By Dean Poling
VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University art instructor Michael Schmidt continues to reveal the talents of the university’s ceramics department with this weekend’s Eighth Annual Christmas/Holiday Ceramics Sale.
The sale is scheduled to feature ceramic mugs, bowls, pitchers, jars, vases, plates, platters and more designed by Schmidt, Casey Fowler, Niki Patriarca, Abbie Preston, and others.
A portion of the sale’s proceeds will benefit VSU Ceramics’ Visiting Artist Fund, which allows the art department to host artists. Past visiting artists include Ryan Fitzer, Southern Methodist University; Suzannah Zucker, University of Georgia; Brad Schweiger, University of Ohio; Chuck Johnson, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; Stephen Heywood, University of North Florida; Brian Jensen, Utah Valley University; Shane Christensen, Dixie State College, Utah; Brooke Cassidy, Charleston, S.C.; Jasey Allen Jones, University of Georgia; and Mark Knott.
Since arriving at VSU, Schmidt has worked to increase the public’s awareness of the university’s ceramics program, with events such as the ceramics sales, while strengthening the curriculum through the visiting artist program and other endeavors.
Schmidt and some of his ceramics students have also donated their time and talents to America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia’s annual Empty Bowls fund-raisers.
