Clear as Mud: A South Texas Ceramic Showdown

Participants will see clay demonstrations by nationally recognized and distinguished ceramicists Kirk Mangus and Billy Ritter.

Mangus earned his Master of Fine Arts from Washington State University. He has been the Head of Ceramics at Kent State University since 1985 and has taught at numerous institutions including the Cleveland Institute of Art, Cranbrook Academy of Art and the University of Georgia Athens Cortona, Italy Program.

Ritter earned his Master of Fine Arts from Kent State University. He currently works as a Ceramics Instructor/Ceramic Lab Technician at the Art House Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio and as a Ceramics Instructor at the Orange Art Center in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to continue with our annual Ceramics Showdown and maintain the presentations from established ceramic artists while hosting an institutional invitational exhibit as well," said Chris Leonard, STC ceramics instructor and exhibit/workshop organizer. “In addition, we are lucky to have a pair of Ohio artists, Kirk Mangus and Billy Ritter, with their own stories and wrinkles pertaining to collaboration, and their own connections to people and places in the Rio Grande Valley. Like many ceramic artists, their work also tells stories, and the work itself, the work ethic and attitudes that formed the work along with Kirk and Billy’s stories and experience will be another shot in the arm for Valley students.”?

South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.