Artist Registry
Donna Rizzo
Contact information
lawriz@aol.com
www.donnarizzo.com
Artist statement
After dancing all my life, I turned to clay. I credit all my years of dancing, choreographing, performing and teaching creative movement for children and adults as my foundation for ideas and designs in my clay. By changing a dance studio for a clay one, I continue to choreograph but in another medium. Most of my pieces move in one way or another- from rocking horse tea pots to flickering sculptural churches . I also like for them to tell stories. My pieces are either hand built or thrown and altered depending on the subject or its use. I use earthenware clay that can be low or high fired in an electric or raku kiln.
Resume / bio
Donna Rizzo is a well known dancer, choreographer and former co- director of the TN Dance Theatre, an innovative company that performed throughout the United States and abroad. In recognition of her contributions in the field of dance, Donna received a Tennessee Arts Commission Individual Artist Award and the Governor’s Award in the Arts. Donna now works full time as a studio clay artist, infusing her creations with energy and spirit she once expressed through dance.
Mostly figurative, her work is hand built and/or thrown and altered, then fired in a raku or electric kiln. Donna learned many techniques in clay from studying with Lena Lucas, Ron Meyers, Harry Hearne and Timothy Weber. She exhibits her work nationally through arts and crafts shows and galleries. In Nashville, her work can be seen at the Arts Company, Atelier,and the Lequire Gallery. Donna is on permanent display at the Tennessee Arts Commission and her Rocking Horse Teapot received an honorary mention in the Biannual “Best of Tennessee Craft Show” at the State Museum.
Education
- Studied with Lena Lucas, Ron Meyers, Harry Hearn, Timothy Weber, and Linda Arbuckle.
Exhibitions
- The Arts Company, Nashville TN
- Madison Art Center, Madison TN
- Sisters, Centenial Art Center, Nashville TN, 2002
Awards and achievements
- Best of Tennessee 2004, Tennessee Association of Craft Artists Biennial, Tennessee State Museum, Nashville TN, Honorable Mention
- Margret Martin Lifetime Achievement in Dance, Tennesse Association of Dance, 2002 - shared with Andrew Krichels
- Governor's Distinguished Artist Award, State of Tennessee, 2001
Professional affiliations
- Tennessee Association of Craft Artists (TACA)
(Information last updated: 14 July 2008)
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