Alex S. Mandli

EDUCATION

1974BA Art Education, University of Wisconsin, Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin

2004MA Education in Creative Arts, Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1974-1980, 1985-1999Elementary School Art Instructor, Racine, Wisconsin and Franksville, Wisconsin

1980-1986Independent Studio Potter, Kenosha, Wisconsin

1999-2011Art Instructor, Walden III Middle/High School, Racine, Wisconsin

2011-presentIndependent Studio Potter, Racine, Wisconsin

APPRENTICESHIPS AND RESIDENCIES

1970-1973Studio work with Paul Donhauser, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

1972Workshop with Warren MacKenzie, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

1979Studio work with Phillip Powell, Carthage, College, Kenosha, Wisconsin

1980Workshop with John Glick, Greenwich Gallery, Washington D.C.

Alex Mandi is known for wheel thrown white earthenware pots, fired using atmospheric techniques of either pit firing or saggar firing.

The pots to be saggar fired are burnished several times while they are drying. When they are bone dry 3-5 coats of terra-sigillata are applied then polished with a chamois. They are first bisque fired at a low temperature and then fired in a saggar at a higher temperature.

Pots to be pit fired are allowed to dry until leather hard and then burnished for the first time, after further drying the pots get a further burnishing until the surface is extremely smooth and shiny. Pots to be pit fired are not glazed before being bisque fired and then fired in a pit.