Our next artist, a ceramics artist

Sherrie Zeitlin…

…earned her MFA in Clay in 1975 from ASU, and her BA in Clay and Fibers in 1972 at CSUN, in Northridge, California. She earned her Master Gardener certification in 1993 from U of A Extension, and is the executive director of the Art Resource Center. Sherrie maintains a clay studio in Phoenix, Arizona

My work continues to grow From the Garden infused with imagery of flowers, vegetables and fruit exemplifying all that flourishes in my gardens and through the seasons. I once exclaimed to a friend that my time was so fractured wanting to be in the studio but longing to dig in the soil.  She said that there was a lot of clay in that soil and that I should just give in to my desires and fulfill both pleasures.  So, I work in the clay whether in the studio or out in the garden.

Sixteen years ago when I became a Master Gardener, I also started back working in clay after an absence of over 20 years (I had a weaving studio making large scale woven constructions for the trade).  It seemed natural that as I learned about plants and started working in clay again that the two would mesh together.

The Art Resource Center is a nonprofit corporation 501 ( c ) 3 whose objectives are to collect reusable discards from individuals and industries and offer them free of charge to schools and other nonprofit entities for the purpose of making art. The ARC serves the community on an as needed basis providing materials and ideas to help facilitate dreams into works of art.

The ARC was incorporated in 2004 by Sherrie Zeitlin, a fiber and ceramic artist who has been working in the arts community for the past 30 years.  She has an MFA in clay from ASU and maintains a clay studio in the Phoenix Area.  Working as an Artist in the Schools, Sherrie completed over 50 residencies in the greater metropolitan Phoenix area working through the Arizona Commission on the Arts, The Phoenix Arts Commission and other funding sources to bring the arts and the making of art to thousands of children and adults.

It was during her years in the schools and community centers that the idea to collect and to give away supplies was generated.  The lack of materials and funds available initiated the structure by which THE ART RESOURCE CENTER wa founded.

By recycling art worthy materials for creative minds, it is the hope of THE ARC to fill the ever widening funding gap for the arts and provide quality materials to continue the passion that we call art.

To donate materials, secure materials for use or make a monetary donation please contact: Sherrie Zeitlin at ArtResourCenter@aol.com or call 602/828-1987.

Sherrie delivered her first works today and will be bringing more over the next week. You can see her work on the Second Floor of Bldg. 1. She will be joined in April by another local clay artist, and many ceramic educators attending a national convention.