temple University. I love teaching and am currently involved in several art historical investigations along with studying Japanese Calligraphy. While I tend to live and breathe art, my most prominent ‘hobbies’ are gardening and cooking.
Philosophy: I feel that the goal of our endeavors as artists and craftspeople is the expression of our ideas and perception. I believe we are always working to develop and/or improve the expression of our personal design and style. To that end, when I am teaching, I attempt to learn the directions and inclinations of my students so that I can share anything and everything that I might have by way of background, technical or materials experience that may be pertinent. The point being to convey as much help and information as possible in the time we [the students and I] have to share. This instruction may go well outside the confines of Art Clay Silver or jewelry.
Awards / Degrees: Honorable Mentions at the Tokyo Big Site shows in 2003 & 2005, Special Award in the Pearl show 2005; miscellaneous articles, profiles best of shows and recognitions in the US over the last 25 years.

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