Pendleton artist wins city grant to serve as Arts Ambassador

Terri Kern, ceramic artist, is one of seven artists to receive a $6,000 grant from the Cincinnati Arts Ambassador Fellowship.

Kern specializes in brightly colored, highly glazed ceramics, but her plan for the grant is to take a “mini-sabbatical” from her everyday artwork to explore new ideas and techniques in a body of sculptural work. The concept of her proposed artwork is the idea of balance.

“To make my work accessible to the public, I will open up my studio at the Pendleton Art Center on Final Friday,” Kern wrote in her grant application. She will also feature her work during Second Look Saturdays.

“My studio building is in the Pendleton neighborhood, which was selected to participate in the Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) in August of this year,” Kern wrote. “That puts me in the unique position of being able to capitalize on the increased public awareness of the arts in the Pendleton neighborhood and the potential upsurge in community involvement.”

This grant’s potential impact on the city is significant, she says.

“One of the things that draw people to any city is things that are happening,” says Kern. “Even though it is very important to have the arts, there is also an economic impact from these grants.”

Kern says that the Final Friday attendees often dine out in the city, get drinks or go shopping—all within city limits. She hopes seeing her work will inspire patrons to return and explore what else Cincinnati has to offer. In addition, Kern’s artwork is also open for Second Look Saturday.

Kern is actively involved in the community and created the Joyce Clancy Legacy Fund, which works to provide seed money for ceramics programming for non-profit organizations.

Kern’s artwork will be displayed at the sculpture show at the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Friday, Nov. 16, and at the 18th annual Studio Collection Holiday Sale, which features 12 women artists, on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Do Good:
• Take a virtual tour of the Pendleton Arts Center.

• Find out more about the city’s Arts Ambassors.

• Keep up with Kern and her peers on Facebook.

By Stephanie Kitchens