First Award from ACC Foundation Ceramics Endowment to
Fund Student's Development of Unique Glazes

An example of one of Amelia Marlowe's crystalline-glazed works.

(November 17, 2007 - Littleton, Colo.) The advisory committee to the Arapahoe Community College Foundation's McKinnell Endowment Fund for ceramics students has selected ACC student and Golden-based ceramicist Amelia Marlowe to receive its first-ever monetary award. The $500 award will fund a research and development project Marlowe is undertaking to develop unique crystalline glazes using three rare earth elements in combination with other colorants. Marlowe will share the art and findings that come out of this large scope project with the faculty and students of ACC's Ceramics Program.

ACC's Ceramics Program established the McKinnell Endowment Fund to finance grants and scholarships for ceramics students. The endowment is named for James and Nan McKinnell, internationally renowned ceramists and long-time residents of Colorado. The Fund was established to assist students with school expense, professional development fees and special projects such as exhibitions, residencies, assistantships or related activities.

Marlowe is a second career artist. She was originally educated as an Electrical Engineer and began gaining experience making and studying the art of functional pottery in 1972. From 1979 to 1999 she took a two-decade break from the art and began pursuing it again in 2000. During her hiatus, she worked a few years in Louviers, Colorado as a mining company laboratory technician. It was there she developed an interest in rare earth elements that are similar to those she will be using in her project. She became an ACC Ceramics student in 2004 where she is continuing to hone her craft.

"My primary goal is to produce functional pottery, which is pleasing to the eye and touch, and to promote functional pottery as an art form beyond the concept of a simple craft," explains Marlowe regarding the philosophy she is applying to her project. She adds, "I hope the examinations I undertake via this project will help me and future ceramicists to understand the effects rare earth elements have on crystalline glazes."

James and Nan McKinnell worked as potters and teachers for more than 50 years. They have traveled to and taught at some of the finest schools in the US and abroad. Many of their students have gone on to become the most significant artists and teachers of ceramics in the country. Their works have been published numerous times in books, magazines and journals such as Ceramics Monthly, Studio Potter and American Craft.

The final results of Marlowe's project will be shown at ACC's Jansen Gallery so the results may be shared with other students and faculty. "Considering the scope of this project," explains Marlowe, "a tentative show date may be in the fall of 2008."

Marlowe currently has crystalline work at the Foothills Art Center in Golden and at the Shadow Mountain Gallery in Golden. Both these shows go through Christmas. Marlowe will also have crystalline work in ACC's Clay and Jewelry Club Holiday Sale, in the College's Main Building, 5900 South Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, November 27 and 28 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information about the McKinnell Endowment Fund contact Kathy Holt, Ceramics Program Head at 303.797.5948 or kathy.holt@arapahoe.edu. To make a contribution to the endowment contact ACC Foundation Executive Director Courtney Snowberger at courtney.snowberger@arapahoe.edu.

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