Jack Charney
Artist Statement
Jack's art reflects not only the spirit found at home in New Mexico, but also the tastes of international adventure. Growing up in a military family, Jack spent much of his childhood traveling all over the world, including eight years in Europe. And he hasn't stopped since - a practice he feels informs his artwork. When he was 17, his family settled in Florida and Jack discovered an interest in clay. Declining an opportunity to graduate high school a year early, in his senior year he concentrated on art classes. "It provided me with focus," Jack says. "I realized this was what I wanted to spend my life doing."
Jack studied at Antioch College, where he traveled for two years in South America, learning basic techniques he still uses from potters from San Miguel Allende and Ecuador. After graduating with degrees in Art, Latin American studies, and a secondary teacher certification, Jack taught at a school in Vermont where students hiked, traveled out west, and went winter camping in Canada and Maine. Jack next traveled to Europe, the Middle East, North Africa. He was there for two years, intending to take a third to travel down the Congo River, but an accident in Egypt brought this plan to a halt. He was badly injured.
Upon gaining back his health and a new lease on life, Jack returned to the US, where he created his hand formed, unique hand-painted pottery and put himself through graduate school at the University of Washington at Seattle.
Recent trips have included visits to Burma, Peru, Chile, and France, where Jack explored pottery villages, hiked and sought new inspiration.
Jack studied at Antioch College, where he traveled for two years in South America, learning basic techniques he still uses from potters from San Miguel Allende and Ecuador. After graduating with degrees in Art, Latin American studies, and a secondary teacher certification, Jack taught at a school in Vermont where students hiked, traveled out west, and went winter camping in Canada and Maine. Jack next traveled to Europe, the Middle East, North Africa. He was there for two years, intending to take a third to travel down the Congo River, but an accident in Egypt brought this plan to a halt. He was badly injured.
Upon gaining back his health and a new lease on life, Jack returned to the US, where he created his hand formed, unique hand-painted pottery and put himself through graduate school at the University of Washington at Seattle.
Recent trips have included visits to Burma, Peru, Chile, and France, where Jack explored pottery villages, hiked and sought new inspiration.