ONE of the eight new artists to the show this year is Cheryl English. Her creations are perfect for all of the naturalists who would like to add some leafy, floral decor to the home. Cheryl captures every natural detail of a leaf from many different tree species in her series of tiles. 

Cheryl M. English, a long-time resident of the metropolitan Detroit area, has traveled as far as Singapore and Turkey, only to return to her childhood dancing grounds. Having earned a BA in Art History from Michigan State University and an MA in Art History and Archaeology from Cornell University, she realized she much preferred making art to dissecting it. A life-long autodidact, Cheryl first began her ceramics studies with Gene Pluhar through Grosse Pointe Community Education. Taking advantage of Mr. Pluhar's classroom, she reveled in the pleasures of propane torches, sand blasters and drill presses while investigating the potential of slab rollers, extruders and the wheel. Cheryl's work is a reflection of her other passion: gardening. As an Advanced Master Gardener (certified through Wayne County Extension), her abiding interest in things natural and indigenous - is reflected in her creations.

Sher Sullivan Stevens' collection of tiles has one strong focus ~ MERMAIDS! Each of Sher's tiles are of mermaids in lovely blue or green glazes with curves and lines inspired by the Art Nouveau movement.

Sher Sullivan Stevens was born in Philadelphia and has resided in Los Angeles practically forever (minus five years in Maui in the 80's). Her love for art most likely began prenatally, as both parents were artists. Her kindergarten teacher told her that she would always be an artist - in retrospect, a defining, grateful and inspirational moment.

After graduating Hollywood High and spending some time soul searching and taming the wild side, she earned an A.A. at Santa Monica College, a B.F.A. at Otis Art Institute and a teaching credential at UCLA followed by a departure into film and television casting, while continuing artistic pursuits in painting, weaving, basketry, ceramics and sculpture. Fortune smiled with marriage and one lovely daughter. Five years in Maui brought her back to full time teaching with adults and children and most importantly, a renewed focus on sculpture. A return to L.A. was fortuitous in expanding her teaching career as a Sculpture and Mixed Media Instructor along with an exploration into tile making. When she is not teaching, she is creating tiles or original sculpture in her studio in Santa Monica.

Today our technical age is seeing a resurgence of the Arts and Crafts Movement similar to the Great Arts and Crafts Movement of the Industrial Age (early 1900). People are once again seeking out the special characteristics that the artist's touch can bring to one's environment. Kim applies these traditions to the art of tile making and spatial design.

Looking for bold, colorful, one-of-a-kind tiles? Margy Balwierz, has them in spades in our annual artTILE exhibit. 

"The medium of handmade tile is a culmination of many artistic directions explored over the years, especially experiences in drawing, etching, batik, enamel and cloisonné, pastels and painting. Naturalist interests and imagination are both evident in my design and subject mater. The palate is bright color, composition modern and style free. I learned the skills of making stoneware tile from John Turula, a neighboring artist who is well known for his fanciful outdoor stacked sculptures, imaginative computer creations and local magazine. Turula's expertise in achieving bright glaze color is evident in my work.  

I have become immersed in the creative exploration of the handmade tile making process, often forgetting everything as the million small decisions of design, color and technique melt away everything else. The visual and tactile manipulation of materials and ideas results in a small essence of my perspective. Each effort gives me a gift of absorbed concentration and timelessness. 

The unique quality of making one tile at a time feels right to me. Coarse red clay is rolled out and cut. I etch and compose a design to fit within the framework of a nearly dry cut tile shape after one day of drying. The cut may be freeform, shaped or with a randomly lopped off corner. Glazed, while greenware, each layer of color is laid three coats thick between etch lines with very small paint brushes. After the clay becomes bone dry, it is high fired to stoneware in an electric kiln. Another glazing and firing to a low temperature adds intensity to colors. The process stretches over three to six weeks.  

Design choices often arise from the concepts of dichotomies and of elemental entities. I see the wide awake beauty of physical the world, bold and endlessly fresh, juxtaposing the murky and double edged aspects of reality.  

I am mindful of the vibrant sub atomic elements, becoming concrete realities, rocks, sky, the Earth, living things. This speaks to me and feeds my wonderment and drive. Retired now from a career as an Elementary Science and Gifted/Talented teacher, perhaps these themes make sense. Often there is a moon or stars or trees in my imagery."