Patz Fowle: Background
Patz Fowle Background:
In her early years she was educated in public schools in Detroit, Michigan where teachers encouraged her creative abilities. Although her family would experience difficult times she always had her love of art as a positive strength growing up. In 1970 while Patz (nick-name) attended a rural high school she realized a genuine passion for working in clay and intuitively figured out a straightforward technique for making quirky, clay animals. As Patz continued to develop her hand-building skills she shared her unique process with others in the classroom. As a young adult she began her career working in the field of graphic arts. After marrying, she and her husband, Mike started on a life-long journey and began their family. Still fascinated with all things clay, she and Mike took traditional, wheel-thrown ceramic courses and glaze-chemistry/calculation under the direction of Master Potter, Yosuke Haruta. Both of the Fowle’s excelled at wheel thrown pottery, but soon Patz returned to her unique method for handbuilding and refined her techniques, even further. In 1980 the diverse range of contemporary art created in New York was extremely exciting to the adventurous Fowle’s, so they and their young daughter moved to New York where they could explore the art world first-hand. Patz began creating upright-standing “animals with attitude” and her anthropomorphic, clay sculptures were becoming recognized in her first major art exhibition at the International Exposition of Emerging Visual Artist, New Artist at Madison Square Gardens in New York City in 1981.
1982, Fowle continued art studies at Parsons School of Design/Adelphi University, NY. (Focus of study: Illustration)
Fowle exhibited original works of art in scores of prestigious exhibitions nationally and internationally and provided summer internships for St. Lawrence University Fine Arts students in her private studio.
* South Carolina Educational Television SCETV featured Fowle on the documentary series Palmetto Places on PBS.
* 1995 the South Carolina Arts Commission approved Fowle to teach Visual Arts in schools as a Teaching Artist and Artist-in-Residence.
* The American Ceramics Society/Ceramics Monthly Magazine has featured Fowle’s sculptures in their publications numerous times.
* Fowle’s ceramic sculptures are highlighted the hardcover book Handbuilt Ceramics by Kathy Triplett published by Lark Books.
Fowle was an art designer creating limited-edition sculptures for NASCAR and the International Speedway Corporation.
Fowle is Art in the Interim Instructor at the SC Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
*Jim Hunter/UMI Publications published Fowle’s “Pole-Cat” sculptures in a book on the history of NASCAR Darlington Raceway-50th Anniversary.
The Smithsonian Museum, NASCAR and the Atlanta History Center selected Fowle’s sculpture for a traveling exhibition Speed and Spirit: NASCAR in America. (The exhibit was postponed due to the 9/11 crisis)
Fowle was lead illustrator in product development for the National Education Program: Literacy First with the Professional Development Institute in Seattle, Washington and Mesa, Arizona.
* Patz Process Ceramic Technique was published in the nationally distributed art textbook Beginning Sculpture by Arthur Williams / Davis Publications
2004 Fowle traveled Internationally to Italy part of a Professional Development Art Study Group visiting Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Assisi.
Fowle continued studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design at the Art Educators Forum in Savannah, Ga.In the summer of 2004, 05,12,14,15,16,17 & 18. (Focus of studies: Drawing, Metal Fabrication/Jewelry, Illustration, Animation, Scientific Illustration, Character Design and Ceramics.)
*2005 Patz Fowle was an International Artist-in-Residence in Tokyo, Japan teaching the Patz Process Ceramic Technique at the American School in Japan. While in Japan, she and Mike stayed in a traditional Japanese home and enjoyed the people and cultures of urban and rural Japan. Excursions to the countryside included the Historic Pottery village of Mashiko where the Fowle’s researched and studied the traditional Japanese potters, potteries and kilns.
* Patz Fowle's art is published in the award-winning, contemporary sculpture book The Sculpture Reference written by renowned sculptor Arthur Williams.
* Ceramic sculpture by Fowle is notably featured in a book published by the American Ceramic Society: China Paint and Overglaze by Paul Lewing
2007 Fowle presented the Patz Process Ceramic Technique at the National Art Education Association Convention in New York City, New York.
Patz Fowle's art is included in the South Carolina State Museum's Traveling Exhibition “Palmetto Hands”2007,08, 09, 12, 13, 14, 15,16,17 & 2018.
* 2008 Patz Fowle wrote and illustrated the book “Remember When” available on Amazon.com
2009 Fowle studied at Kansas City Art Institute / Educators ArtLab summer program in Kansas City, Missouri. (Focus of study: Metal Sculpture & Fabrication)
Summer of 2008 and 2009 Fowle studied at the Teacher Institute in Contemporary Art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. (Focus: Oil Painting)
*2010 Patz Fowle became a Mentor for the Teacher Institute in Contemporary Art (TICA) at the SCHOOL of the ART INSTITUTE of CHICAGO (SAIC) Chicago, IL.
To inspire & chronicle South Carolina Traditions and Techniques in Clay, Fowle creates Patz Process Ceramic Technique instructional/educational DVDs & Patz Process Ceramic Technique tools.
Patz Fowle was Artist-in-Residence in the Darlington County Schools and high school Studio Art instructor at Trinity Collegiate School in Darlington, SC.
* Fowle’s sculptures are explored by Courtney Lee Weida in the UK Publication ANTENNAE the Journal of Nature in Visual Culture “Meet Animal Meat”
* 2010 The American Museum of Ceramic Art adds sculpture by Contemporary American Studio Potter, Patz Fowle to their permanent collection.
* “Patz Fowle in Progress” is a book published by Black Creek Arts Council documenting Fowle’s work.
* Brigitte Martin features Patz Fowle’s sculpture (and quotes) in her award-winning book “Humor in Craft”
*Patz Fowle and Mike Fowle designed and created a metal public art sculpture for the McLeod Family Medicine Center in Florence, SC.
* Fowle's sculpture is published in Cathy Elliott's book on NASCAR History: Darlington Raceway, Too Tough to Tame
2013 Patz Fowle is Visual Arts Coordinator at the South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics in Hartsville, SC.
2013 Patz Fowle & Mike Fowle designed an innovative, on campus "Open Art Studio" accessible to all high school students attending the SC Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
*Patz Fowle & Mike Fowle were commissioned by the City of Florence to design and create a large-scale, Public Art Sculpture. Big Bleu Birdnanna is located in the Cultural Arts Corridor adjacent to the Florence County Museum, SC.
Fowle served as Artist-in-Residence for the Arts in Education programs in the Darlington County School District.
*2015 SC Governor's School for Science & Mathematics nominated Patz Fowle for the South Carolina Art Educator of the Year Award through the South Carolina Art Education Association
*2015 Patz Fowle and Mike Fowle received the 3D People's Choice Award at ARTFIELDS Competition/Exhibition for their mixed media, art installation "Consume" Lake City, SC
2017 Patz Fowle & Mike Fowle taught Kinetic Sculpture Design at the SCAD Educator Forum summer program at Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA.
2018 Patz Fowle & Mike Fowle continued art studies at Pacific Northwest College of Art/ Art Educator Summer in the Studios in Portland, Oregon (Focus of studies: Welding, Body casting, Life drawing, Illustration analog-digital, Printmaking and Digital photography.
2018 Patz Fowle & Mike Fowle taught the Patz Process Ceramic Technique and Kinetic Sculpture Design at Savannah College of Art & Design summer art program for educators in Savannah, Ga. 2018 SCAD Educator Forum.
* 2018 Collaborative sculptors Patz Fowle & Mike Fowle were commissioned to create a kinetic, large-scale, public art sculpture Upward & Onward designed to honor the achievements of NASA Astronaut and American Physicist, Dr. Ronald E. McNair located at the Ronald E. McNair Life History Center, Lake City, SC. The permanent, public art sculpture was commissioned by the Lake City Creative Alliance.
*2019 Patz Fowle is Fine Arts Instructor and Visual Arts Coordinator at SC Governor's School for Science & Math. April 2020 Ms. Fowle began teaching 2D and 3D art on a Virtual platform.
*Summer of 2019, Patz Fowle & Mike Fowle studied abroad in Europe, at Savannah College of Art & Design in Lacoste, France. Exciting educational, and artistic adventures were explored in the South of France and in Paris.
**May 22, 2021 the Governor's School for Science & Math and the GSSM Board of Directors officially named the on-campus art studio in honor of GSSM's Visual Arts Founder, and Fine Arts Instructor Patz Fowle: The Patz Fowle Visual Arts Studio.
While sharing an awesome life together, Patz and Mike enjoy collaborating with others in their journeys through art.