April's Featured Artists and News
Maggie Siner and Dan Finnegan listed below
New pots from Chris Cooley and many more artisans to see at the gallery or online
Reminder - Spring/Fall classes are posted, be sure to register
April 2014 Featured Artists
DAN FINNEGAN
Dan Finnegan made his first pot on the wheel more than 40 years ago. He studied pottery at two more universities before making his way to the Winchcombe Pottery in Gloucestershire, England. As part of Ray Finch's pottery crew there he assisted in the production of wood-fired 'domestic ware' inspired by Michael Cardew, it's founder.
He returned to the U.S. and set up his first studio in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1980. Since then Dan has made tens of thousands of useful stoneware pots, most of them sold directly from his studio. For many years he worked in the heart of the historic district and sold his work directly from his studio to friends, neighbors and visitors. In 2001 Dan founded, financed and built an art center in a vacant hardware store on the edge of the historic district. Today, LibertyTown Arts Workshop is home to fifty artists, a pottery school and gallery.
His work is included in a number of collections, museums and publications in the US and UK. It is available at LibertyTown and several other galleries and shows around the country as well as through his online shop. He has authored several articles and writes a popular blog about life as a working potter.
Dan has been a teacher for many years. He has trained a number of potters in his own studio and taught a popular class at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia. He often teaches workshops around the country and overseas..
In 2012 he co-founded a new show in Washington, DC. "Pottery on the Hill" is a group of 15 nationally recognized potters selling work in an elegant civil war-era cultural center in the heart of the nation's capital. In 2013 he sold the art center and now works in a studio deep in the woods next to his 2 chamber wood-fired kiln outside of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
He returned to the U.S. and set up his first studio in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1980. Since then Dan has made tens of thousands of useful stoneware pots, most of them sold directly from his studio. For many years he worked in the heart of the historic district and sold his work directly from his studio to friends, neighbors and visitors. In 2001 Dan founded, financed and built an art center in a vacant hardware store on the edge of the historic district. Today, LibertyTown Arts Workshop is home to fifty artists, a pottery school and gallery.
His work is included in a number of collections, museums and publications in the US and UK. It is available at LibertyTown and several other galleries and shows around the country as well as through his online shop. He has authored several articles and writes a popular blog about life as a working potter.
Dan has been a teacher for many years. He has trained a number of potters in his own studio and taught a popular class at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia. He often teaches workshops around the country and overseas..
In 2012 he co-founded a new show in Washington, DC. "Pottery on the Hill" is a group of 15 nationally recognized potters selling work in an elegant civil war-era cultural center in the heart of the nation's capital. In 2013 he sold the art center and now works in a studio deep in the woods next to his 2 chamber wood-fired kiln outside of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
MAGGIE SINER
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Siner began her studies at the Art Students
League of New York in 1968, graduated from Boston University (BFA) in 1973 and
American University (MFA) in 1976. She has lived for extended periods in France, China
and Italy. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums for over 30 years and is
in hundreds of collections around the world.
Siner’s work is classically derived yet contemporary. Working exclusively from life,
she is one of a diminishing number of artists who use direct visual perception to translate
the human experience. Her subject matter could be anything from the commonplace to
the bizarre. Figures are touching, powerful and alive, still-lives are anything but still and
any small corner of nature becomes important from her rendering of it.
Siner is also a devoted teacher who has influenced a generation of painters. She
has been on the faculty of l’Institute d’Universités Américaines and Lacoste School of Art in
France (Cleveland Institute of Art), a visiting professor at Xiamen University in China, artistin-
residence at Savannah College of Art and Design, Dean of Faculty at the Washington
Studio School and teaches master classes around the country. She is a frequent guest artist
and public speaker.
In 1976 Siner moved to France, taught painting and art history and exhibited in Aix-en-Provence and Paris. She also studied medicine at the Faculté de Médicine. In the 1980’s she taught anatomy at Georgetown Medical School and completed facial
reconstructions for law enforcement. She is well known for her expertise in artistic anatomy and human movement, evident in her figurative sculpture. In 1991 she lectured in the six major art academies in China, and spent a year teaching at Xiamen University. Since 2008 she has been in Venice, enamored of that city’s ever-changing surfaces.
League of New York in 1968, graduated from Boston University (BFA) in 1973 and
American University (MFA) in 1976. She has lived for extended periods in France, China
and Italy. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums for over 30 years and is
in hundreds of collections around the world.
Siner’s work is classically derived yet contemporary. Working exclusively from life,
she is one of a diminishing number of artists who use direct visual perception to translate
the human experience. Her subject matter could be anything from the commonplace to
the bizarre. Figures are touching, powerful and alive, still-lives are anything but still and
any small corner of nature becomes important from her rendering of it.
Siner is also a devoted teacher who has influenced a generation of painters. She
has been on the faculty of l’Institute d’Universités Américaines and Lacoste School of Art in
France (Cleveland Institute of Art), a visiting professor at Xiamen University in China, artistin-
residence at Savannah College of Art and Design, Dean of Faculty at the Washington
Studio School and teaches master classes around the country. She is a frequent guest artist
and public speaker.
In 1976 Siner moved to France, taught painting and art history and exhibited in Aix-en-Provence and Paris. She also studied medicine at the Faculté de Médicine. In the 1980’s she taught anatomy at Georgetown Medical School and completed facial
reconstructions for law enforcement. She is well known for her expertise in artistic anatomy and human movement, evident in her figurative sculpture. In 1991 she lectured in the six major art academies in China, and spent a year teaching at Xiamen University. Since 2008 she has been in Venice, enamored of that city’s ever-changing surfaces.
What's New At The Cooley Gallery
We are excited to announce the gallery is now offering fine art classes that are starting in March 2014
CHRIS COOLEY'S ART IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE
Chris has been painting since his college days as an art major at Utah State. Although, the last few years he has focused more on his
pottery experiences, he always missed painting. While his first firings were accomplished in an
electric kiln, he moved to a home made raku kiln and then a wood firing
kiln. Chris now uses a propane fire kiln which has become the major method for his most recent
firings. In the past year he has worked on his paintings and commissioned pieces in his home studio. Chris, along with other artist, hosts the Canvas and Cork Events at the gallery and has a very easy way to get the students to complete works of art. The dollar bill piece is available online or at The Gallery be sure to ask what the backstory to this painting is.
http://thecooleygallery.mybigcommerce.com/
http://thecooleygallery.mybigcommerce.com/
Chris Cooley Pottery and Paintings
New pots and paintings by Chris Cooley will be available at the First Friday event. http://thecooleygallery.mybigcommerce.com/chris-cooley-pottery/
We also have a wide variety of other artisans from paintings, pottery, jewelry, woodworking etc.
If time is a problem, please be sure to visit our online store and we can ship the item directly to you. http://thecooleygallery.mybigcommerce.com/
We also have a wide variety of other artisans from paintings, pottery, jewelry, woodworking etc.
If time is a problem, please be sure to visit our online store and we can ship the item directly to you. http://thecooleygallery.mybigcommerce.com/
LAWS Event
A big thank you for everyone's participation in our first, Cups for a Cause, charitable event for LAWS. It was a huge success for all involved and a great appreciation for all the community support!
For private appointments beyond normal business hours, please call
703-779-4639
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12 S. King Street. Leesburg, VA 20175
703.779.4639
Gallery Hours
Wednesday 12-5pm
Thursday through Saturday 11-6pm
Sunday 12-4pm
703.779.4639
Gallery Hours
Wednesday 12-5pm
Thursday through Saturday 11-6pm
Sunday 12-4pm
