I have always loved throwing on the wheel. For the first ten years or so, I threw strictly functional pottery, but slowly the traditional pieces began to evolve into a sort of "funk"tional pottery, such as a camel toothbrush holder, a walrus menorah, and giraffe candlesticks. I found myself drawn to animals with exaggerated features, such as the wondrous rhinoceros, because of the way that I manipulate the clay. Collapsing the cylinders of soft clay creates the folds that lend a unique character to each piece and stamp it with my signature. For coloring, a wash of manganese and iron or underglazes are added to these creatures, which are then fired to cone ten. The eyes are glazed to give them depth. Patricia Uchill Simons B.S. in Design. University of Michigan. M.F.A. in Ceramics. University of Chicago. M.A.E. in Ceramics. Rhode Island School of Design. Shows include Hot Tea 2!, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 11 Menagerie of the Mind, Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI, 10 Tea by the Sea, Newport Potters Guild, RI, Creatures of the Tea, Skera Gallery, Northampton, MA, House and Garden Designer Showcase, Southampton, NY. Glaze Storm Show, Indianapolis, IN, AMACO/Brent Show, University of Indianapolis Gallery, IN, Bark in the Park, Westerly, RI, Animals on Parade, Philinda Gallery, Edwards, CO, "Animal Crackers", Carlyn Galerie, Dallas, TX, '97 "Invitational Teapot Show", Vespermann Gallery, Atlanta, GA, '90,'92,'96 "No Body's Perfect", Constance Lindhohm Gallery, Milwaukee, WI, '96 "Noah's Art", Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, '95 "Devils and Angels", Mariposa Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, '94 Doll Collectors Show", Mindscape, Evanston, IL, '94 Art Show at the Dog Show", Wichita, KS, '91, '93 It's Raining Cats and Dogs", Skillbeck Gallery, Charlotte, NC, '90 "Bathroom Art", Walker Gallery, Milwaukee, WI, '90 "Creatures from the Ark (and Some Who Missed the Boat), Uptown Gallery, Portland, OR, '90 Honors include Glaze Storm, AMACO, Indianapolis, IN, Artist in Residence, ArtPark, Lewiston, NY, Invited Artist Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI, '95.5' x 15' Mural (raised $160,00.00 for Kids with Cancer in Rhode Island) First Prize, "Diva Art Show", Warwick, RI, '95 Finalist, Niche Awards Ceramic Sculpture, '94 First Prize, Art Show at the Dog Show". Ceramics, KS, '93. Endangered Species Prize, Royce Galleries, Denver, CO, Articles include 21st Century Ceramics, Lark Books, 2011 500 Animals in Clay, Lark Books, 2006 Clay Menagerie(Cover and Story), by Harriet Gamble, Arts & Activities, Feb. 2001 It's a Jungle Out There, by Noelle Backer, The Crafts Report, August, 1998 Portfolio 123, 1994 Craft Arts International No. 30