James/Bio

James Tanner – Bio and Portfolio

Education

  • 1964 B.A. Degree, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida

  • 1966 M.S. Degree, University of Wisconsin, Madison,Wisconsin

  • 1967 M.F.A. Degree, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Professional Experience

  • Professor Emeritus    Minnesota State University at Mankato, Mankato, Minnesota

  • 1968-2003 Professor of Art, Ceramics, Minnesota State University at Mankato, MN

  • 2005 Penland School of Crafts, ceramic sculpture, Penland, NC (summer)

  • 2002 Penland School of Crafts, ceramic sculpture, Penland, NC (summer)

  • 1998 Penland School of Crafts, ceramic sculpture, Penland, NC (summer)

  • 1993 Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, ceramic sculpture, Deer Isle, MA (summer)

  • 1993 Anderson Ranch Arts Center, ceramic sculpture, Snowmass, CO (summer)

  • 1990 Penland School of Crafts, ceramic sculpture, Penland, NC (summer)

Recent Solo Exhibitions

  • 2013 St. Paul Academy&Summit School, ‘Digesting Matter’, St.Paul, MN

  • 2009 Western Carolina University, Fine Art Museum, ‘Sculptural Ceramics’, Cullowhee, NC

  • 2008 St. Paul Academy&Summit School, ‘Potential Flying Objects’, St. Paul, MN

  • 2008 Craft Alliance, ‘Inside/Inside Out: A Profile of Awareness’, St. Louis, MO

  • 1999 Minnesota State University, Conkling Gallery, Mixed Media Sculpture, Mankato, MN

  • 1995 Minneapolis Institute of Arts, MAEP Program, ‘Unrolling Reflections’, Minneapolis, MN

  • 1995 Northwest Missouri State University, DeLuce Gallery, ‘Ceramic and Bronze’, Maryville, MO

  • 1994 Maurine Littleton Gallery, ‘New Work in Ceramic’, Washington, D.C.

  • 1992 Rochester Art Center, ‘Old Dog New Tricks’, Rochester, MN

  • 1992 Sioux City Art Center, ‘Wall Relief Ceramics’, Sioux City, IA

Selected Invitational Exhibitions

  • 2011 Conkling Gallery, Minnesota State University, Mankato, ‘Three Ways: Robert Finkler, James Tanner, Janice Tanner’, Mankato, MN

  • 2009 St. Olaf College, Flaten Art Museum, ‘The Unorthodox Work of James and Janice Tanner’, Northfield, MN

  • 2007 Rochester Community College, ‘Dancing on Center: Recent Works’, Tanner/Tanner, Rochester, MN

  • 2007 Jaques Art Center, ‘OUTSIDE of Time: Sculptural Paintings’, Jim and Jan Tanner, Aitken, MN 

  • 2007 St. Olaf College, Flaten Art Museum, ‘Ceramics Today’, Northfield, MN

  • 2006 Western Carolina University, Fine Art Museum, ‘Harvey K. Littleton+friends: A Legacy of Transforming Object, Image and Idea’, Cullowhee, NC

  • 2005 Morgan State University, James E. Lewis Museum, ‘Unity and Legacy: Umoja’, Baltimore, MD

  • 2005 Taipei County Yingge Ceramics Museum, ‘Diverse Domain of Contemporary North American Ceramic Art’, curated by NCECA, Taiwan

  • 2004 Columbus College of Art&Design, Canzani Center Gallery, ‘21st Century Ceramics’,Columbus, OH

  • 2003 American Craft Council, 2003 Aileen Osborn Webb Awards, Chicago, IL 

  • 2003 Mint Museum of Craft&Design, ‘The Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience’, Charlotte, NC

Selected Awards/Honors

  • 2003 Council of Fellows, American Craft Council, presented at SOFA, Chicago, IL

  • 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award, Minnesota Craft Council

  • 2001 Fellow of the Council, National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts

  • 1997 Jerome Foundation, Visual Arts Travel and Study Grant: Greece and Rome

  • 1993 Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship

  • 1991 McKnight Foundation Fellowship

  • 1990 NEA Visual Artist Fellowship

  • 1984 NEA Visual Artist Fellowship

Recent Workshops/Lectures

  • 2013 St. Paul Academy&Summit School, 1 week residency for students in ceramics, St. Paul, MN 

  • 2009 Cultural Diversity Program, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Lecture/slide presentation in College Access Program, Mankato, MN

  • 2009 St. Olaf College, Flaten Art Museum, 3 Day Residency, Mixed Media, Northfield, MN

  • 2009 Community & Technical College Fine Arts Conference, Keynote Lecture, Duluth, MN

  • 2009 Western Carolina University, ceramic workshop, Cullowhee, NC

  • 2008 St. Paul Academy&Summit School, lecture & student discussions, St. Paul, MN

  • 2008 Ohr-O’Keege Museum of Art, Hunting Intuition, ceramic workshop, Biloxi, MS

  • 2005 St. Olaf College, Arnold Flaten Lecture Series, Northfield, MN

  • 2004 University of North Carolina at Charlotte, ceramic workshop/lecture, Charlotte, NC

  • 2004 Mint Museum of Craft&Design, lecture, Charlotte, NC

  • 2004 University of Mississippi, ceramic workshop, University, MS

  • 2003 Florida Craftsmen Regional Conference, ‘Clay: Handbuilding Sculpture, Lowfire Color on Stoneware, DeLand, FL

  • 2002 Kansas State University, lecture, Manhattan, KS

  • 2000 Northern Clay Center, lecture: ‘University Education and the Making of Art,’ Minneapolis, MN

  • 1999 University of Northern Iowa, ceramic workshop/lecture, Cedar Falls, IA

Selected Professional Activities

  • 2008-09 Advisory Panel Member, Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN

  • 2008 Curator, ‘Three Dimensions of Expression: Mind on Clay Matter’, ceramic work by Victor Spinski, Joe Bova and Roy Strassberg, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO

  • 2008 3D Juror and judge, Ohr-O’Keefe Musuem of Art, George E. Ohr National Challenge,Biloxi, MS

  • 2007 Juror, Minnesota State Arts Board, Visual Arts Panel, St. Paul, MN

  • 2006 Juror, Ohio Arts Council, Crafts Panel, Columbus, OH

  • 2006 Center for Craft, Creativity & Design, Retreat, Hendersonville, NC

  • 2005 Board of Trustees, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC

  • 2004-06 Panel Member, Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN

  • 2003 Print Studio Residency, Littleton Studios, created 2 prints using the vitreographic process,