Jane Shellenbarger Headshot

Jane Shellenbarger

Ann Mowris Mulligan Endowed Professor

School for American Crafts
College of Art and Design
Undergraduate Program Director, Studio Arts
jmssac@rit.edu
585-475-7785
Office Location
Booth-2630

Jane Shellenbarger

Ann Mowris Mulligan Endowed Professor

School for American Crafts
College of Art and Design
Undergraduate Program Director, Studio Arts

Education

BFA, Kansas City Art Institute; MFA, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Bio

 Jane Shellenbarger received her B.F.A. degree from the Kansas City Art Institute, and her M.F.A. from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Following graduate school, she worked as a resident artist at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT, 1996-97. She established her studio pottery, Mill Station Pottery, in rural Michigan in 1997. Currently, she is an Associate Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology in the School for American Crafts. She has taught at Northern Michigan University, Kansas City Art Institute, the University of Northern Iowa, Penland School of Crafts, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. Jane has exhibited her work in several galleries around the country including; Leslie Ferrin Gallery, Lacoste Gallery, Lill Street, AKAR Gallery, Sante Fe Clay, Philadelphia Clay Studio, Red Lodge Clay Center, Baltimore Clayworks, and Schaller Gallery. Her work is in the public collections of the Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, The Weisman Art Museum, The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, The University Museum, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, University of Arkansas, San Bao Ceramic Art Institute, Jingdezhen, China, and Ohi Museum, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.


 

jmssac@rit.edu
585-475-7785
Personal Links
Personal Website
Curriculum Vitae
Areas of Expertise
Ceramics

Select Scholarship

Selected Invitational and Group Exhibitions

Upcoming 2026      Solo Exhibition, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge MT

2024     

Solo Exhibition, Convey and Compel, Schaller Gallery, Baroda,MI

Made From Clay, Ceramics Invitational, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY

Teapot X, Baltimore Clayworks, Invitational, Baltimore, MD

St. Croix Pottery Tour, Hosted by Linda Christianson, Lindstrom MN

Embracing Change, NCECA Exhibition, Richmond VA

Recent Visiting Artist and Lecture Invitations

2024     University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

2023     California State University Northridge, Northridge, CA

2021     Indiana Clay Conference, Panelist and Presenter, Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN

Recent  Publications

2022     Still Learning, Ceramics Monthly Masters Series, article by Susan McHenry

 Public Collections

2024     University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

2021     Rosenfeld Collection, Contemporary Functional Ceramic Art Collection

2019     Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN

2016     San Bao Ceramic Art Institute, Jingdezhen, China

2013     Ohi Museum, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

2010     San Angelo Museum of Fine Art

             University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR

1998     Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian                                               Institution, Washington, D.C.

 

 

Currently Teaching

CCER-206
Ceramic Sculptural Processes
3 Credits
This introductory course is designed to give the student an understanding of a variety of basic processes involved in creating hand-built ceramic objects, sculpture, and pottery vessels. There will be an emphasis on manipulating clay using forming techniques such as pinch, coil, solid, and slab building. Students will learn surface finishing processes such as textures and surface carving and decorating with slips, glaze applications, and gain a perspective on material science. The historical, cultural, and technical concerns of ceramics will be explored. These experiences will broaden the students' perspectives of ceramic art and its relationship to the larger world of art. **Fee: A materials fee is required for this course, and an additional course fee applied via student account**
CCER-211
Thrown Vessel Forms
3 Credits
This course will introduce the student to beginning wheel forming techniques used in the ideation and creation of utilitarian vessels. There will be a focus on form, function and surface development. Students will engage in a variety finishing processes for surface development as well as slip and glaze application. Students will gain an understanding of a variety of firing techniques, as well as an introduction to material science to better understand the properties clay and glaze composition. The historical, cultural, and technical concerns of ceramics will be explored. These experiences will broaden the students' perspectives of ceramic art and its relationship to the larger world of art. Students will be expected to research areas of interest within ceramic history.**Fee: A materials fee is required for this course, and an additional course fee applied via student account**
CCER-399
Ceramics Part-Time Co-op
0 Credits
Cooperative Education will provide ceramic students with hands-on experience in their field, directly related to a student’s major with an established studio or related business. Students will need to apply for co-ops, and interview as part of the selection process, based on available positions posted by the Co-op and Career Services Office, or found through the students’ own research. In programs where co-op is a degree requirement, students must obtain permission of their program or graduate director prior to enrollment. Co-ops are typically paid work experience, and can be part-time (150-479 total hours within the term), or full-time (480+ hours within the term). Co-ops may be one or two consecutive terms - fall, spring, or summer – with department permission.
CCER-498
Ceramics Undergraduate Internship
1 - 6 Credits
The Ceramics Internship will provide students with the option to work in the ceramics field. Students may apply for internships to businesses based on the availability of positions and business job needs. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Internship Permission Form to enroll. Registration with co-op and placement office also required.
CCER-499
Ceramics Co-op
0 Credits
Cooperative Education will provide Ceramic students with hands-on experience in their field, directly related to a student’s major with an established studio or related business. Students will need to apply for co-ops, and interview as part of the selection process, based on available positions posted by the Co-op and Career Services Office, or found through the students’ own research. In programs where co-op is a degree requirement, students must obtain permission of their program or graduate director prior to enrollment. Co-ops are typically paid work experience, and can be part-time (150-479 total hours within the term), or full-time (480+ hours within the term). Co-ops may be one or two consecutive terms - fall, spring, or summer – with department permission.
CCER-501
Ceramic Practice
3 Credits
Students will continue advanced research into their technical, aesthetic and conceptual understanding of ceramics. In this course, students create a proposal which will guide their research and practice. Working with faculty to explore individual directions, students will produce finished artwork for their senior capstone exhibition. **Fee: A materials fee is required for this course, and an additional course fee applied via student account**
CCER-502
Ceramics Senior II
3 Credits
This is the second of a two-semester course in which seniors will produce a project and must be able to offer evidence of qualification as a candidate for the baccalaureate degree to be approved by the faculty. The proposed body of work should develop self-expression and a personal direction in clay. The work should express the goals and ideas as well as the materials and processes that are stated in the proposal. Emphasis is on expression and technical foundation needed to establish the role of the body of work. The goal is to produce a coherent body of work of high standard which must be exhibited at a venue at the end of the school year. **Fee: There is a lab fee required for this course**
CCER-511
Ceramic Processes
3 Credits
Students will build upon their experience to further advance the technical, aesthetic and conceptual understanding of ceramic form and surface. This course will work from a set of prompts which will provide parameters for building individual bodies of work in a variety of different forming processes. Students will work from conceptual and contextual prompts to gain insight and build skills with advanced forming processes, surface investigation, idea development, and documentation. **Fee: A materials fee is required for this course, and an additional course fee applied via student account**
CCER-599
Ceramics Independent Study
1 - 6 Credits
Ceramics Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser will propose a course of study. Ceramics students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Form to enroll.
CCER-601
Ceramic Practice
3 Credits
This course will explore advanced aesthetics and techniques of ceramics. Course content is structured on the basis of the individual student’s needs, interests, and background preparation. There will be a strengthening of ceramics techniques, design fundamentals, and encouragement of personal expression. The student will be encouraged to evaluate new techniques, materials, and concepts. **Fee: A materials fee is required for this course, and an additional course fee applied via student account**
CCER-611
Ceramic Processes
3 Credits
Students will build upon their experience to further advance the technical, aesthetic and conceptual understanding of ceramic form and surface. This course will work from a set of prompts which will provide parameters for building individual bodies of work in a variety of different forming processes. Students will work from conceptual and contextual prompts to gain insight and build skills with advanced forming processes, surface investigation, idea development, and documentation. **Fee: A materials fee is required for this course, and an additional course fee applied via student account**
CCER-698
Ceramics Internship
1 - 6 Credits
The Ceramics Internship will provide students with the option to work in the ceramics field. Students may apply for internships to businesses based on the availability of positions and business job needs. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Internship Permission Form to enroll.
CCER-699
Ceramics Co-op
0 Credits
Cooperative Education will provide Ceramic students with hands-on experience in their field, directly related to a student’s major with an established studio or related business. Students will need to apply for co-ops, and interview as part of the selection process, based on available positions posted by the Co-op and Career Services Office, or found through the students’ own research. In programs where co-op is a degree requirement, students must obtain permission of their program or graduate director prior to enrollment. Co-ops are typically paid work experience, and can be part-time (150-479 total hours within the term), or full-time (480+ hours within the term). Co-ops may be one or two consecutive terms - fall, spring, or summer – with department permission.
CCER-799
Ceramics Independent Study
1 - 6 Credits
Ceramics Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser will propose a course of study. Ceramics Independent Study students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. **NOTE: Student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA **
CCER-887
Ceramics Part-Time Co-op
0 Credits
Cooperative Education will provide Ceramic students with hands-on experience in their field, directly related to a student’s major with an established studio or related business. Students will need to apply for co-ops, and interview as part of the selection process, based on available positions posted by the Co-op and Career Services Office, or found through the students’ own research. In programs where co-op is a degree requirement, students must obtain permission of their program or graduate director prior to enrollment. Co-ops are typically paid work experience, and can be part-time (150-479 total hours within the term), or full-time (480+ hours within the term). Co-ops may be one or two consecutive terms - fall, spring, or summer – with department permission.
STAR-401
Senior Capstone
3 Credits
This course will focus on the production and exhibition of a representative body of artwork. Students will participate in an articulated process of making, engaging in comprehensive research that expands and supports their work, developing a rationale for the use of media and process, creating sketches and models, and the refining work through critiquing and editing. All of this will culminate in the professional presentation of oral, written, and visual work that contextualizes the students’ positions within contemporary artistic practice. Students will also be involved in every aspect of their senior shows from creating the work to installing the exhibition and preparing marketing materials.
STAR-498
Studio Arts Internship
1 - 6 Credits
The Studio Arts Internship will provide students with the option to work with established artists or in fine art-related businesses. Students may apply for internships to businesses based on the availability of positions and business needs. Students must obtain permission of an Undergraduate Program Director and complete the Internship Permission Form to enroll.
STAR-702
Studio Art Research
3 Credits
This course will prepare graduate students for the written component of the thesis. Course content will cover defining research in the arts, arts based research, research through practice, critical judgment, writing strategically and critically for reflective thinking and scholarly dissemination. At the completion of this course students will be able to write a thesis proposal addressing a research question or direction along with objectives, context, and methods.
STAR-714
Ideation and Series
3 Credits
Creative flow, having an endless stream of ideas, alternatives, and choices for solutions, helps creative work evolve and reach more advanced levels. In this course students develop appropriate skills and strategies to generate ideas and develop them effectively into a cohesive body of work.
STAR-790
Research and Thesis
3 Credits
This is the first of two courses designed to advance a student towards completion of their thesis. Students will work independently on their approved proposal while meeting on a regular basis with their committee chair. Students are required to meet at least twice with their full committee during the semester.
STAR-890
Thesis
6 Credits
For this final thesis course students continue working with their committee to evaluate work produced, and select the work to be exhibited. In addition, students will work with gallery coordinators and curators to install and exhibit their final body of work. Students are expected to defend their work to the committee through an oral defense and a written document.
STAR-892
Continuation of Thesis Studio Arts
0 Credits
The Studio Arts Continuation of Thesis course provides student additional semester(s) to complete their thesis research, project, and thesis document.

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