My pieces are about surface and texture. Making impressed designs in soft clay gives the same delight now as it did thousands of years ago.  This work is high-fired stoneware in a gas kiln, which affects the glazes in many ways and gives an extra dimension to the surface. My aim is to make work which is functional, beautiful, and affordable.

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Contact Bette Drake at 216-251-3878 or by email at Betteclev@aol.com

Education

BFA Cleveland Institute of Art 1965 Major: Ceramics Minor: Painting
MFA Tulane University 1968 Major: Ceramics Graduate Assistant 1966 - 68
Travel and Study in Japan, November 1975 thru February 1976

Experience

• 1989 to present, self-employed ceramic studio artist producing ceramics for sale through studio, craft fairs, galleries and exhibitions
• Former Associate Professor of Art, Cuyahoga Community College, Metro Campus; continue to teach at Clayworks in Cleveland Heights.
• Made a series of instructional videos in college TV studios
• Ttraveled in Europe during Sabbatical year
• Taught at the Cincinnati Art Academy and Thomas More College, Ft. Mitchell Ky.
• Ohio Arts Council Residency 1974-75 East Liverpool, Ohio, City Schools

Honors and Awards

• 2006 - Jurors Merit Award, All-Ohio All-Media Art Competition, Coburn Gallery, Ashland University
• 2005 - served as juror, Lakewood Arts Fest
• 2005 - Honorable Mention, Akron Art Expo

Selected exhibitions

• Third Cleveland Biennial Juried Exhibition, Cleveland State University, 2005
• "Objects of Comfort and Utility: Northeast Ohio Ceramic Artists 1950-2000” Beck Center for the Arts, 2000
• “Drawn Together” Cleveland Institute of Art Alumni Juried Exhibition 1999
• “Strictly Functional” National Juried Market House Craft Center, Ephrata Pa., April 1996
• Ohio Designer Craftsmen Exhibitions including “The Best of ‘91, ‘88, ‘87, ‘84”; Focus Northern Ohio 1985, 1984
• “Great Plates of Ohio”, Invitational, Cleveland State University Art Gallery 1993 and other “Plates and Platters” exhibitons
• Ohio Crafts Invitational, The Mansfield Art Center 1989
• “Functional Ceramics ‘89” Wayne Center for the Arts, Wooster, Ohio, April 1989
• Cleveland Museum of Art, May Shows, 1987, 1983
Full list available on request.

Collections

• Holy Spirit Catholic Church
• Thomas More College
• Ceramics Monthly Magazine

Work may be seen at:
Eye Candy Gallery, Tremont, Cleveland
Elements Gallery in Peninsula, Ohio
Grovewood Gallery in Ashville, NC
and at her Walton Avenue Studio by appointment

Studio:
3619 Walton Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-961-8118