Grace Archambeault

/
Grace Archambeault

Intro From Deb
I am so excited to have reconnected with Grace!  We initially crossed paths when I was teaching at Mass Art in Boston.  Now she has moved out to North Bend! Her Arts Administration Degree is being put to use as she works part time at Rat City Studios managing grant applications and fundraising efforts.  Our most pressing goal is the Studio Assistant Funding Endeavor (SAFE).  As housing costs rise, studio assistants are in need of support.  This fund is aimed at growing  a stipend to offset living expenses in Seattle as they diligently pursue career skills, develop their artwork, & push their work into the world.

Grace Archambeault

Bio/Manifesto
Grace was born and raised on Cape Cod, MA and received her BFA in ceramics from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. In university, Grace established a disciplined ceramic studio practice, focusing on functional pottery and alternative firing techniques, such as wood firing and soda firing. Her utilitarian forms combine a love of nature and simplicity, with the desire to bring joy and pleasure to peoples lives through the objects around them. She infuses her work with characters and environments that she has encountered in her life. She also finds inspiration from primitive cultures that once turned a functional pottery need into beautiful everyday works of art, this is what Grace intends when she creates pottery. Grace has used her in-depth knowledge of craft as a bridge to connect with people internationally, where there would typically be cultural or language barriers.

Through extensive global travel, Grace’s passion for understanding the diverse cultures of the world has developed. This has shaped the mission of her career to focus on creating and supporting equitable opportunity and access to arts, culture, and education. Last year Grace finished a Master of Art in Arts Administration from Castleton University. She focused her studies on the impacts of arts and culture on a community and how to illustrate the story of these impacts. Now with the combination of her creative background, analytic administrative education, and passion driven motivation, Grace has made her way to Seattle, WA. 

LinkedIn: Grace Archambeault
Facebook: gracefulpottery
Contact: gracearch89@gmail.com

/ /

Deborah Schwartzkopf

In 2013 Deb established Rat City Studios in her hometown of Seattle, WA. With a passion to engage and build community through clay she uses her unique skill set to offer educational opportunities. As a studio artist, she makes her own fabulous tableware that infuses life with purposeful beauty. Her artwork is recognized and showcased nationally. Deb was inspired by the guidance of amazing mentors along the way. These important relationships helped foster her desire to provide support and mentorship for the growing clay community. Her adventurous spirit has taken her across the country and beyond to build a depth of experience, knowledge, and a supportive network.

Rain City Clay, the sister-studio to Rat City Studios, opened in April of 2022 in West Seattle. This is a space for experiential group learning and exploriinig clay!

With over 15 years of experience, an MFA from Penn State, artwork included in collections (such as the Kamm Teapot Foundation, San Angelo Museum, and the WA State Arts Collection), numerous publications (including Ceramic Monthly, Pottery Making Illustrated, and Studio Potter Magazine), she has been recognized and honored in her career as a maker and is thrilled to be expanding the community.

Deb completed a Master’s of Fine Art at Penn State and has artwork included in numerous collections such as the Kamm Teapot Foundation, San Angelo Museum, and the WA State Arts Collection. She has been featured in numerous principal clay publications including Ceramic Monthly, Pottery Making Illustrated, and Studio Potter Magazine. Deb has been recognized and honored in her career as a maker and is thrilled to be expanding the clay community.

follow us in feedly