MC art exhibit features ceramics artist James WatkinsFebruary 01, 2022

Midland College’s McCormick Gallery is currently featuring the works of James Watkins.  Exhibit runs through February 11.  Today and tomorrow, February 1-2, Mr. Watkins will be offering demonstrations at the following times:

Tuesday, February 1
10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
1:00-3:45 p.m.
6:00-8:45 p.m.

Wednesday, February 2
10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
1:00-3:45 p.m.

Also on Wednesday, February 2, 6:00-7:00 p.m., join the MC Art Department for a special presentation featuring Mr. Watkins in Room 138 of the Allison Fine Arts Building  Reception to follow in McCormick Gallery from 7:00-8:30 p.m.  The public is invited to all of these FREE events.

McCormick Gallery is located in the Allison Fine Arts Building on the main Midland College campus, 3600 N. Garfield in Midland.  Gallery hours are 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Friday.  Admission is free.

Watkins was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1951 and raised in a farming family in Athens, Alabama. He currently lives in Lubbock, TX and is a Texas Tech University, Paul Whitfield Horn Professor Emeritus.  He is known for his large-scale double-walled ceramic vessels and laser cut porcelain substrate tiles. 

His work is held in 21 permanent collections, including the White House Collection of American Crafts at the Clinton Library in Little Rock, AK, the Shigaraki Institute of Ceramic Studies in Shigaraki, Japan, the Everson Museum in Syracuse, NY, the Tweed Museum in Duluth, MN, and the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, IN. Watkins’ work has been widely exhibited in 40 solo exhibitions and 164 group exhibitions.

Watkins is the author of the self-published book, Reflections Made of Memories. He is also the co- author of three books, Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques published by Sterling Publishing, Niedrigbrand published by Hanusch/Verlag Publications—the German translation of Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques, and Architectural Delineation: Presentation Techniques and Projects published by Kendall Hunt Publishing. His work is the subject of a book entitled A Meditation of Fire: The Art of James C. Watkins by Kippra D. Hopper published by Texas Tech University Press. Watkins has written numerous articles for national and international magazines, including Ceramics Monthly, Studio Potter, New Ceramics: The European Ceramics Magazine, and China Ceramic Artist. He received his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and MFA from Indiana University.