   SUNSTONE POTTERY
    Eleanor Murphey, Owner and Master Potter
    emurphey@bendcable.com 
phone: 541-388-2636

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I have been a full time potter since 1976 when I went to work at the Sunstone Gallery and pottery studio, in La Jolla, CA as an apprentice to Cathra -Ann Barker, master potter at that time. In 1996 I became the owner and Master Potter of the Sunstone Gallery. July of 2003, I moved my home from Southern California to Bend, Oregon. The Sunstone, now called Sunstone Pottery moved with me, no longer a gallery, it is my pottery studio and business built behind my home. I continue my work in the peace and quiet of Northeast Bend. The work of the late 19th and early 20th century artisans and crafts people have always been an inspiration to me. From architecture to pottery, their work had a sensuous style with a direction to function and beauty combined. I believe that it is not enough for an object to function when it can also be a pleasure to look at while performing that function.

I would categorize my my style work as Contemporary Craftsman. I throw and glaze my own forms from high fire clays. The pieces are functional as well as decorative, all my pots are food safe and oven worthy. The world today is high-tech, modern and a bit impersonal. These days it is a magical feeling to be able to work in such an ancient medium, molding a lump of clay into a form, to decorate with glaze and subject it to 2300 degrees of heat and then discover in the finished kiln a beautiful handcrafted work of art that will enhance a persons home making life just that much nicer.

My ceramic education

Shasta College Redding CA, 1967
College of Marin 1969 to 1971

Some additional courses in Ceramics

Glaze & Clay analysis with Dr. John Conrad at Mesa College
Ceramics at San Diego State University
Work shop with Peter King at San Carlos CA
Glaze chemistry work shop with Ian Currie San Diego CA.

Instruction & Demonstration

2002 - Two day glaze workshop Sunstone Pottery , La Jolla CA
2001 - NCECA (Demostration for AFTOSA) Charlotte NC
2000 - Guest Juror Mud Fest San Diego
1999 - NCECA (Demostration for AFTOSA) Fort Worth TX
1995 - Guest Lecturer Ceramic Artists of San Diego
1994 - Guest Lecturer College of Marin, Kentfield, CA
1992 - Guest Artist Point Loma High School Ceramics Dept

Articles & Photos in Print

San Francisco Chronicle, March 6, 2002
Art & Antiques, March 2002
Aftosa Catalog, Spring 2001
Ceramics Monthly, February 1999
San Diego Union/Tribune, September 6, 1998
La Jolla Light, Aug. 13 1998
Green & Green Masterworks, Smith & Vertikoff 1998
La Jolla Village News, June 27 1997.

Currently showing

Frank Philipps Pottery Gallery in Ashland OR.
In The Frame Masters & Fine Arts In La Jolla CA.
Opus 6ix Gallery in Eugene Or.

Exhibitions & Competitions

2003 - Ceramic Artist of San Diego Potters Guild during NCECA , San Diego CA
2002 - Two artists show - Eleanor Murphey & Phil Bard at the Arroyo Collection, So. Pasadena CA
2001-Ceramic Artists of San Diego functional Show - “Dining with CASD” 1st place
2000 - Ceramic Artists of San Diego Sunstone Gallery; La Jolla, CA (Sponsor)
1998 - Ceramic Artists of San Diego Alexander Gallery; La Jolla, CA ( Best In Show )
1993 - Art of California Magazine Discovery Bronze Award
Cedar Creek National Tea Pot Show II Raleigh, NC
1992 - Teapots - Pour and Proud of It Northfield Pottery Works Northfield, IL
1991 - Dimensions ‘91 Lenexa National 3-Dimensional Art Show Lenexa, KS

Juried Art Festivals

The La Jolla Festival of the Arts, La Jolla, CA
Contemporary Crafts Show San Francisco, CA
KPFA Christmas Craft Show San Francisco, CA
Mill Valley Art Festival Marin, CA
Sausalito Art Festival Sausalito, CA