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Heidi Kreitchet
 Born 1973
 Lives and works in Pomona CA, USA
 www.hkwoodfi re.com
 Heidi  Kreitchet  is  interested  in  creating  work  that  expresses
 her exploration of form and line. These sculptures become her
 visual vocabulary for communicating an on-going experience
 with “pushing clay”. Kreitchet’s pieces are sculptural not
 functional; they are expressive, not practical.

 By hand-building these pieces Kreitchet creates a constant
 change  in pattern,  line, and form.  She is interested  in
 constructing pieces with angles and planes that have multiple
 textures and hardnesses, whilst enhancing the beauty of the
 clay’s natural fi nish.

 This interaction  between  the  malleable, versatile clay is
 informed  by Kreitchet’s  immediate reaction  to  the  physical
 quality of the material. Her emotional, intuitive and physical
 reaction  to  handling and  manipulating the  clay provides
 the  pieces with passion, power,  animation, and elasticity.
 Kreitchet  believes  in  expressing  movement  and  gesture  by
 using clay to give the work integrity.
 HEIDI  KREITCHET  was  accepted  to  Northern  Arizona  University’s  art
 program in the Summer of 1999. Under the direction of ceramic wizard,
 Don Bendel, and new arrival, Jason Hess, Kreitchet explored wood fi ring
 for the next fi ve years. She was greatly infl uenced by Hess’s innovative
 approach to woodfi ring. She also credits the infl uence of Paula Rice,
 Ellen  Tibbets,  and  Ted  Adler  who  encouraged  her  to  experiment
 in all areas of  ceramics. After  graduation,  Kreitchet  was fortunate
 to assist  renowned  ceramic artist Don Reitz. During the two year
 assistantship in Clarkdale, Arizona, working and living on “the ranch”
 was a challenging experience for Kreitchet--physically, mentally, and
 spiritually.  By watching and absorbing Reitz’s skillful  techniques with
 hand building, Kreitchet was inspired to push her own ideas with clay.
 In 2006, Kreitchet joined the Masters of Fine Arts program at Utah State
 University under the guidance of John Neely and Dan Murphy. At USU,
 Kreitchet continued to pursue woodfi re and her ceramic muse. She
 received her Masters of Fine Arts in May of 2009. Currently, Kreitchet
 is living  and  working  in  Pomona,  CA.  She  is the  Studio  Director  at
 The Ceramics Studio located at the American Museum of Ceramic
 Arts (AMOCA).









 Right: Do You Like My Hat?, 2012 Ceramic.
 h: 15cm w: 8cm d: 6cm, Artist’s Collection.
 Photograph Credit: Kelly McLendon









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