Ron Mello

As Long As I Can Remember

As far back as I can remember I wanted to draw. My mother loved to sketch and instilled that love in me. My father and grandfather were both skilled carpenters and cabinet makers. From them, I developed an appreciation of well crafted, functional objects. The first “work or art” I remember doing was a small ocean scene done for my mom on an old pillowcase. After a tour in the military and visits to Vietnam, Thailand, Korea and Japan I returned to the states. I met my wife Lu in Texas and we were married in 1969. Our daughter Rhonda was born in 1970. I then decided to go back to school and study art and education.

My original concentration was in education, painting and printmaking at Mass College of Art in Boston MA (1976) Landscape elements, plants, stones and stone formations were a favorite subject matter. During graduate school, I enrolled in a ceramics class and was hooked. My professor and later friend and mentor, John Heller took me under his wing and introduced me to the wonders of clay. We studied the wheel, hand building and sculpture, stoneware, porcelain and of course Raku firing. I immediately fell in love with the immediacy and wonder of the Raku process. Recently, I have rekindled my love of high fired functional ceramics, handmade brushes, mixed media and gardening as well. The natural landscape, Water, Earth, Fire, the basic elements of clay and good craftsmanship remain an inspiration to this day. I recently retired from 35 years of teaching art at Brockton high school and Bridgewater State University. I am now a full-time studio artist.

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CAGS (Masters equivalent in Fine Art - Ceramics and Printmaking.) Bridgewater State College 1993 · MA (Masters Art Education) Bridgewater State College 1990· BFA (Art Ed and Painting/Printmaking) Mass. College of Art, Boston, Mass. 1976 · MA Certificate # 0204091, Art - K - 12.

Ron Mello

My life is not about making sure you approve of me. My life is about making sure I approve of myself... Once that happens everything else will find its rightful place.... Chi Philosophy

I have been an artist and teacher most of my life. My focus at this time is full time studio ceramics. I work in functional stoneware and porcelain as well as decorative Raku and primitively fired work. Other creative work includes brush making, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and like my father, grandfather and brothers, I have worked and created with wood.

Raised in East Boston, Massachusetts, I am the proud product of a working class family. My grandfather and father were cabinet makers and carpenters, my brother Jim is a creative tool and die designer, younger brother Charlie is a talented woodworker. I received my BFA at the Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, Massachusetts in Art Education and Painting. My Masters degree as well as an advanced graduate study degree (MAT) are from Bridgewater State University, (Fine Art, Ceramics). I have worked for over 40 years as an artist/teacher in many capacities, including: teaching art in the Brockton, Massachusetts Public Schools, graduate ceramics at Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, Massachusetts and 12 early years of teaching drawing/painting at the Brockton MA Fuller Craft Museum. I became involved in ceramics at Bridgewater in 1986. I have been working steadily in this medium since that time. Ceramics, especially Raku, is a combination of the skill the potter possesses and the random effects of the fire, it is the ultimate test of the clay and the artist.

The art I create with this ancient technique is sculptural and based on the vessel form. Painting and printmaking are still an involvement. Recent work includes handmade artists brushes and combinations of various media with clay and found objects. This mixing of media creates for me an original and personal aesthetic statement. The inspiration for my work in ceramics, graphics and painting comes from nature and natural elements. My feelings about Raku and other primitive smoking techniques were expressed well by (Jay Lacouture, Raku and Smoke North America 1984): "Whether it is the Zen ideal of surrendering oneself to the process or the Native American reverence for nature and the basic elements of earth, air, fire, water. The artist using Raku or smoke techniques has artistic roots planted firmly in tradition while facing the challenge posed by honesty to materials and process and the possibility of chance effects. The art of making a great functional or decorative vessel is not a superficial manual skill, but, a deeper understanding of art, technology and function. These are hard-won from personal discipline of eye, hand and mind combined with depth of vision." I find great enjoyment experimenting with Raku form and glaze effects.

I have had several one-man exhibits in Massachusetts galleries and have received many awards, including several first place awards. My artwork has been is represented in national and international collections, and is currently being shown and sold in many galleries, shops and museums.

Resume - Ron Mello, Middleboro, Ma. 02346

PRESENT POSITION

I am a full time artist maintaining a multimedia studio and retail gallery in Middleboro, Ma, 02346 rmello1@comcast.net
Senior Instructor, Ceramics, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Ma, (1986 - 2011 retired).
Art Teacher, Brockton School system, Brockton Ma. (1976 - 2006 retired).
Developing methods of mixing media, currently including pottery, painting, glass, and computer imaging.
Presently involved in Raku vessels and Functional stoneware and Porcelain and hand made artists brushes.

SKILLS - EXPERIENCE

Ceramics: including potters wheel and kiln operation. Painting: all media, Glass.
Drawing, Sculpture, Print Making: Intaglio, Woodblock, Linoleum, Collagraph, Silk-Screen, Photography.
Computer Graphics: Digital Imaging, Graphic Design.
Carpentry.

RELATED EDUCATION EXPERIENCE

Taught graduate ceramics at Bridgewater State University for over 20 years.
I have been teaching art at many levels, K-12, college, workshops and consultation for over 35 years.

Designed and implemented Computer Art curriculum for high school use.

Taught graduate level adult art students at Brockton Art Museum.

Organized and taught a private art school in East Bridgewater, 1982-85.

Assisted in development of Art Curriculum for the city of Brockton.

Designed an Art-Word-Image Glossary for use in the classroom and in the citywide curriculum.

Organized Art activities for creative use of available school time.

Set up and assist in the presentation of the annual citywide student art exhibit.

PROFESSIONAL ART EXPERIENCE

I have conducted "RAKU" workshops at galleries, museums and colleges, Member of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, I have Juried many art exhibits. Currently marketing and exhibiting my art work in various shops, galleries and museums. Worked as a Graphic Design artist for Pilgrim Badge and Label co. Boston, Mass. This position included artwork, stat-camera work, design and paste-up for a marketing product. Currently working free-lance commissions in design, consultation, ceramics and painting. I am a member of several art and art related professional organizations.

RELATED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

My art work is represented in many national and international art collections. I design and maintain my own website http://www.ronmellostudio.com. · Ceramic artwork was chosen for the set of the movie: "Karate Kid IV" (Raku Vessels). · Several one man shows in area galleries. Exhibit art work in many Juried shows and galleries nationwide. · Awarded many first place prizes. · Assisted for many years in the organization of the East Bridgewater Annual Art Festival.

EDUCATION

MILITARY EXPERIENCE

Served 4 years in the United States Air Force, rank SSgt, Duties: Operations Specialist (1965-69). Served in Vietnam (1967-68). · Served and toured in many Asian countries. Air Force Commendation Medal.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS, COLLECTIONS, Past and Present:

Collection of Sonny and Gloria Kamm - The Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton MA. - MassArt Made Gallery, Boston MA. - The Danforth Museum, Framingham MA. - The Newport Potter Guild - The Artful Home (On-Line Gallery) - DSA fine arts (consultants) - Mass. Teachers Association - Brockton Education Association - National Education Association - Copley Society, Boston, MA - Massachusetts Cultural Council - Plymouth Artists Guild - Massachusetts State College Teachers Association - The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA - Cranberry County Chamber of Commerce.

EXHIBITION and SHOW RECORD, PARTIAL

2012 Selected for the MassArt Alumni Salon Show at The Ropeworks, New Bedford, MA

2011 New England Artisans Fair Middleboro, MA.

2011 MassArt Made holiday presentation, Boston MA.

2011 KC Clay Guild tea bowl international Juror: Steven Hill

2011 Imago Gallery, Warren, Rhode Island - Invitational

2010 KC Clay guild Tea bowl National.

2010 Raku the Polaroid of Ceramics at The Meyers gallery Santa Ana CA

2010 Media Mix exhibit at South Shore Art Center, Cohasset MA

2010 1ST PLACE AWARD in Tea by the Sea, Newport Potters Guild. Newport, RI

2009 Steamboat Springs Arts Council International Teapot Invitational

2009 Middleboro Art Gallery Opening again Spring 2011

Continuing - Ron Mello Studio and Gallery, Middleboro, MA http://www.ronmellostudio.com

Continuing - The Artful Home https://www.artfulhome.com

Continuing - Fuller Craft Museum & shop, Brockton MA http://www.fullercraft.org

JUROR for the annual Brockton High School Art Exhibit. 2007,08,09,10

GROUP EXHIBIT Brockton Art Teachers, Fuller Museum, Brockton, MA Jan 2004-5

EXHIBITING JUDGE, 1998, Plymouth Guild Annual Art Show

EXHIBITING JUDGE, 1995, Duxbury Summer Exhibit.

2ND PLACE, 3D, DUXBURY ANNUAL WINTER ART SHOW, (RAKU) 1995

1ST PLACE, NON-FUNCTIONAL CRAFT, (RAKU) 1994 Plymouth Guild Annual Art Show.

1ST PLACE, 3D, (RAKU VESSEL) 1994, South Shore Art Center Annual juried Show.

2ND PLACE, 3D, (RAKU VESSEL) 1993, South Shore Art Center 38th Summer Festival.

1ST PLACE 3D (RAKU VESSEL) 1993, The South Shore Art Center Annual Juried Show.

1ST PLACE, CERAMICS, 1993, N.E.S.A.D, Juried Massachusetts art teachers exhibit.

TWO-MAN SHOW, 1992, Brenda Taylor Gallery, Newbury St., Boston, Mass.

RAKU DEMO AND EXHIBIT. Brockton Art Museum, 1992 Spring Week.

1ST PLACE CERAMICS, BEST OF SHOW 1992, Bridgewater State College.

ONE -MAN SHOW, 1992, Earth kingdom Gallery.

RAKU INVITATIONAL The Silver Ribbon, Pembroke, Mass, "Chance Happenings".

EXHIBITING JUROR IN 1991, Pembroke Art Festival, 1991-92.

1ST PLACE, GRAPHICS, (for "Celandine") South Shore Art Center, 1991 Juried Show.

3RD PLACE, CRAFTS, Bridgewater State College 1991 Juried exhibit.

1ST, PLACE, CERAMICS, Bridgewater State College 1990 Juried exhibit,

EXHIBITING JUROR, 90-91 East Bridgewater Art Festival On The Common 1986 - 1992.

Brockton Art Museum, Juried multimedia exhibit 1984.

HONORABLE MENTION 1980, group shows 1975-83, Copley Society.

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