Columbia City Gallery | Elinor Maroney

I grew up and started college in the northwest. I finished my Bachelor of Arts at the University of the District of Columbia when I was 40 years old and subsequently completed my Master of Fine Arts at Antioch University in Columbia, Maryland eight years later. I attended a total of seven colleges before I finished my MFA and spent 30 years reaching this point. I still enjoy and benefit from lectures and workshops which I attend as often as possible.

I taught ceramics to both children and adults in a private studio in Washington, DC for 17 years. n the past 24 years since finishing my MFA, I have taught part time in four colleges in and around Washington, DC, taught at a community center in Burien and at Green River Community College as well as doing short term clay workshops. I have spent much time developing new glazes at various temperatures for both gas and electric firing as well as editing a newsletter for the Washington Potters Association for the last 11 years.

Besides my college teaching, I have worked in a camp for the handicapped most of the last 24 summers; done seminars for experienced teachers in creative crafts and clay; worked as a pottery consultant in Paraguay; and done many demonstrations on the potters wheel at various locations and for the enjoyment of all ages.

In 1985 I worked for three months as a ceramic consultant to the Interamerican Development Bank in Paraguay teaching glazes and glazing techniques to experienced potters for use with their wood fired kilns. I found the experience rewarding and gratifying. I felt that the potters grew and began to understand the process of glazing for the first time‹none of them had glazed before. I learned a tremendous amount about local resources for materials, local suppliers and references not known previously to the potters of the country.

My Master's thesis dealt with design as it relates to ceramic work. Course work toward the MFA thoroughly covered all aspects of wheel throwing and hand building techniques, glaze and clay calculation, kiln construction, and ceramic art history.

I have a reputation for being patient and understanding teacher. I feel that the teacher in any given situation learns at least as much as the students. The feed back I get from my students makes me feel that my unique approach to teaching is quite successful. I have just begun teaching for Seniors Making Art in 2 local senior centers. Many of my students are younger than I am and we are all having a great time. It is always surprising to me how often I hear "I always wanted to try my hand at making pottery and this is the first time I have had a chance!" It is never too late to learn!

I have worked in porcelain and stoneware for over 30 years. I try to price my functional ware so that my work can be used daily in the home. A few years ago I started decorating with bright colors and am thoroughly enjoying this new direction. My latest decorated pieces are non-functional wall-hanging wheel thrown beads in black and white. It is exciting to be able to continue to grow and change in my work.