The 2020 ICAN T-shirt Design Contest
results are in: It's a tie!
The ICAN members have voted….and there were a lot of votes! But two designs in particular seemed to be neck and neck for most of the voting. For the first time in the history of the contest, we have to declare a tie! The winning design's starting
from the left are: Clay in Many Languages, which was created by ICAN member Michael Vorisek, and Potter At The Wheel, which was created by ICAN member Lee Middleman. Michael and Lee will receive notoriety, two free T-shirts,
and a FREE ICAN Gold membership for one year! Congratulations to Michael and Lee!
Michael Vorisek's Biography: Michael graduated from Edinboro University of PA with a bachelor’s degree in art education, and then continued to concentrate in ceramics at the graduate level
in succeeding years. He served in the US Army Reserves and just recently finished a 30-year career as a fine art, ceramics, design, and photography teacher at the high school level. He has a keen interest in wildlife, ecology, and conservation.
For 10 years he was a coach for high school Envirothon competitions. Together with his wife Maureen they practice a sustainable lifestyle on a 160-year old farmstead in rural Western PA. They have raised 4 amazing children- a writer, a
mechanical engineer, an electrician, and a future educator. Mike divides his time between building his pottery business (Back Thirty Pottery), his wife and kids, and continually maintaining their land and old timber-frame house. Recently
his work was selected for the Charlie Cummings Gallery shows: Summer is Served, and The Intimate Object XVI. To learn more about Michael, visit his website here.
Instagram: @michaelavorisek @back30pottery
Lee Middleman's Biography: Lee Middleman creates highly textured, organic surfaces on classic ceramic forms. Although functional, his work is often prized as decorative. His work has been chosen for numerous national and international juried shows and exhibitions.
Museums in China, Japan, Korea, Greece, Turkey, Slovenia, India and the United States have selected his work for their permanent collections. He combines his ceramic career with his strong interest in Asian cultures by accepting invitations to
artist-in-residences or festivals in Asia each year. In 2019, Lee visited both China and Taiwan for symposiums and workshops. For 2021, he has been invited to ceramic events in Japan and China. Lee’s studio and gallery are located
in Portola Valley, California near San Francisco. Lee is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics, Geneva, Switzerland. Lee is Past-President of the Association of Clay and Glass Artists. He is a founding member and the North
American chairman of the International Ceramic Artists Association. He holds a PhD in Physics from Stanford University and BA in Physics from Johns Hopkins University. To learn more about Lee, visit his website here. Congratulations to the winners!
2019 ICAN T-Shirt Contest winning design:
The winning design was created by ICAN member Michael Vorisek. Congratulations to Michael!
Meet the winner...
Biography: With my wife of 29 years, I homestead a 30-acre plot of Penn’s woods, and together we have raised 4 amazing kids. I graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Art Education, and this year will mark my 30th year teaching
fine art, graphic design, photography, and ceramics at the high-school level. I received my introduction to ceramics at Edinboro under the guidance of the renowned ceramic artist Steve Kemenyffy. I am currently building a portfolio of my work,
making decorative functional ceramics at my home studio in anticipation of an early retirement and the next phase of my life...as a maker. To learn more about Michael, visit his website here.
2018 ICAN T-Shirt Contest winning design:
2018 ICAN T-Shirt Contest: The winning design was created by ICAN member Kelli Sabin. Congratulations to Kelli!
Click on the t-shirt to see a larger image.
Meet the winner:Biography: Illustrative and sometimes whimsical animal drawings best describe the work of Kelli Johnson Sabin. Being raised in an artistic family, having a mother who taught ceramics, and growing up on a farm in northern Illinois all greatly influenced
her work. Kelli’s parents encouraged her and provided opportunities for her to explore various media beginning at a young age. Although graphite with watercolor, oils on canvas, and handbuilding clay are her favorites, she can be
found enjoying ink, fiber, and mixed media also. Kelli has won numerous awards and her work can be found in many private and corporate collections. After earning a BFA from Rockford University and having a professional art career that
has spanned nearly 30 years, Kelli now teaches Studio Art and Ceramics I & II at the high school level. She is excited to encourage, promote, and foster creativity in the next generation of artists while still having the opportunity
to be artistic herself.
The winning T-shirt is on sale on the Ceramic Arts Network Shop page!
The 2020 ICAN T-shirt Design Contest results are in: It's a tie!
The ICAN members have voted….and there were a lot of votes! But two designs in particular seemed to be neck and neck for most of the voting. For the first time in the history of the contest, we have to declare a tie! The winning design's starting from the left are: Clay in Many Languages, which was created by ICAN member Michael Vorisek, and Potter At The Wheel, which was created by ICAN member Lee Middleman. Michael and Lee will receive notoriety, two free T-shirts, and a FREE ICAN Gold membership for one year! Congratulations to Michael and Lee!
This promotion and all accompanying materials are copyright © 2020 by The American Ceramic Society. All rights reserved. These designs and wording may not be reproduced or distributed, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of The American Ceramic Society.
Meet the winners...
Michael Vorisek's Biography:
Michael graduated from Edinboro University of PA with a bachelor’s degree in art education, and then continued to concentrate in ceramics at the graduate level in succeeding years. He served in the US Army Reserves and just recently finished a 30-year career as a fine art, ceramics, design, and photography teacher at the high school level. He has a keen interest in wildlife, ecology, and conservation. For 10 years he was a coach for high school Envirothon competitions. Together with his wife Maureen they practice a sustainable lifestyle on a 160-year old farmstead in rural Western PA. They have raised 4 amazing children- a writer, a mechanical engineer, an electrician, and a future educator. Mike divides his time between building his pottery business (Back Thirty Pottery), his wife and kids, and continually maintaining their land and old timber-frame house. Recently his work was selected for the Charlie Cummings Gallery shows: Summer is Served, and The Intimate Object XVI. To learn more about Michael, visit his website here. Instagram: @michaelavorisek @back30pottery
Lee Middleman's Biography:
Lee Middleman creates highly textured, organic surfaces on classic ceramic forms. Although functional, his work is often prized as decorative. His work has been chosen for numerous national and international juried shows and exhibitions. Museums in China, Japan, Korea, Greece, Turkey, Slovenia, India and the United States have selected his work for their permanent collections. He combines his ceramic career with his strong interest in Asian cultures by accepting invitations to artist-in-residences or festivals in Asia each year. In 2019, Lee visited both China and Taiwan for symposiums and workshops. For 2021, he has been invited to ceramic events in Japan and China. Lee’s studio and gallery are located in Portola Valley, California near San Francisco. Lee is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics, Geneva, Switzerland. Lee is Past-President of the Association of Clay and Glass Artists. He is a founding member and the North American chairman of the International Ceramic Artists Association. He holds a PhD in Physics from Stanford University and BA in Physics from Johns Hopkins University. To learn more about Lee, visit his website here. Congratulations to the winners!
2019 ICAN T-Shirt Contest winning design:
The winning design was created by ICAN member Michael Vorisek. Congratulations to Michael!
Meet the winner...
Biography:
With my wife of 29 years, I homestead a 30-acre plot of Penn’s woods, and together we have raised 4 amazing kids. I graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Art Education, and this year will mark my 30th year teaching fine art, graphic design, photography, and ceramics at the high-school level. I received my introduction to ceramics at Edinboro under the guidance of the renowned ceramic artist Steve Kemenyffy. I am currently building a portfolio of my work, making decorative functional ceramics at my home studio in anticipation of an early retirement and the next phase of my life...as a maker. To learn more about Michael, visit his website here.
2018 ICAN T-Shirt Contest winning design:
2018 ICAN T-Shirt Contest: The winning design was created by ICAN member Kelli Sabin. Congratulations to Kelli!
Click on the t-shirt to see a larger image.
Meet the winner:
Biography:
Illustrative and sometimes whimsical animal drawings best describe the work of Kelli Johnson Sabin. Being raised in an artistic family, having a mother who taught ceramics, and growing up on a farm in northern Illinois all greatly influenced her work. Kelli’s parents encouraged her and provided opportunities for her to explore various media beginning at a young age. Although graphite with watercolor, oils on canvas, and handbuilding clay are her favorites, she can be found enjoying ink, fiber, and mixed media also. Kelli has won numerous awards and her work can be found in many private and corporate collections. After earning a BFA from Rockford University and having a professional art career that has spanned nearly 30 years, Kelli now teaches Studio Art and Ceramics I & II at the high school level. She is excited to encourage, promote, and foster creativity in the next generation of artists while still having the opportunity to be artistic herself.
The winning T-shirt is on sale on the Ceramic Arts Network Shop page!
To purchase ICAN t-shirts, just click here.