Jeff Kirk Kira Kibler David Epstein Linda Johnson Mark Sistek
Rex Brown Antoinette Vionnet Joe Savage Catherine Sabatos Mike Friedman
Instructors
Jeff Kirk
Jeff Kirk teaches the Continuing Wheel classes for intermediate and advanced students. Jeff has been the director, full-time artist-in-residence, and ceramics instructor at Glen Echo Pottery since 1975. His teaching philosophy supports individual artistic development in all students. Jeff's artistic training includes study at the ceramics programs of Montgomery College and the Anderson Ranch in Colorado. His work has been exhibited in many local and national shows and received awards; it can be found in private collections in this country and Europe. His public commissions include a ceramic mural for the Amazonian Building at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washington, DC. Jeff has mounted over a dozen gallery exhibits at Glen Eco Park. Some have featured his own work, others were group shows he curated of work by instructors and advanced students. He has also juried ceramic art shows for other local organizations such as the Montgomery Potters, and the Scope Gallery of the Torpedo Factory.
Jeff Kirk teaches the Continuing Wheel classes for intermediate and advanced students. Jeff has been the director, full-time artist-in-residence, and ceramics instructor at Glen Echo Pottery since 1975. His teaching philosophy supports individual artistic development in all students. Jeff's artistic training includes study at the ceramics programs of Montgomery College and the Anderson Ranch in Colorado. His work has been exhibited in many local and national shows and received awards; it can be found in private collections in this country and Europe. His public commissions include a ceramic mural for the Amazonian Building at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washington, DC. Jeff has mounted over a dozen gallery exhibits at Glen Eco Park. Some have featured his own work, others were group shows he curated of work by instructors and advanced students. He has also juried ceramic art shows for other local organizations such as the Montgomery Potters, and the Scope Gallery of the Torpedo Factory.
Kira Kibler
Kira Kibler has been a hand building instructor at Glen Echo Pottery (GEP) since 2005, teaching beginner through advanced students. She has served as GEP Gallery Manager from 2010 to the present. Kira directed and juried “Hand Building – Explorations in Clay” at GEP in Fall 2011. She specializes in sculptural and coil-built work, and has exhibited in shows sponsored by the Creative Craft Council and Montgomery Potters. Kira taught ceramics and art courses at Frederick H.S., Frederick, MD from 1993-1996. She has an M.Ed in Art Education from George Washington University and a B.A. in Studio Art from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
Kira Kibler has been a hand building instructor at Glen Echo Pottery (GEP) since 2005, teaching beginner through advanced students. She has served as GEP Gallery Manager from 2010 to the present. Kira directed and juried “Hand Building – Explorations in Clay” at GEP in Fall 2011. She specializes in sculptural and coil-built work, and has exhibited in shows sponsored by the Creative Craft Council and Montgomery Potters. Kira taught ceramics and art courses at Frederick H.S., Frederick, MD from 1993-1996. She has an M.Ed in Art Education from George Washington University and a B.A. in Studio Art from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
Mark Sistek
Mark Sistek has been active at Glen Echo Pottery since 2004. Currently, he teaches hand building. Mark has worked as a ceramics instructor and artist for 35 years. He holds a BFA in Ceramics from the Cleveland Institute of Art and is currently on the faculty at George Mason University where he is the director of advising for adult individualized study, and teaches ceramics in the sculpture program. Previously, he served as Director of Admissions for the Corcoran School of Art and Design. Specializing in sculptural concepts, Mark has recently completed a large public sculpture for the City of Fairfax and George Mason University and is currently working on a major public sculpture project for the City of Alexandria. Over the past 5 years, Mark has also completed visiting artist workshops with the DC Public Schools, the Freer & Sackler Museum, and Sidwell Friends School.
Mark Sistek has been active at Glen Echo Pottery since 2004. Currently, he teaches hand building. Mark has worked as a ceramics instructor and artist for 35 years. He holds a BFA in Ceramics from the Cleveland Institute of Art and is currently on the faculty at George Mason University where he is the director of advising for adult individualized study, and teaches ceramics in the sculpture program. Previously, he served as Director of Admissions for the Corcoran School of Art and Design. Specializing in sculptural concepts, Mark has recently completed a large public sculpture for the City of Fairfax and George Mason University and is currently working on a major public sculpture project for the City of Alexandria. Over the past 5 years, Mark has also completed visiting artist workshops with the DC Public Schools, the Freer & Sackler Museum, and Sidwell Friends School.
Rexford Brown
Rex Brown was introduced to ceramics while an art student in college. He was one of the original staff members of the Glen Echo Pottery in the early 1970s before leaving to attain a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. During the 1980s Rex worked as a studio artist, as well as giving occasional workshops and lecturing on historical Japanese and contemporary American ceramics. From 1992 to 2005 he served as an Adjunct Faculty in the Ceramics Department of the Corcoran College of Art in Washington D.C. His works, both thrown and sculptural, have been included in numerous exhibitions over the years and are included in private collections all over the country.
Rex Brown was introduced to ceramics while an art student in college. He was one of the original staff members of the Glen Echo Pottery in the early 1970s before leaving to attain a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. During the 1980s Rex worked as a studio artist, as well as giving occasional workshops and lecturing on historical Japanese and contemporary American ceramics. From 1992 to 2005 he served as an Adjunct Faculty in the Ceramics Department of the Corcoran College of Art in Washington D.C. His works, both thrown and sculptural, have been included in numerous exhibitions over the years and are included in private collections all over the country.
Linda Johnson
Linda Johnson teaches the Teen Wheel (ages 11-17) classes after school and during the summer. She has taught basic pottery wheel techniques to middle and high school students at Glen Echo Pottery since 1989. Linda states, "I'm constantly amazed and inspired by the creativity of the young adults."
Linda Johnson teaches the Teen Wheel (ages 11-17) classes after school and during the summer. She has taught basic pottery wheel techniques to middle and high school students at Glen Echo Pottery since 1989. Linda states, "I'm constantly amazed and inspired by the creativity of the young adults."
David Epstein
David Epstein is the main instructor for the Monday night beginning wheel class and also teaches classes in handbuilding. David started pottery at age five; it has truly been a life-long involvement with ceramics for him. For many years, he studied with Vally Possony of Falls Church, VA. In recent years, he has taken master workshops at well known crafts schools such as the Archie Bray (Montana), Arrowmont (Tennessee), Anderson Ranch (Colorado), and La Meridiana (Tuscany, Italy). He has exhibited with Montgomery Potters and received their "best bowl" award. At Glen Echo, in additional to teaching, David assists with loading the kilns and helped build the soda kiln, among many other contributions.
David Epstein is the main instructor for the Monday night beginning wheel class and also teaches classes in handbuilding. David started pottery at age five; it has truly been a life-long involvement with ceramics for him. For many years, he studied with Vally Possony of Falls Church, VA. In recent years, he has taken master workshops at well known crafts schools such as the Archie Bray (Montana), Arrowmont (Tennessee), Anderson Ranch (Colorado), and La Meridiana (Tuscany, Italy). He has exhibited with Montgomery Potters and received their "best bowl" award. At Glen Echo, in additional to teaching, David assists with loading the kilns and helped build the soda kiln, among many other contributions.
Antoinette Vionnet
Antoinette Vionnet serves as Instructor for the pottery summer campers and assists in the Teen Wheel classes during the school year. In Fall, 2017 Antoinette will lead the adult Handbuilding class while Mark Sistek is on sabbatical leave. Antoinette has been at Glen Echo Pottery for over 20 years. Her exceptional wheel thrown and hand built pieces have been highlighted in a number of pottery shows in the Popcorn Gallery.
Antoinette Vionnet serves as Instructor for the pottery summer campers and assists in the Teen Wheel classes during the school year. In Fall, 2017 Antoinette will lead the adult Handbuilding class while Mark Sistek is on sabbatical leave. Antoinette has been at Glen Echo Pottery for over 20 years. Her exceptional wheel thrown and hand built pieces have been highlighted in a number of pottery shows in the Popcorn Gallery.
Assistant Instructors
Catherine Sabatos
Catherine assists Jeff Kirk with the Saturday morning Continuing Wheel class, providing individualized instructions that is especially helpful to pottery students transitioning in from the Beginning Wheel class or from other potteries.
Catherine assists Jeff Kirk with the Saturday morning Continuing Wheel class, providing individualized instructions that is especially helpful to pottery students transitioning in from the Beginning Wheel class or from other potteries.
Joe Savage
Joe also assists Jeff with the Saturday morning wheel class. Working together, Catherine and Joe provide individualized help to support students' development of intermediate skills
Joe also assists Jeff with the Saturday morning wheel class. Working together, Catherine and Joe provide individualized help to support students' development of intermediate skills
Mike Friedman
Mike assists David Epstein in teaching the Monday night Beginning Wheel class. A self-proclaimed "recovering lawyer", Mike came to pottery after an initial foray in the art of metal sculpture that he studied at the Corcoran. He joined Glen Echo Pottery in 2012.
Mike assists David Epstein in teaching the Monday night Beginning Wheel class. A self-proclaimed "recovering lawyer", Mike came to pottery after an initial foray in the art of metal sculpture that he studied at the Corcoran. He joined Glen Echo Pottery in 2012.
