Vitae
Tyra Forker
tyraforker [at] gmail.com
269.759.9752
Education
2008> Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI). Kansas City, Missouri.
Bachelor’s of Fine Art, Ceramics & Art History
2006> Dreaming in Magyar. KCAI summer travel abroad program at the International Ceramics Studio. Kecskemet, Hungary.
2003-2004> Lake Michigan College (LMC). Dual Enrollment Student. Benton Harbor, Michigan
Solo & Duo Exhibitions
2007> Sensual Artifacts. Tyra Forker & Samantha Persons. KCAI Crossroads Gallery. Kansas City, Missouri
2004> Both Feet In: A Solo Ceramics Exhibition.
The Architecture Resource Center, Andrews University. Berrien Springs, Michigan
2003>One Potter, One Day. The Whistle Stop. Union Pier, Michigan
Group Exhibitions
2009> Drink Up! Ceramic Cup Invitational. Armory Art Center. West Palm Beach, Florida
2009> Faculty Exhibition. Armory Art Center. West Pam Beach, Florida
2009> UrbanSuburban 2009. Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom. Overland Park, Kansas
2009> KCAI Then & Now. Red Star Studios. Kansas City, Missouri
2009> Cream & Sugar. Carbondale Clay Center. Carbondale, Colorado
2008> UrbanSuburban 2008. Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom. Overland Park, Kansas
2008> A Show of Cups. Guest Curated by Lynn Smiser Bowers. Red Star Studios. Kansas City, Missouri
2008> Ceramics BFA Exhibtion. Stern Ceramics Building, KCAI, Kansas City, Missouri
2008> Cabinet Curiouso. Stern Ceramics Building, KCAI, Kansas City Missouri (Selections from the Ken Ferguson Teaching Collection, curated by Calder Kamin, Julie Malen & Ryan Fletcher)
2008> Annual BFA Exhibition. H&R Block Art Space, Kansas City, Missouri
2008> Ahead of the Need, an invitational to benefit the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, Curated by Lana Wilson & Anthony Schaller. Hosted online at Charlie Cummings Gallery (www.claylink.com)
2008>10 Year Anniversary Show. Red Star Studios. Kansas City, Missouri
2008> Tyra Forker, Gabriel Reed & Brock DeBoer. Epstein Gallery at Village Shalom. Overland Park, Kansas
2008> January Exhibition. Arts Incubator. Kansas City, MIssouri
2007> Recent Ceramics. The Cross Gallery, Leedy-Voulkos Art Center. Kansas City, Missouri
2007> Bicycle Art Show. Momo Gallery. Kansas City, Missouri
2007> Dreaming in Magyar:Study Abroad in Hungary. juried. Jannes Library. Kansas City Art Institute. Kansas City, Missouri
2007-05> Fall Exhibition. juried. Stern Ceramics Building. Kansas City Art Institute. Kansas City, Missouri.
2007-5> Spring Exhibition. juried. Stern Ceramics Building. Kansas City Art Institute. Kansas City, Missouri.
2006> Kiln Formed Glass. juried. Stern Ceramics Building. Kansas City Art Institute. Kansas City, Missouri.
2006> KCAI Ceramic Department at Central College. juried. Mills Gallery. Central College. Pella, Iowa.
2005> Word As Subject. The Dolphin. (window display) Kansas City, Missouri
2004> Facades. Vanderslice Hall. Kansas City Art Institute. Kansas City, Missouri
2004> Studio 7 Xerography. H&R Block Art Space. Kansas City, Missouri
2004> Two Potters: Tyra Forker & Michelle Schaller. Form. St. Joseph, Michigan
Exhibitions Curated
2008> Dynamic Ceramic Duos: Couples Who Share a Love of Clay. Red Star Studios. Kansas City, Missouri (co-curated)
2007> Fresh Hands. Red Star Studios. Kansas City, Missouri (co-curated)
2007> Through the Ages. Selections from the Ken Ferguson Teaching Collections. Stern Ceramics Building, KCAI. Kansas City Missouri
2007> L’Internationale. Selections from the Ken Ferguson Teaching Collections. Stern Ceramics Building, KCAI. Kansas City Missouri
2007> Simply Cylinders. Selections from the Ken Ferguson Teaching Collections. Stern Ceramics Building, KCAI. Kansas City Missouri
2007> Dreaming in Magyar: Study Abroad in Hungary, Summer 2006. Jannes Library, Kansas City, Missouri. (co-curated)
2006> Another 60′s Revolutions, Design Symposium. (with ceramic works from the Ken Ferguson Teaching Collection) Vanderslice Hall, KCAI, Kansas City, Missouri
Experience
2010-Present> Contract Sculptor. West Palm Beach, Florida
2009-2010> Resident Artist & Instructor. Armory Art Center. West Palm Beach, Florida
2008-2009> Resident Artist & Assistant to John Glick. Plum Tree Pottery. Farmington Hills, Michigan
Sharing in all aspects of running a studio; assisting with placing clay orders, preparing and mixing clay, enduring puns and off beat humor, planning studio events, loading and maintaining kilns, helping clients in the studio’s showroom, eating rice pudding, packing work for shipping, etc…
2007-2008> Gallery Manager. Red Star Studios Ceramic Center. Kansas City, Missouri
Responsibilities included all activities involved in running a ceramics gallery; such as researching for future shows, curating exhibitions, installing and de-installing shows, writing press releases, inventorying artworks, packing & shipping, updating artist files, designing exhibition post cards, writing quarterly newsletter, coordinating class offerings, updating website, helping customers, working with artists, email to promote events at the studios, giving tours of the studio to high school classes and small groups, and regular gallery maintenance.
Assisted Christa Assad in teaching beginning throwing to Sophomore level ceramics majors.
2008> Blogger. KCAI Ceramics Department, Kansas City, Missouri
Managed and updated blog with current events happening in and around the Kansas City Art Institute’s ceramics department. (www.kcaiceramics.wordpress.com)
2007> Intern. Easy Ceramic Decals & The Matter Factory. Kansas City, Kansas
Involved in many aspects of production in the studio. Focused on operating hydraulic ram press, slip casting, glaze testing, and applying decals. Created videos demonstrating how to apply decals for (www.easyceramicdecals.com)
2007> Technician Assistant. KCAI Ceramics Department. Kansas City, Missouri
Assisted Studio Technician in various aspects of maintaining the Ceramics Department facility. Included inventorying, ordering and restocking clay and glaze material, basic electric kiln maintenance, and dismantling updraft gas kiln.
2006-2007> Studio Assistant. Cary Esser. Kansas City, Missouri.
Assisted in private studio: made models for molds, press molded tiles, designed patterns on digital programs, and applied finishes and glaze to ceramic pieces.
2005-2007> Assistant to the Ken Ferguson Teaching Collection. KCAI. Kansas City, Missouri
Organized, cataloged, and cared for ceramic works. Used archival labeling system to label new acquisitions. Photographed works for permanent records and teaching devices. Curated exhibitions with pieces from the collection.
2006> Imaging Services Department Intern. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Kansas City, Missouri
Organized and filed images of pieces in collection. Cross-referenced images of pieces stored off site to the museum’s collection database. Cataloged the Hallmark Photography Collection.
Publications
2008> Peterson, Phil. “Bold & Beautiful.” Urban Times. Vol. 2, No. 5 (June 2008 ) : 64 (image only)
2008> Maynard, Colleen. “Reviews, Sensual Artifacts.” Review #99, Vol. 10, No. 4 (February 2008 ) : 38-39
2007> Gale, Gloria. “The Next Generation.” Kansas City Homes & Gardens. (Nov 2007) (image only)
2007> Packham, Chis. “Art Exhibition Reviews.” The Pitch Weekly. 27, no.18 (Nov 8-14, 2007) : 25
2007> KCAI. 2007-2008 View Book. (October 2007) : 32, 34-35, 76 (Featured Student)
2007> KCAI. 2006-2007 President’s Report. (July 2007) : 39 (image only)
Awards and Honors
2004-2008 > Competitive Scholarship. Kansas City Art Institute. Kansas City, Missouri
2007> McKeown Special Project Award Grant Recipient. KCAI Ceramics Department. Received fully funded research based travel grant to visit the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, & Reproduction at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
2005-2008> Dean’s List. Kansas City Art Institute. Kansas City, Missouri
2004> Top Twelve Applicant. Kansas City Art Institute. Kansas City, Missouri
2004> Open Studio Guest. WNIT Public Television. Mishawaka, Indiana
Arts Volunteering
March 2008> Cup Sale Volunteer. 42nd Annual NCECA Conference. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2006-2007> Docent. Belger Arts Center. Kansas City, Missouri
2004> Southwest Michigan Symphony League Ceramic Sale. St. Joseph, Michigan
2003> Annual Art Pottery Sale. Lake Michigan College. Benton Harbor, Michigan
2002-2003> Children’s Tent Activities Teacher. Art Fair on the Bluff. Krasl Art Center. St. Joseph, Michigan
2002> Set Designer. Twin City Players. Stevensville, Michigan
Related Experience
2008> Demonstrator, Artist on Site program. Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom. Sponsored by the Kansas City Jewish Museum. Overland Park, Kansas
2007> National Council on Education for the Ceramics Arts (NCECA). Old Currents/New Blends: A Distillation of Art and Geography. March 14-17, 2007. Louisville, Kentucky. Student representative for the Kansas City Art Institute Ceramics Department. (Exhibitor’s Booth)
2006> Demonstrator for the KCAI Ceramics department for prospective students. Kansas City, Missouri
