Kaitlyn Cushing

kmcushing@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

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Education

2025     Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics Concentrate, Art and Design Department Honor (Candidate)

Colorado Mesa University – Grand Junction, CO

 

Exhibitions and Shows

2024    

32nd Annual Strictly Functional Pottery, National Juried Exhibition, Juror: David MacDonald

Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA,

 

Dirty South Cup, National Juried Exhibition, Juror: Randy Brodnax

River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA

 

Jac Kephart CMU Student Juried Exhibition, Juror: Keith Buswell

The Art Center of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, CO

 

Artist Lectures/Workshops Attended

2024

• Joshua Almond, Wood Bending, Colorado Mesa University

2023

• Inspirational, Clay Symposium ft. Heesoo Lee, Kyungmin Park, Ashtonn Means, KyoungHwa Oh, The Art Center of Western Colorado

 

• Russel Wrankle, Press Mold Sculpture, Colorado Mesa University

 

• Terry Shepard, Raku Workshop, The Art Center of Western Colorado

 

2022    

• Pattie Chalmers, Hand Building and Printing on Clay, Colorado Mesa University

 

2022

• Yeonsoo Kim and Jihye Han, Onggi Technique and Underglaze Painting, Colorado Mesa University

 

Academic Awards and Honors

Colorado Mesa University – Grand Junction, CO

• 2024-25           Trustees Scholarship

                                 Opal Snowder (Suzi) Boyd

                                 CMU Alumni Ceramic Scholarship

• 2023-24           Carolyn D Love – Art Scholarship

                                 Rex Howell Scholarship

• 2021-24            Academic Achievement

 

Work Experience

08/2022 – Present

• Gallery Attendant, 437 CO Avenue, Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO

• Install/deinstall exhibition spaces for display.

• Maintained social media sites with gallery events and information.

• Managed front desk and addressed visitor inquiry.

• Prepared food, operated cash register, and assisted guests at First Friday gallery receptions.

 

08/2022 – Present

• Studio Assistant, Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO

• Maintained and organized ceramic studio.

• Made 14 studio glazes for whole studio use each semester.

• Professor KyoungHwa Oh Studio Assistant.

 

08/2019 – 07/2021

• Customer Service Associate/Studio Assistant, Arts on Fire | Highlands Ranch, CO,

• Operated cash register via POS system.

• Answered customer questions and provided store guidance.

• Offered creative outlook and assisted in creation process of pottery painting.

• Stocked product and helped maintain a clean studio.

 

 

Club and Volunteer Experience

 

CMU Clay Club, President (2024-2025), Treasurer (2022 – 2024), Member (since 2021)

            Artober, Wheel Throwing Demonstrations and Teaching, 2021-2024

            Empty Bowls with Grand Valley Outreach, 2024

            Small Matters Exhibition Install/Deinstall, 2022 & 2024

           

 

Young Life Volunteer Leader, 2022 – Present