Sandy Blain (American, 1941-2024), Three Sculptural Pottery Vessels

Contemporary hand-built ceramic with multicolor glazes and whimsical abstract patterned sculptural relief, each with incised potter's signature to the underside, the tallest vessel in footed vase form (19 3/4 in.); an elliptical three mouth vase (6 5/8 in.); and a mug (4 5/8 in.).
Proceeds to benefit the Carey G. Bringle Jr. Scholarship.

Being sold to benefit Penland School of Craft, Penland, North Carolina

Penland’s scholarship program exists to make their workshops accessible to those who are not able to participate without financial assistance and to create educational opportunities for people who have been underrepresented at Penland and in the craft world. Proceeds from this auction will help fund existing scholarships, with some proceeds designated towards specific scholarships as noted in the listings.

Sandra Jean Blain was a Professor Emeritus of Ceramics at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Director Emeritus at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Her background includes a BS in Art Education from Northern Illinois University, and an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She served on the Advisory Council of the Shemer Art Center, in Phoenix, and serves as a consultant to various national regional arts organizations.

As a practicing artist, her clay pieces have been seen in juried and invitational exhibitions throughout the country with reviews and photographs in media publications and catalogs. After moving to Arizona in 2004, Sandy set up a ceramic studio working with mid-range stoneware and emphasizing functional vessel forms. Her work is inspired by nature, architecture, and industrial objects. Utilizing handbuilt slab-construction techniques for the simplified forms and heavily marked / texture impressed surfaces, the combination is enhanced with multiple layers of sprayed glazes. Surface depth with subtle color variation help to convey a timeless expressive personal statement.



Good estate condition; some natural firing hairlines as made.