Howard Kottler Chronological Bio

Hello fellow docents,

I couldn't find a chronological Howard Kottler bio on the web; so, I
created one from reading "Howard Kottler : Face to Face" by Patricia
Failing - the most comprehensive book on the artist I could find.

(Any errors are mine!)

Regards
Sanjeev

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Howard Kottler

1905 - Wolffe Kottler (Howard's paternal Grandfather) emigrated from Germany to Cleveland OH. Worked as coppersmith in a shipbuilding yard. A few years later, opened his own coppersmith's shop.

1910 - Charlotte Kottler (Howard's paternal Grandmother) arrived with Paul and Clara.

1926 - Paul Kottler married Nellie Novick.

1929 - Wolffe Kottler died. Paul Kottler abandoned plans for law career and took over family business.

1930 - Howard William Kottler born on March 5.

1934 - Shirley Kottler (sister) born.

1948 - Graduated from Cleveland Heights High School.

1952 - Graduated from Ohio State University with BA in Biological Science. Took a ceramics course to complete the last elective course for his B.A.

1952 - Enrolled in Ohio State's Optometry School. Took a ceramics course every quarter. Dropped out of Optometry school. Inducted into armed forces; failed physical due to leaky heart valve. Enrolled in BFA program in ceramics.

1956 - Graduated with M.A. degree in ceramics. Master's Thesis: The Waisted Cylinder Form in the History of Ceramic Art.

1956 - Kottler's ceramic cat won second prize in Cleveland Museum annual May show. He mass produced the cat and sold 200 cats in the museum store.

1957 - Received MFA degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Studied with Finnish ceramist Maija Grotell.

1957 - Went to Central School of Arts and Crafts in Helsinki on a Fulbright scholarship. Worked at Arabia Ceramics Factory.

1958 - Went back to Ohio State University for his PhD.

1964 - Received his PhD from Ohio State University.

1965 - Joined University of Washington faculty. Began collecting Art Nouveau jewelry. Began collaborating with Warren Maruhashi (Egyptian paste, Raku series objects)

1966 - Began titling his work

1966 - Began Ceramic Decal plate series.

1967 - Created Porcelain baskets, Bright Color Pots, Barbie-doll trays, Alvar Aalto-style vases, Fur series.

1967 - Kottler's 60ies work shown in a touring exhibit at Henry Art Gallery, Cranbrook Academy, Musuem of Contemporary Crafts NY.

1968 - Created blown glass sculptures.

1970 - Deco-inspired pots with decals; Ceramic sculpture series with jell-o molds and lamp bases;

1973 - Ceramic Cup series

1975 - Full Professor at UW Seattle; bought a home in Seattle; began collecting Noritake porcelain.

1977 - Series of self-portraits and silhouette based objects.

1982 - Series of earthenware vessels with hard edges, balls, shafts, triangles and hard colors.

1984-85 Series of mixed media works

1985 - Nellie Kottler (mother) died.

1989 - Died of inoperable lung cancer.

--
Regards,
Sanjeev Narang

***

email: ask (at) eConsultant dot com
www.Sanjeev.net