About Us
Studio
Order
About Sol Pottery
Sol Pottery Studio and Gallery was founded in 1998 by Martha Sullivan, a full-time potter and instructor.

Education
Masters of Science in Architecture in Industrial Design
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, December 2006

Minor in Art History
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, May 2004

Bachelors of Science in Geology with a concentration in Geochemistry
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, May 1996

Workshops
Altered Pots
with Marcia Bugg, June 2005
Introduction to Flameworking with Jennie Baxter, June 2005
Blacksmithing for the Home and Garden with Paul Garrett, July 2005
The Jacksonville Center for the Arts in Floyd, Virginia

Teapot Dissection with Ah Leon as a Work Study Student, July 2003
Penland School of Crafts in Penland, North Carolina

Cold Modeling with Jeffery Mongrain, June 2007
Lidded Vessels with Mary Law, June 2003
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine

Kiln Building with Tracy Dotson, May 2001
The Energy Exchange in Spruce Pine, North Carolina

Utilitarian Pots with Leah Leitson, May 2001
Wood Firing with Peter Rose as a Work Study Student, August 2000
Raku Firing with Obie Clark as a Work Study Student, September 2000
Basic Pottery with Marcia Bugg, February 1998
John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina

back to top

Employment
Board of Directors, Jacksonville Center for the Arts
June 2005 to current in Floyd, Virginia: serving as Secretary, Chair of the Education Committeee, and Marketing Coordinator for a non-profit community arts organization. Other committee work includes Personnel, Development, and 'Round the Mountain.  

Retail Sales Clerk at the Matrix Gallery
August 2005 to May 2007 in Blacksburg, Virginia: sales, receiving inventory, office assistance.

Studio Assistant for Hunt Prothro
spring of 2001, 2002, and 2003 in Rhoresville, Maryland: pottery apprenticeship, application of surface decoration, studio maintenance.

Studio Assistant for Silvie Granatelli
July 1999 to August 2000 in Floyd, Virginia: pottery apprenticeship, slip casting, preparing drape molds, glaze mixing, studio maintenance, packing and shipping, office assistance.

Slip Casting Assistant for Davin Butterfield
October to December 1999 in Floyd, Virginia: pottery apprenticeship, slip casting.

Greenhouse Manager and Lab Assistant at CropTech
August 1996 to September 1998 in Blacksburg, Virginia: providing care for research plants from incubator to greenhouse, preparing sterilized growth media, greenhouse maintenance, and lab maintenance.

back to top

Instruction
Graduate Teaching Assistant at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va.
Design Related Media/ Materials and Processes January 2005 to May 2006: demonstrations in handbuilding, wheelthrowing, slipcasting, and glazing clay objects, clay preparation, loading and firing student work, studio maintenance.
Inside Architecture, June 2005, 2006, and 2007: a weeklong workshop teaching architecture and design to high school students.

Workshop Instructor at the Jacksonville Center for the Arts in Floyd, Virginia.
Wheel Thrown Pottery, July 2005, August 2006, June 2007: instructing a weeklong workshop of the theories and technics behind functional pottery made on the wheel.

Workshop Instructor at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina
Fundamentals of Function in May 2002, October 2003, October 2004, and December 2005: instructing a weeklong workshop of the theories and technics behind functional pottery made on the wheel.
Understanding Pottery in July 2006 and July 2007: instructing a weeklong workshop of basic pottery skills to an inter-generational class.

Workshop Instructor at the Roswell Visual Arts Center in Roswell, Georgia
Pit Firing in August 2004: instructing a weekend workshop on building and firing a pit fired kiln for clay objects.

Studio Assistant at Penland School of Crafts in Penland, North Carolina: aiding instructor and facilitating student experience, glaze mixing, loading and firing student work, studio maintenance.
Functional and Sculptural Pottery with Cynthia Bringle and Tom Suomalainen, July 2004
Models and Mold-making with Dan Mehlman, June 2006

Faculty Assistant at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee: aiding instructor and facilitating student experience, glaze mixing, loading and firing student work, studio maintenance.
Figurative Sculpture with Louise Radachowski April 2005
Expressing the Figure in Clay with Debra Fritts, April 2004
Ornately Functional: Form and Surface with Kristen Kieffer, March 2004
Handmade Tiles with Kate Inskeep, March 2004
Sculptural Transformations with Tre Arenz, April 2003
Pots from Bisque Molds with Lisa Orr, July 2002
Porcelain Pots for the Table with Silvie Granatelli, March 2002

Instructor Assistant at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina: aiding instructor and facilitating student experience, glaze mixing, loading and firing student work, studio maintenance.
Handbuilding with Judy Robkin, October 2004
Functional Pottery with Suze Lindsey, January 2002
Basic Pottery with Marcia Bugg, February 2001

back to top

Exhibition
Industrial Design at the XYZ, student exhibit at the XYZ Gallery, March, 2006
Annual Instructors' Exhibit at The Jacksonville Center for the Arts, March 2005 & May 2006
The Art of Furniture at The Jacksonville Center for the Arts, June & July 2004
Floyd Artists Exhibit, at The Jacksonville Center for the Arts, August 2004
Clay at the XYZ, solo pottery exhibit at the XYZ Gallery, October 2003
Numerous local and regional art festivals and shows

back to top

Honors
Student Initiated Research Grant, September 2006, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
GianninotoGraduate Scholarship, July 2006, Industrial Designers Society of America
Werner Graeff Memorial Book Award, April 2006, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Tau Sigma Delta National Honor Society for Architecture and Allied Arts, April 2006
Award of Distinction at Art in the Park, Danville, Virginia, May 1998

back to top  

Skills
Advanced skills in throwing, hand building, slip casting, glazing, and firing clay.
Proficient in model making, plaster mold making, woodworking, metalworking, and laser cutting.
Proficient in computer rendering in Cobalt and SolidWorks, working knowledge of AutoCad.
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe InDesign and the PC Platform.

back to top

Organizations
National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts, Industrial Design Society of America, Smithsonian Institute

back to top

Copyright 2002, Sol Pottery. Site designed by TSOD.

Home | Contact | Bookmark

Education
Workshops
Employment
Instruction
Exhibition
Honors
Skills
Organizations
  

Martha Sullivan

Martha Sullivan
1750 Moore Road
Floyd, Virginia 24091
(540)745-6203
martha@solpottery.com

 

Class with Cynthia Bringle

Class with Debra Fritts

Class with Kristen Kieffer

Class with Kate Inskeep

Fundamentals of Function 2004

  Handbuilding with Judy Robkin

  Pit Fire Workshop

 

 

 

 

John C. Campbell 2003 Fundamentals of Function

John C. Campbell 2002 Fundamentals of Function

Class with Tre Arenz

Class with Lisa Orr

Class with Suze Lindsey

Class with Leah Leitson