Paul Soldner
Encyclopedia
Paul Soldner was an American
ceramic artist
.
, began to pursue a career in art upon returning to the United States. He earned degrees in art education and art administration from Bluffton College and the University of Colorado
, then turned his attention to ceramics. He focused first on functional pottery.
In 1954, Soldner became Peter Voulkos'
first student in the nascent ceramics department at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (now the Otis College of Art and Design
). As Soldner helped his teacher establish the program, he made several changes to the studio pottery equipment, which lead to founding Soldner Pottery Equipment in 1955 to market his inventions.
After receiving his MFA
in ceramics in 1956, Soldner began teaching at Scripps College
. Soldner's teaching at Scripps emphasized teaching-by-osmosis and a from-scratch approach to ceramic arts, including exploration of firing techniques as well as natural clays, kiln-building and glaze formulation.
Known as the Father of American Raku, Soldner also developed a type of low-temperature salt firing. Along with Voulkos, Soldner has been credited with creating the "California School" of ceramic arts by combining Western materials and technology with Japanese techniques and aesthetics
.
While teaching at Scripps College, Soldner organized the Scripps Ceramics Annual - a nationally recognized ceramic exhibition. In addition, as a result of his life-long friendship with ceramic collectors Fred and Mary Marer, Scripps became the fortunate recipient of the extensive Marer Collection of Contemporary Ceramics. In 1990, Scripps received an NEA Grant to research and organize and exhibition titled, "Paul Soldner:A Retrospective'" that traveled throughout the United States.
Soldner retired from Scripps in 1991.
In the 1960s Soldner helped found Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Colorado. He was also involved in starting the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts
.
Soldner lived and maintained studios in Aspen, Colorado
and Claremont, California
.
He died on January 3, 2011 in Claremont, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ceramic artist
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
.
Biography
Soldner, who served as an army medic during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, began to pursue a career in art upon returning to the United States. He earned degrees in art education and art administration from Bluffton College and the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, then turned his attention to ceramics. He focused first on functional pottery.
In 1954, Soldner became Peter Voulkos'
Peter Voulkos
Peter Voulkos popular name of Panagiotis Voulkos, was an American artist of Greek descent. He is known for his Abstract Expressionist ceramic sculptures, which crossed the traditional divide between ceramic crafts and fine art....
first student in the nascent ceramics department at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (now the Otis College of Art and Design
Otis College of Art and Design
Otis College of Art and Design is an art and design college in Los Angeles, California.The school's programs, accredited by WASC and National Association of Schools of Art and Design, include four-year BFA degrees in illustration, fine arts, graphic design, architecture, landscape design, interior...
). As Soldner helped his teacher establish the program, he made several changes to the studio pottery equipment, which lead to founding Soldner Pottery Equipment in 1955 to market his inventions.
After receiving his MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in ceramics in 1956, Soldner began teaching at Scripps College
Scripps College
Scripps College is a progressive liberal arts women's college in Claremont, California, United States. It is a member of the Claremont Colleges. Scripps ranks 3rd for the nation's best women's college, ahead of Barnard College, Mount Holyoke College, and Bryn Mawr College at 23rd on the list for...
. Soldner's teaching at Scripps emphasized teaching-by-osmosis and a from-scratch approach to ceramic arts, including exploration of firing techniques as well as natural clays, kiln-building and glaze formulation.
Known as the Father of American Raku, Soldner also developed a type of low-temperature salt firing. Along with Voulkos, Soldner has been credited with creating the "California School" of ceramic arts by combining Western materials and technology with Japanese techniques and aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
.
While teaching at Scripps College, Soldner organized the Scripps Ceramics Annual - a nationally recognized ceramic exhibition. In addition, as a result of his life-long friendship with ceramic collectors Fred and Mary Marer, Scripps became the fortunate recipient of the extensive Marer Collection of Contemporary Ceramics. In 1990, Scripps received an NEA Grant to research and organize and exhibition titled, "Paul Soldner:A Retrospective'" that traveled throughout the United States.
Soldner retired from Scripps in 1991.
In the 1960s Soldner helped found Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Colorado. He was also involved in starting the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts
Founded in 1966, the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts is an organization in the United States promoting ceramics as an art form for several decades...
.
Soldner lived and maintained studios in Aspen, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
and Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
.
He died on January 3, 2011 in Claremont, California.
Awards
- Honorary Doctorates of Fine Arts from Bluffton College (OH) and Westminster College (PA).
- 2008 Awarded the Aileen Osborn Webb Gold Medal by the American Crafts Council, NYC, NY.
Books
In 2008 the book Nothing to Hide; Exposures, Disclosures and Reflections by Paul Soldner was published by Clay Times Inc., Waterford, VA.Film & Video
- Paul Soldner:Playing with Fire, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Renegade Pictures, Santa Barbara, CA.
- Paul Soldner, The Courage to Explore, SEMELKA and Kasper, Chapel Hill, NC.
- Paul Soldner:Thrown and Altered Clay, School Video, Chrystal Productions, Aspen, CO and Glenview, wIL.
Galleries and Exhibitions
Work in selected public and private collections include:- American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA.
- Australian National Gallery, Sydney, Australia
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA.
- National Museum of Modern Art, Koyoto, Japan
- Oakland Museum of Art, Oakland, CA.
- Scripps College, Claremont, CA.
- Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American Art, Washington, D.C.
- Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
- Victoria and Albert Museum of Art, London, England