Forceful winds that redefine the landscape and transform the sky into a mosaic of moving lights and shapes are captured in Terry Gieber’s clay creations. From his towering tornado jars to his mesmerizing platter squares and open-mouthed sagger jars, Gieber incorporates his awe for Nature’s power in every clay work he designs.

“I think of landscape all the time,” he says. “My work is always about the earth.”

Dramatic thunderstorms in Kansas won his fascination with Nature during boyhood. South Dakota tornadoes intensified it as a young adult. Gieber once clung to a combine’s axle during a wheat harvest as the sky blackened with an approaching squall and blinding streaks of lightning offered the only light. Three tornadoes descended that day, filling the sky with a webbing of wheat and flinging a tree at Gieber’s combine. Nature’s impression on the budding artist was permanent.

Clay was Gieber’s chosen medium to relay his interpretations of Nature. With a master’s of fine arts degree in ceramics from the University of Iowa, Gieber arrived in Spokane in 1983 to teach art at Gonzaga University. Students learned from his clay dust devils, conical jars locked in the dark swirls of a vortex. They studied his earth colors—the tans and browns of Dakota flax fields—and the intricate patterns in his work.

“The patterns made by the plow and the springtooth are always in my work,” Gieber says.

He introduced his first tornado jar at the Washington Centennial exhibit in Tacoma in 1989. The “Dorothy and Toto Jar” was nine feet tall and the blending of three sections. It leaned precariously on the exhibit hall’s uneven floor, but Gieber chose not to correct it after he heard an elderly couple’s shocked scream as they noticed it. He couldn’t resist the tension his work produced.

“That’s what I want my work to do,” he says. “I really enjoy how people react to the jars.”

Now the chairman of Gonzaga’s art department, Gieber lives to learn. His latest work reflects his experiments with firing methods to alter texture, color and glaze. Gieber discovered he could manipulate gas-fired kilns to starve oxygen and force carbon dioxide to seek out chemical oxygen for a dramatic effect. He found wood thrown into wood kilns converts to ash that flashes onto the clay and turns to glaze.

“It’s decorating with fire itself,” he says.

His newest work also exhibits a water-glass surface he produced from experiments with soda firing and the explosive results of injecting rock salt into a kiln at a fire’s height. Discovery is as important as creativity to Gieber’s work.

“It’s always a learning process,” he says. “I’m consciously aware of the fact that there’s so much more to know.”

RESUME:

EDUCATION
-1983 -M.F.A., Ceramics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
-1982 -M.A., Art, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
-1971 -M.A., Studio Arts, Kansas State University, Hays, Kansas
-1970 -B.S., Art, Kansas State University, Hays, Kansas

MEMBERSHIPS
-National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts
-Washington Potter's Association
-Northwest Designer Craftsmen

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
-1994-present -Gonzaga University, Spokane,WA, Professor of Art
-1988-present -Gonzaga University, Spokane,WA Chair, Art Department
-1989-1994 -Gonzaga University, Associate Professor of Art. 
-1983-1989 -Gonzaga University, Assistant Professor of Art.
-1981-1983 -The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, School of Art and Art History, Instructor, Elements of Art and Ceramics.
-1976-1980 -Southwestern Community College, Creston, IA, Instructor of Art, Ceramics, Drawing, Art Survey, and Art History.
-1975-1976 -Coffeyville Community College, Extended Day Program, Coffeyville, KS, Field Kindley Memorial High School -Instructor of Art.

JURIED INVITATIONAL/INVITATIONAL/OPEN JURIED EXHIBITIONS

2006
-Small Artworks Invitational –The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

2004
-Washington Potter’s Association Retrospective Exhibition -The Gallery at TCC, Tacoma, WA
-Small Artworks Invitational –The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

2003
-Small Artworks Invitational –The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

2002
-Innovation in Sculptural Ceramics -Emerson Center for Arts & Culture, Bozeman, MT
-Small Artworks Invitational –The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

2002, 2001
-Small Artworks Invitational –The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

2000
-Seven Artists, Seven Decades -Lewis-Clark Center for Arts & History, Lewiston, ID
-Northwest Clay Invitational –The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

1999
-Juried Alumni Exhibit/Different Stokes -The 1999 International Woodfire Conference, Iowa City, IA

1998
-Artist Trust Exhibition Auction -Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
-NWDC Juried Invitational -NWCC, Seattle Center

1997
-17^th Annual Northwest International Art Competition -ARCO Exhibition Gallery, Whatcom Museum, Bellingham, WA

1995
-WAInterior Idioms:  The Idiosyncratic Art of Eastern Washington -Seafirst Gallery, Seattle, WA
-Studio Potter Network Teapot Invitational -Park Inn Hotel, Minneapolis, MN

1994
-Gumbo Ceramique:  A Show of Bowls -Casey Williams Gallery, New Orleans, LA
-Artfest:  A Juried Festival of the Arts"Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA
-Spokane Sampler -Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA

1993
-Full to the Brim -Gruewirth Designs Gallery, San Diego, CA
-NCECA Connections: Faculty Members at Liberal Arts Colleges -Butcher Gallery, Athens, WV
-Crafts America: The West -Sponsored by the Renwick Gallery Museum Shop, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
-Artfest:  A Juried Festival of the Arts"Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA
-Spokane Sampler -Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA

1992
-One on One: A National Invitational -Northwest Crafts Center Gallery, Seattle, WA
-Artfest:  A Juried Festival of the Arts"Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA
-Spokane Sampler -Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA

1991
-Spirit of the West: A Celebration of the Arts -West One Bank, Sponsor -20-city, 3-state touring exhibit, sites in Utah, Idaho, and Washington
-Artfest:  A Juried Festival of the Arts"Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA
-Spokane Sampler -Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA

1990
-NWDC Invitational -Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA

1989
-100 Years of Crafts in the Northwest: Then and Now -Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA

1988
-Looking Homeward -4 Person Invitational -Chase Gallery, City Hall, Spokane, WA

1987
-Art Expo '87 Invitational -Seattle Trade Center, Seattle, WA
-Oregon-Washington All-Media Exhibit -Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA

1985
-Missoula Museum of Art, Missoula, MT
-Eugenia Stowe Art Gallery, YWCA, Spokane, WA
-Art on the Green Juried Show -North Idaho College, Coeur d'Alene, ID

1983
-Smokey Hill Retrospective: First Decade Award Winners -The Gallery, Hays, KS
-Iowa Artists '35 -Des Moines Art Center Gallery, Des Moines, IA

1982
-Iowa Crafts '15 -Charles H. MacNider Museum, Mason City, IA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2006
-Faculty Exhibition –Jundt Art Museum, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

-New Work by 10 Artists –The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

2004
-Ceramic Art Educators -Huneke Gallery, Spokane Art School, Spokane, WA
-Past Residents of the Archie Bray –The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

2003
-Faculty Exhibition -Jundt Art Museum Gallery, Spokane, WA

2002
-Archie Bray Foundation Resident’s Exhibition, Warehouse Gallery’ Helena, MT
-Archie Bray Foundation Holiday Exhibitions, -Billings, Bozeman and Helena, MT

1998
-Studio Potters Network Show -Worthington Hotel, Fort Worth, TX

1996
-Adam Whitney Gallery, Omaha, NE
-The Source Fine Arts Gallery, Kansas City, MO
-Culver-Stockton College Gallery, Canton, MO

1995
-N.W.D.C. Exhibit -Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, Port Angeles, WA
-Teachers in Liberal Arts Programs Traveling Exhibition -Louis O. Palmer Gallery, New Concord, OH
-Concordia College Gallery, St. Paul, MN
-Brownsville University Gallery, Brownsville, TX
-Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN
-Culver-Stockton College Gallery, Canton, MO
-Featured Artist -Gallery by the Lake, Coeur d’Alene, ID
-Gonzaga Art Faculty -Ad Gallery, Spokane, WA

1994
-Teachers in Liberal Arts Programs Traveling Exhibition -Arther Butcher Gallery, Athens, WV
-Amy Graves Ryan Gallery, Abeline, TX
-Ten from the 'Really' Eastside -Northwest Craft Center Gallery, Seattle, WA
-Janet Huston Gallery, La Conner, WA

1993
-Elements:  Earth, Air, Fire, Water" -Chase Gallery, Spokane, WA
-Art Center Gallery, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA

1992
-Plate, Cup, Bowl, Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

1991
-Ceramic Showcase '91, Montgomery Park, Portland, OR
-Allied Arts Gallery, Richland, WA
-Northwest Clay Explorations, Northwest Craft Center, Seattle, WA
-Rockies to Rainer and Back, Mustard Seed Gallery, Boulder, CO
-Gonzaga Art Faculty -Ad Gallery, Spokane, WA

1990
-ART Gallery Downtown, Spokane, WA
-Goodwill Games Exhibition, Davenport Hotel, Spokane, WA
-Inland Craft Warnings, Spokane, WA

1989
-Art for Architectural Spaces, Boston, MA
-Gonzaga Art Faculty, Ad Gallery, Spokane, WA,
-Inland Craft Warnings, Spokane, WA

1988
-The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
-Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
-Inland Craft Warnings, Spokane, WA
-North Central WA Museum of Art, Wenatchee, WA

1987
-Inland Craft Warnings, Spokane, WA

1986
-Inland Craft Warnings, Spokane, WA

1985
-The Gallery, Hayden, ID

1983
-Gordon Fennell & Marvin Cone Galleries, Cedar Rapids, IA

1982
-Iowa Wesleyan College Gallery, Mt. Pleasant, IA

ONE-PERSON/TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2005
-Sabbatical Exhibition -The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

2003
-The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

2001
-The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID

1999
-The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID
-The Source Fine Arts, Kansas City, Mo
-Jundt Art Center Gallery, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

1998
-Friesen Galleries, NW Nazarene College, Nampa, ID
-The Source Fine Arts, Kansas City, MO

1996
-Fourth Street Gallery, Kansas City, MO
-Art Center Gallery, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA

1992
-Ad Gallery, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

1991
-Chase Gallery, City Hall, Spokane, WA

1990
-North Idaho College Art Gallery, Coeur d'Alene, ID

1987
-Spokane Art School Gallery, Spokane, WA

1986
-Eugenia Stowe Art Gallery, YWCA, Spokane, WA

1985
-Ad Gallery, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

1984
-Works in Clay Gallery, Spokane, WA
-Ad Gallery, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

1983
-Eve Drewelowe Gallery, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

1982
-The Gallery, Missouri W. St. College, St. Joseph, MO

RELATED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY: RESTORATION AND CERAMIC TILE INDUSTRY PROJECTS for QUARRY TILE COMPANY, Spokane, WA
-Metra Van Buren Street Station, Chicago, IL
This project required an identical match for square-edged, 3" x 6" tile and square-edged 3" x 6" tile with a curved 3" radius face.  The primary challenge was to produce a distinctive "lead-glaze" appearance without using any unbound lead sources.  The solution was the development of sandwiched, tinted slips and a sodium-based clear glaze which looks identical to a raw lead-based glaze.  The design team adjudicating the project was made up of representatives of Metra Van Buren and the installer, John Burns Construction.

-Central Library, Los Angeles, CA
Building Conservation Associates, Inc. was retained by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, architects, to assess the condition and design restoration treatments.  This project required the development of techniques to produce over 7,000 pieces of tile which included nine color matches, a specified body formulation, and 177 separate hand-made, hand-cut shapes.  The work was adjudicated by a design team made up of representatives from the ceramic tile industry, Historical Society, Library, Architects, and the tile installers.

-St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Elk Grove, CA
This mural project required the design of a series of through-the-body colored, unglazed tiles for an exterior mural approximately 35' in height.  The tiles had to have nearly identical shrinkage rates to minimize grout and expansion joints.  The colors needed were produced with oxides which have impact on fusion and fired shrinkage.  Very subtle manipulation of the constituent materials had to be made to satisfy the requirements of the project.

-Campbell House, Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA
The discovery of several small pieces of broken tile below a bathroom floor served as the basis for this restoration project.  The pieces suggested an original job using tile from or very similar to that which was manufactured by American Encaustic which suspended manufacturing in the 1930's.  A mother mold was made from tile located in another turn-of-the-century home for producing the hand-pressed cap tile.  One- half inch wide liner bars were cut from a copper-glazed tile and the field tile was produced from a square- edged 3" x 6" dust-pressed body with multiple layers of porcelain slips and a clear glaze.

- Lake County Courthouse, Quarry Tile Co., St. Petersburg, FL
This project consisted of the production of handmade tile to be used in integral restoration of portions of the courthouse public areas.  Two separate 28 degree bent tile shapes were made to wrap three-sided pilasters. Two chair rail designs were matched for wrapping both 90 degree corners as well as 45 degree corners and for capping the general wall field tile.

SELECTED CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
-AMERICAN INVESTORS FINANCIAL (AMVESTORS FINANCIAL) Topeka, KS
-AQUILIA ENERGY
-ASTRA MERK
-BLUE CROSS, BLUE SHIELD of Kansas City
-CERNER CORPORATION–World Headquarters, North Kansas City
-FIRESTONE, Arizona
-FREISEN GALLERIES, NW Nazarene College, Nampa, ID
-H & R BLOCK, Kansas City, MO
-IFT CORPORATION
-LEWIS, RICE, FINGERSH Law Offices
-NATIONAL ASSOC. OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS Facility
-QUARRY TILE CO., Spokane, WA
-QUINTLES Facility, NC
-SPRINT Facility, Richardson, TX
-SPRINT Facility, Denver, CO
-UTILICORP UNITED, Kansas City, MO
-WEST ONE BANK (now US BANK), Boise, ID

SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
-Richard and Lynn Baiter, Spokane, WA
-Craig and Jennifer Bramscher, Ashland, OR
-Pat and Carol West, Sandpoint, ID, Palm Desert, CA
-Dr. Roald Hoffmann, Cornell University, Ithica, NY
-Jeff and Danielle Gordman, Omaha, NE

OTHER RELATED EXPEREINCE
-2002 -Summer Artist-in-Residence, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
-1994 -Great Teachers Program Award for Distinguished Scholarship, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
-1993 -Three works selected for and included in the 3-N Productions film, BENNY AND JOON.