International Wood Firing Conference & Workshop

Lenore Lampi Rukavina
Process/technique
“Birch Theme”

This series, which was named “Chopping Wood, Brotherhood” began as a series of firewood forms. With a bit of irony, this series began when I stopped feeding a wood fired stove. The name for the series came from a phrase out of a poem written by a now deceased friend, Ted Drobac.

The series evolved into the more functional pieces after I was exposed to porcelain clay and started to use my knowledge of wheel throwing technique.

The word “whimsical” has been used to describe the work. These vases are wheel thrown, incised, and altered by adding, subtracting and carving. I have found that small pieces of driftwood make excellent tools for adding texture. The incised lines are rubbed with black iron oxide, sponged and the interior glazed with Malcolm Davis Shino. A serendipitous benefit occurred when after a firing, on the thin walled vessels, the interior glaze migrated through to the outside. So, you see the rather effective orange only showing where the selectively brushed exterior glaze is not applied. The exterior glaze is what is called a “beading glaze”.

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Lenore Lampi Rukavina

830 N Lake Ave
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 780-8458
lennilr@hotmail.com
EDUCATION:
• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis/MA Art Education/1998
• University of Minnesota, Duluth/Teachers License/ 1986
• University of Minnesota, Duluth/BA Degree/1974 Emphasis–Fine Arts

OCCUPATION:
• Visual Artist
• Art Educator, Virginia Public Schools, Virginia, MN, 1987-present
• Instructor, Arrowhead University System, 1997-01

EXHIBITIONS:
• Birch, Duluth Teachers Credit Union, Duluth, MN/ Nov/Dec/ 2006
• Tiles of the Northern Plains: Building on Tradition, Superior WI/2006
• Arrowhead Biennial Exhibition: Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN/2004
• ARTcetera 2004. Miller-Dwan Foundation:Duluth, MN/2004
• Warmth. Kess Gallery: Ely,MN/ August 2004
• MacRostie Art Center’s Twelfth Annual Juried Art Exhibition, 2004.

• MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN/2004
• Broader Reach:A Regional View: Minneapolis Foundation, Minneapolis/June 2003
• Pelt Problems and Fake Fur: Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN/2002
•Omphale Gallery: Calumet, Michigan/August 2001
•Foot in the Door: Minneapolis Institute of Arts:Minneapolis/January 2000
•Celebrate!Women in the Arts: Tweed Museum of Art: Duluth,MN/May-July 1999
• Kess Gallery: Ely, Minnesota/September 1997
• Finnfest ‘96: Marquette, Michigan/1996
• Arrowhead Biennial Exhibition: Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN/1996
• Minnesota Percent for Art in Public Places: permanent installation, Vermilion Community College, Ely, MN/1994
• Arrowhead Biennial Exhibition: Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN/1992

PLACEMENTS & PURCHASES:
• Vermilion Community College, Ely, MN (Minnesota Percent for Art in Public Places):permanent installation–Pelt Wreath…
• Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MN:permanent collection–Untitled
• Virginia Secondary School,Virginia, MN: purchase: permanent collection–Marching Shadows

CIVIC ACTIVITIES:
• Participation, Artcetera2004, Miller-Dwan Foundation Auction/2004
• Member, Arrowhead Regional Arts Board, Duluth,MN/1983-1985

GALLERY AFFILIATIONS:
• Blue Lake Gallery, Duluth, MN
•Einerlei Gallery, Chassel, MI
•Grand Hand Gallery, St. Paul, MN
• Kess Gallery, Ely, MN
• MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN
• Pine Tree Gallery, Ironwood, MI
• ODONATA, Mercer, WI
• Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais, MN