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Trip2Japan

Ceramics, Sushi and Sightseeing!

Ceramics, Sushi and Sightseeing!Ceramics, Sushi and Sightseeing!

Sheri Leigh O'Connor

Curriculum Vitae

10112 Columbine Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 775.741.7437 | SheriLeigh@Trip2Japan.com Trip2Japan.com  sherileighceramics.com 


Sheri Leigh O’Connor

Education 

1986               Claremont Graduate University       Claremont, CA 

  Masters of Fine Arts  Professors: Paul Soldner and David Furman 


1984               University of Colorado           Boulder, CO

 Bachelors of Fine Arts  Professors: Betty Woodman and Anne Currier


Sole Proprietor Trip2Japan LLC

2021 – Present

Tour Coordinator

Plan and guide tours of Japan – “Ceramics, Sushi, and Sightseeing” since 2014

·  Traveled to Japan over 30 times, traveled extensively all over the country.

·  Know many contacts in Japan: Tour Guides, Potters, Artists, and Friends that assist with tours.

·  Plan tours including hotel accommodations, transportation within Japan, museum visits, and plan workshops in a variety of traditional and contemporary Japanese arts.

·  Graphic design: website, brochures, cards, magnets, and stickers.

·  Advertising, attend NCECA and CCACA ceramic conferences, network with private groups and schools.


Teaching Experience  

1997 – 2021       

Sierra Nevada University  (formerly Sierra Nevada College) Incline Village, Nevada 

Chair – Fine Arts Dept. since 2008, Full Professor, Summer Visiting Artist Workshops Director  

•  Managed and directed five full-time and seven adjunct art and performing arts faculty 

•  Developed curriculum, programs, workshops, and events 

•  Planned agenda and lead departmental meetings 

•  Created scheduling for Fine Arts courses 

•  Managed budgets for department and workshop program 

•  Created purchase requisitions and check requests 

•  Performed academic advising  

•  Was responsible for creating summer workshops program, invited nationally and internationally known artists to teach at SNU 

•  Oversaw the Continuing Education classes in Ceramics and Art

•  Strategized recruitment for art department students and workshop attendees

•  Gathered web site content, created workshop’s web sites, oversee advertising, and brochures  

•  Taught all levels of ceramics – throwing, handbuilding, glaze formulation 

•  Oversaw Holman Arts and Media Center facilities, equipment, supplies 

•  Ordered departmental supplies and equipment, maintained inventory 

•  Chaired Core Curriculum Committee, and served on numerous committees

•  Conducted travel courses to Japan with students and workshop participants 

•  Established partnership with Bunsei University of Art in Utsunomiya, Japan 


1997 – 1998         

Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NV 

 •   Fine Arts Instructor - Taught: ART100 Visual Foundations and ART110 Art Appreciation


1988 - 1997          

Aims Community College Greeley, CO 

Instructor

·  Ceramics, Glaze Formulation, Kiln Building, Sculpture and Art Appreciation 

Academic Advisor in Advising Core 

 •   Advised in all disciplines, trained in developmental advising, and career counseling 


1986-1988        

Denver Free University Denver, CO 

Ceramics Instructor  

 •   Taught adult handbuilding courses


1988           

Boulder Community School Boulder, CO 

Instructor 

•  Taught adult handbuilding courses


1985-1986           

Pitzer College  Claremont, CA 

•  Teaching Assistant for David Furman, Ceramics 


Exhibitions 

2024

·  "Got Ya, Gacha" Kura Gallery, Odawara, Japan

2023

·  Visiting Artists Exhibition UNR Tahoe

2022

·  “Watcha Got Cookin’” Depot Gallery, Sparks, NV – Curated exhibition

·  “Tap Roots” Epperson Gallery, Crockett, CA (in conjuction with NCECA)

·  “Tap Roots” Arts Benecia, CA

·  “Fluxed” Sierra Nevada University, Incline Village, NV

2021

·  “Dia de los Muertos Show” Depot Gallery, Sparks, NV

·  “Propelling Nevada: Communities, Heritage, Education & Economy Through the Arts” Reno Tahoe International Airport 

·  “Common Ground: Artists of Northern California” Sonoma Community Center – NCECA Planning Committee Sacramento 2022 Invitational. Featured in 2021 NCECA virtual conference.

2020

•  “Collective Perspectives” Garage Door Gallery - Faculty Exhibition - Sierra Nevada University

2019 

•  “Revolt” Nevada Fine Arts Gallery, Reno, NV 

2018

•  “Touching the Third Rail” Sierra Arts Gallery, Reno, NV

2017 

•  “Dear President”, South Bay Contemporary at the Loft, Los Angeles, CA, printed catalogue 

•  “My Body, Your Body” Sierra Arts Gallery, Reno, NV 

2016 

•  “33  Whole, Phantasmagoria, Duality” Sierra Arts, Reno, NV 

•  “Passing the Baton II” CA Ceramic Educators - Ridley Gallery, Sierra College, Rocklin, CA •   “Gun Show” Pet Shop Gallery, Omaha, NE 

•  “50 Women – A Celebration of Women’s Contributions to Ceramics” NCECA exhibition for NCECA’s 50th, American Jazz Museum, Kansas City, MO 

•  Exhibition at R Mets hotel, Utsunomiya Station, Utsunomiya, Japan 

2015

•  “Passing the Baton” California Ceramic Educators – Ridley Gallery, Sierra College, Rocklin, CA 

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, Sierra Nevada College 

2014 

•  “Status Update” Reno Art Works, Reno, NV 

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, SNC 

2013 

•  “Pink & Blue” Ein MailArtProjekt der Gleichstellungsstelle der Stadt Paderborn, Germany 

•  “Artists for a Shore Cause” Jupiter, FL 

•  “A Night of Utopian Gestures” Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA 

•  “Free: A Utopian Project”, Pro Arts, Oakland, CA 

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, SNC 

2012 

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, SNC 

•  ScanCeram – Scandinavian Ceramics Conference, Hjorring, Denmark 2011 

•  “Salvagery Show” Hobson Gallery SNC Students, Alumni, and Faculty Exhibition, Reno, NV 

•  “Doceo Argilla: Ceramic Educators of California” at Gallery 212, Sonoma Community Center, in conjunction with the Association of Clay and Glass Artists (ACGA)  Sonoma, CA 

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, SNC 

•  “Top That” Wedding Cake Topper Exhibition, M T Burton Gallery, Surf City, NJ 

•  The “Soldner Society” The Heights Trolley Barn, in conjunction with NCECA Tampa, FL. Conceived and curated exhibition.

2010 

•  Sierra Nevada College Ceramics Exhibition, Northstar, CA in conjunction with “A New Decade of Clay: 2010” 

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, SNC 

•  “For Roland” 300 CGU Alumni, Bunny Gunner Gallery, Claremont, CA 

2009 

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, SNC 

•  SNC Faculty Show, Reference Gallery, Prim Library, SNC 

2008 

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, SNC 

2007 

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, SNC

2006

•  “Artouring Exhibition” Metro Gallery, Reno, NV  in conjunction with Artown

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, SNC

•  “Art 4 Auction”, Nevada Art Museum, Reno, NV

•  “Contemporary Clay 2006”, Juried/Invitational, The Art Center, Grand Junction, CO 

2005 

•  Clay Times Magazine  NCECA Show, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD

•  SNC faculty exhibition, Tahoe Gallery

2004 

•  “Standing Room Only”, 60th Scripps Invitational, Scripps College, Claremont, CA 

2003 

•  “Visions In Clay 2003” University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA Juried by John Toki & Suzanne Baizerman 

•  Faculty exhibition at Sierra Nevada College – “Small Guitar” 

2002 

•  Workshop Presenter’s exhibition, Toki Gallery, Leslie’s Ceramics, Berkeley, CA 

•  “Sculptural Diversity” North Tahoe Art Center, Tahoe City, CA 

•  “Horsans” Two Person exhibition with Marc Lancet, Tahoe Gallery, Sierra Nevada College 

2001 

•  “Sense of Wonder” Vista Gallery, Tahoe Vista, CA

2000 

•  Three Person Exhibition, Vista Gallery, Tahoe Vista, CA

•  Sierra Nevada College Faculty Exhibition

1999 

•  Group Ceramics Exhibit, Solomon Dubnick Gallery, Sacramento, CA

•  "Tri-Art III" Invitational/Juried exhibition of three dimensional art, Las Vegas, NV

•  "Douglas Taylor and Artists of the Vista Gallery" WNCC, Carson City, NV Ongoing exhibit, (and represented by) the Vista Gallery, Tahoe Vista, CA

1998 

•  Summer Visiting Artists Exhibition, Tahoe Gallery, SNC, Incline Village, NV

•  "Hot Summer Mud" First Place North Tahoe Art Center, Tahoe City, CA

•  Group Exhibition, Vista Gallery, Tahoe Vista, CA 1997 

•  "Colorado Teaches Clay" Roundtree Art Center, Denver, CO 

•  Featured Artist, Jean Wilson Gallery, Fort Collins, CO 

•  "National Art Mart", Greeley, CO 1996 

•  Denver Zip 802.."  Denver Univ., Univ. of Colorado, Denver Juror: Dr. Donald Kuspit 

•  "National Art Mart"  Greeley, CO  Awarded Honorable Mention

•  "Cache of Clay" Ceramic Invitational  Tointon Gallery, Greeley, CO  

•  "Group Exhibition", Howell Cole Gallery,  Denver, CO 

•  "Welcome to My Garden" Invitational Show Madison and Main Gallery, Greeley, CO 

1995 

•  "10th Annual San Angelo National Ceramic Competition"  San Angelo,  Texas 

•  "Clay Cup V"  National Traveling Exhibit,  Univ. of Southern Illinois, Carbondale, IL    

•  "Colorado State Fair Fine Arts Exhibit"  Pueblo, CO  Meritorious Award  

•  "National Art Mart"  Greeley,  CO  Awarded  Silver Award

•  "Colorado Clay"  Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO Juror, David Shaner, Montana 

•  "Louisville Fine Arts Exhibit"  Louisville, CO 

•  "Holiday Hues"  Invitational Show,  Republic Plaza,  Denver, CO 

•  "Winners Show"  Core New Art Space  Denver, CO 1994 

•  "Form and Function"  Core New Art Space, Denver, CO Awarded  Best of Show   

•  "Colorado Art Open"  Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO 

•  "Colorado State Fair Fine Art Show"  Pueblo, CO  Juror,  Christopher Staley, PA 

•  "National Art Mart" Greeley, CO  Awarded Honorable Mention

•  "Giving, Receiving, Seasonal Joys",  Sandy Carson Gallery,  Denver, CO  

•  "Get Back"  Kohn Turner Gallery,  Los Angeles, CA 

•  "Dinosaurs, Dragons, and Dinnerware",  Madison and Main Gallery, Greeley, CO 

1993 

•  "Annual Juried Holiday Show"  Business of Art Center,  Manitou Springs,  CO 

•  "Colorado Art Educators Show"  Arapahoe Community College,  Littleton,  CO 

•  "Year of the American Craft" CO State Fair, Pueblo, CO Honorable Mention

•  "Louisville Arts Festival Fine Art Show"  Louisville, CO 

•  "Eve's Idea of Art" 1st Annual Women's Show, Hildebrandt Gallery, Littleton, CO • "Aims Art Faculty Show" Tointon Gallery,  Greeley,  CO 

1990  

•  "W.O.W.  Wide Open Whatever Show"  Core New Art Space, Denver, CO 

1987 

•  "Colorado Artists Craftsmen"  Foothills Gallery, Golden, CO 

•  "American Craft Show",  Carson Sapiro Gallery,  Denver, CO 

1986 

•  "A.R.T.  National Claybox Show"  Elk Grove, IL 

•  "Clay Forte"  Galeria Mesa, Mesa, AZ    

•  Group Show  Doolittle Theater,  Hollywood, CA 

•  Los Angeles Design Center,  Mark Krasne,  Los Angeles, CA 

•  "24 Artists Travel"  Cal-State Fullerton,  Fullerton, CA 


Accomplishments 

2016

•  “Distinguished Advising Award” Sierra Nevada College 

2015 

•  Created partnership between SNC Tahoe and Bunsei University of Art in Utsunomiya, Japan

•  Developed and conducted winter travel course “The Sights and Slopes of Japan” 

2014 

•  “Pugposium II” Which was a celebration of ceramics in the Sierras with Peter Pugger Pugmills and Clay Planet.  

2013 

•  Created travel courses to Japan at SNC during “Inspection Tour”. Visited contacts and government officials in Japan.  

2012 

•  Co-Chaperoned SNC student class, and lectured at TNNUA, Tainan National University for the 

Arts in Tainan, Taiwan 

2011 

•  Curated the “Soldner Society” honoring Paul Soldner and his former students, The Heights Trolley Barn, in conjunction with NCECA Tampa. Featured in spring 2011 issue of Clay Times magazine. Designed and published “Soldner Society” web site. •   Juried the Skutt “Peep Show” at NCECA, Tampa, FL

2010 

•  Conceived and coordinated “A New Decade of Clay: 2010” national juried ceramics show – Richard Shaw – juror. Featured in Clay Times fall 2010 issue with pull-out poster  

•  Ad for Peter Pugger Pugmills, featuring SNC’s summer workshop with Mattie Leeds in Ceramics Monthly magazine and NCECA program guide  

2009 

•  Conceived of and coordinated “Pugposium” at SNC with Peter Pugger and Clay Planet 

2006 

•  Distinguished Service Award SNC for work on the Ad Hoc Curriculum Committee that established the Core Curriculum

2004 

•  Featured with students at SNC in ad for Pacifica Pottery Wheels, by Laguna 

 Ad appeared in April Ceramics Monthly and May/June Clay Times 

2002 

•  May -  Distinguished Achievement Award for Sierra Nevada College 

•  Judged “Splendor of the Sierra” Fine Art and Crafts show at Northstar, CA  2000 

•  Received the “Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award” at Sierra Nevada College’s Fall Convocation Ceremony

•  Featured on Creative Industries Pottery Wheel Poster, received free CI wheel 

1998 

Won Skutt kiln for SNC’s studio for ad concept “King Skutt” featured on back cover of Ceramics  Monthly, Clay Times, and full page ad in Arts and Activities and School Arts 

1997 

•  Received  “Excellence in Teaching for Adjunct Faculty” Award, Aims Community College, Greeley, CO

•  Discussion Group Leader at NCECA Conference, Las Vegas, NV 


Workshop Teaching Experience and Visiting Artist Lectures: 

2023

·  Beginning Wheel Throwing Workshop - UNR July 2023

2019 

•  “Ceramics, Sushi, and Sightseeing in Japan” travel workshop in Japan - May

2018 

•  “Ceramics, Sushi, and Sightseeing in Japan” travel workshop in Japan – October •   “Ceramics, Sushi, and Sightseeing in Japan” travel workshop in Japan - May

2017 

•  “Sheri’s Glaze Kitchen” Lecture at Lake Tahoe Community College

•  “Ceramics, Sushi, and Sightseeing in Japan” travel workshop in Japan

2016 

•  “Ceramics, Sushi, and Sightseeing in Japan” travel workshop in Japan

2015 

•  “The Art of Japan” travel workshop, Japan

2014 

•  May – College of the Redwoods, “Sheri’s Glaze Kitchen” Lecture  

2012 

•  September - Presented Sheri’s Glaze Kitchen lecture at “ScanCeram” (Scandinavian Ceramics) conference at the University College Nordjylland, Hjorring, Denmark 

•  May – TNNUA T’ai-Nan University of the Arts, Taiwan, lecture and demonstration 

2011 

•  November - Sonora Art Studios Workshop program in Tuscon, AZ “Sheri’s Glaze Kitchen” 

•  May - Lecture at Vendsyssel Kunstmuseum, (Vendsyssell Art Museum), in Hjorring, Denmark 

2008 

•  January – Visiting Artist Lecture on “Cruisin’ for Clay” cruise by Clay Times magazine 

2005

•  April - Cal State East Bay, Hayward, CA – “Precise Slab Constructions”

2004 

•  September – Ceramic Arts Road Show & Symposium, Riverside, CA  

Presented two sessions and showed sculptures in showroom. 

•  May – High Fire and Raku workshop, Sierra Nevada College (SNC)    

2003 

•  November – “Precise Slab Constructions” - Aardvark Clay, Santa Ana, CA 

•  Lectured at Santa Ana College, Art Forum. Santa Ana, CA 

•  Lectured to Ventura Potter’s Guild, Ventura, CA 

•  April – Mendocino Art Center, CA, Work pictured on cover of brochure 

•  May – High Fire and Raku workshop, SNC 

2002 

•  September - Cal State Northridge for the American Ceramics Society  

•  October - Solano Community College, CA  

•  November – Leslie’s Ceramics, Berkeley, CA   

•  May - High Fire Glaze workshop at SNC 

•  February - “Slab Workshop” Cedar Valley College, Dallas TX  

2001 

•  August - “Precise Slab Constructions” FireArt Clayworks Orangevale, CA  

•  May - High Fire Glaze and Raku workshop, Sierra Nevada College 2000 

•  Sonoma State University, Sonoma, CA 

1999 

•  Dodge Lane Potters Group in Sonora, CA 

•  Glaze Formulation Workshop, Summer Visiting Artist Workshops, Sierra Nevada College 

1997 

•  Handbuilding Workshop at City of Fort Collins, CO Pottery Program

1995 

•  Workshop, "Precise Slab Constructions" Arvada Center, Arvada, CO  


Travel Experience 

Visited art museums, galleries, temples, castles, and ceramic facilities worldwide including:  the Andaman Islands, Australia, Bali, Belgium, the Caribbean, Cambodia, China, Columbia S.A., Denmark, France, Germany, Hawaii, Holland, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Norway, Palau, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Taiwan, and the UK. 

Travel Specialty: Japan

·  Have planned and guided trips for students and the public to Japan since 2014. 

·  

Publications 

·  Dear President, An Art Show About Important American Issues by South Bay Contemporary catalogue 

·  Black Pearl and Other Saturated Metallic Glazes, 2010, by John Conrad 2010 Pgs. 105, 178 

·  Ceramic Sculpture: Inspiring Techniques, 2009, American Ceramics Society, edited by Anderson Turner Pgs. 89-95 

·  O’Connor, Tish (no relation) and Brenda Johnson Grau, Editors. Standing Room Only: 2004 

Scripps 60th Ceramic Annual Santa Barbara: Perpetua Press, 2004: pgs. 100, 111

·  “A Cultural Tour of Pottery Through Japan” Clay Times spring/summer 2018 

·  “Art for Action” April, 2017, Moon Shine Ink

·  “Kentucky Fired Gun Control” Spring/Summer issue Clay Times 2016 

·  “College Try” Reno News and Review, June 16, 2016 Work pictured 

·  “Sheri’s Glaze Kitchen” fall issue of Clay Times 2012

·  “Soldner Society” pgs. 18,19 spring issue of Clay Times 2011

·  “A New Decade of Clay” fall issue of Clay Times 2010

·  “Studio Tips from the Sierra Nevada Workshop Pros” Sept./Oct. Clay Times 2009

·  Clay Times 2008

·  “We Got Nailed (but still made pots!)” Clay Times July/August 2006 

·  “Avant-Gard Tahoe” Tahoe Quarterly Holiday Issue 2005. Six page full color article about Sierra Nevada College art faculty. 

·  Work pictured in “Standing Room Only: Scripps 60th Ceramic Annual” Clay Times

   May/June 2004

·  “Sierra Nevada College – A Small Time School with Big-Time Pottery Workshops”  

   Clay Times May June 2003

·  “Sheri Leigh”  Ceramics Monthly  5 pages, full color, April 2002

·  North Tahoe Truckee This Week, July 26, 2000  

·  Artifacts, Summer 2000 issue, work pictured 

·  North Shore Truckee Action, work pictured 6/00

·  North Shore Truckee Action, work pictured July 19 – 25, 2000 

·  Action Paper, 6/13/99 North Lake Tahoe, Article on Summer Art Workshops 

·  Tahoe Bonanza 7/98 “Faces”  

·  Rocky Mtn. News 3/31/95,  Review of “Colorado Clay”, Work pictured. 

·  Greeley Tribune 9/26/96, "Artist Sculpts Her Busy Life into Beauty Life"  

·  The Mirror 9/20/96.  Review of "Cache of Clay"  

·  Fort Collins Coloradoan 6/21/97


Private Collections 

·  Fred Marer Collection – Scripps College, Claremont, CA 

·  Louise Rosenfield, Dallas, TX 

·  Wayne Prim, Palm Desert, CA 


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