John Balistreri

Infobox Artist
name = John Balistreri


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caption = John Balistreri (right) assisting Peter Voulkos (left).
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birthdate = 1962
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nationality = flagicon|US American
field = Ceramic art
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John Balistreri (born 1962) is an American ceramic artist best known for his large scale sculptures. He is currently an associate Professor of Art and the head of the ceramic art program at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA.

Biography

Early life and education

John Balistreri was raised in Thornton, Colorado, where his family grew cut flowers in greenhouses. [cite news |first=Gargi |last=Chakrabarty |title=Heating bills shut greenhouses |work=Rocky Mountain News |page= |date=2003-11-27 |accessdate=2007-08-31 ] He began to work with ceramics at Thornton High School under Gail Matheson in 1978, graduating in 1980.

Balistreri earned an associate's degree in business from Colorado Mountain College in 1982 and built a ceramic studio on his parents' property near Denver. He subsequently studied at Alfred University with Wayne Higby and at the Kansas City Art Institute, where he earned BFA in 1986. Balistreri worked with Kirk Mangus at Kent State University where he received his MFA in 1988.

Career

During the summer of 1987, he returned to his studio in Denver and built a large Anagama kiln. [cite news |first=Alan |last=Katz |title=Sculptor just kilning time with ancient technique |work=Denver Post |page=3C |date=1993-08-08 |accessdate=2007-08-31 ] After graduate school, began to make large scale work that was wood-fired. He worked as a studio artist and occasionally taught ceramics at the University of Denver and Front Range Community College. In 1996, he joined the faculty of Bowling Green University, where he remains today.

Awards

*1996: Best of Show, Colorado Clay, Foothills Art Center, Golden, Colorado
*1995: Emerging Talent Award, National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts

References

External links

* [http://johnbalistreriartist.com/ John Balistreri official website]
* [http://digitalarts.bgsu.edu/art/faculty/facultyinfo.cfm?ID=9&Title=ceramics John Balistreri bio at Bowling Green State University]