Tom Decker
Education
M.F.A. Spatial Art, San Jose State University
A.B. Visual Design, University of California, Berkeley
Solo Exhibitions
2011: Table of Contents, Robert Else Gallery, California State University, Sacramento
2007: Tom Decker Ignition, Ayala Museum Artist’s Space, Makati City, Philippines
Selected Group Exhibitions
2012:Shine, Members Showcase, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA
Ink & Clay 28, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA
CreativiTea, ACGI Gallery, Berkeley, CA
18th Annual Sculpture in the Garden, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CA
2012 Mungyeong Traditional Teabowl Festival, Mungyeong, Korea
2011: 2011 Mungyeong Traditional Teabowl Festival, International Ceramic Art
Exchange Exhibition, Mungyeong, Korea
Green, Members Showcase, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA
Faculty Exhibition, City College of San Francisco, CA
2010: MarinArts Open Studios, San Anselmo, CA
GASA Art Auction Exhibition, Sacramento, CA
Hands in Clay, Regional Juried Exhibition, Mistlin Gallery, Modesto, CA
Objects of Virtue, National Juried Exhibition, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
2009: 12th International Macsabal Woodfire Festival, City Center, Osan, Korea
15th Annual Sculpture in the Garden Show, Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CA
Hands in Clay, Regional Juried Exhibition, Tidewater Gallery, Stockton, CA
Clay Mentors II, Clay Mix Gallery, Fresno, CA
Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair, Jingdezhen, China
2008: Sa Simula, College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines, Diliman
11th International Macsabal Woodfire Festival, Muhlyanggi, Osan, Korea
19th California Clay Competition, The Artery, Davis, CA
Feats of Clay XXI, National Juried Exhibition, Gladding McBean, Lincoln, CA
Exploring the Surface, ACGA Group Show, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA
2007: 10th International Macsabal Woodfire Festival, Osan, Korea
Follow the Line, Traditions Revealed by ACGA Artists, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA
Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair, Jingdezhen, China
2006: Internationalen Wettbewerb Salzbrand Kerramik 2006, Koblenz, Germany
Contemporary Ceramics 2006, National Juried Exhibition, Grand Junction, CO
Get Fired, Regional Juried Exhibition, Davis Art Center, Davis, CA
60 Years of Fire, Form, & Function, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
2005: Grand Opening, Artscape Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
Feats of Clay XVI, National Juried Exhibition, Gladding McBean, Lincoln, CA
Pots: Objects of Virtue, National Juried Exhibition, Walnut Creek, CA
Clay (re)Emerge, Red Ink Studios, San Francisco, CA
2004: From the Fire, Regional Juried Exhibition, Alameda, CA
East Meets West, Regional Juried Exhibition, Danville Fine Arts, Danville, CA
Woodstoke: The Essence of Fire, American River College, Sacramento, CA
2003: Core, Memorial Union Gallery, University of California, Davis
An Affinity for the Cup, Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA
Feats of Clay XVI, National Juried Exhibition, Gladding McBean, Lincoln, CA
14th California Clay Competition, The Artery, Davis, CA
One of a Kind, Contract Design Center, San Francisco, CA
CSUS Art Department Faculty Exhibition, California State University, Sacramento
2002: Internationalen Wettbewerb Salzbrand Kerramik 2006, Koblenz, Germany
Seeing Differently, Adode Art Center Gallery, Castro Valley, CA
Assignment Art, Else Gallery, California State University, Sacramento
Winter in the City Hall, John O’Lague Galleria, Hayward, CA
2001: 12th California Clay Competition, The Artery, Davis, CA
Feats of Clay XII, National Juried Exhibition, Gladding McBean, Lincoln, CA
2000: Health Through Art, Alameda County Department of Health Service, CA
1999: 10th California Clay Competition, The Artery, Davis, CA
Salon des ICA, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
Build a Better Birdhouse, Traveling Exhibition, Alameda County, CA
1998: The Mind’s Eye, Adobe Art Center Gallery, Castro Valley, CA
Night of 101 Cups, Corinth Ceramics Studio, Los Angeles, CA
1997: Art Department Faculty Exhibition, Ohlone College, Fremont, CA
Oregon Clay/97 National, Renshaw Gallery, McMinville, OR
Beyond Production, Herbert Sanders Gallery, San Jose State University, CA
Across the Tracks, WORKS/San Jose Gallery, San Jose, CA
1996: California Collegiate Ceramics Competition, Riverside, CA
You’re Naked Without It, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
18th North American Sculpture Exhibition, Golden, CO
1995: Rice, WORKS/San Jose Gallery, San Jose, CA
1994: Three Sculptors, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
1993: An Environmental Imperative for Art, San Jose State University, CA
1992: Overtime II, 590 Second Street, San Francisco, CA
1991: Art Against War, Artist’s Television Access Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Periodical Reviews & Photographs
“Art reflects life for Tom Decker”, The State Hornet, California State University, Sacramento, September 26, 2011
“Hand-made with care”, The Contra Costa Times, Livermore, CA, November 27, 2009
“New sculpture studio plans ‘Face Jug’ workshop,” The Independent, Livermore, CA, July 30, 2009
“Cross-cultural Influences of Contemporary Philippine Ceramic Artists”, NCECA Journal, Erie, CO, April 2009
“An Early Advantage in Overseas Markets”, The Crafts Report, Iola, WI April 2008
“Follow the Line”, Clay Times, Waterford, VA, July/August 2007
“Tom Decker ignites”, Manila Standard, Manila, Philippines, January 27, 2007
“Blown away”, Marin Independent Journal, San Rafael, CA, October 27, 2005
“ Euphrat opening spotlights faculty”, La Voz, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA, January 3, 2005
“An essence of eight”, The Davis Enterprise, Davis, CA, October 16, 2003
“Upfront”, Ceramics Monthly, Westerville, OH, October 2003
“When the clay speaks”, The Davis Enterprise, Davis, CA, May 15, 2003
“An affinity for the cup”, Kerameiki Techni, Athens, Greece, April 2003
“Winter appears early in City Hall art show”, Castro Valley Forum, Hayward, CA, November 27, 2002
“Amerikaner bringt Objekte personlich vorbei”, handwerk.special.de, Koblenz, Germany, April 17, 2002
“12th California Clay Competition”, Ceramics Monthly, Westerville, OH, December 2001
“Go figure”, Westword, Denver,CO, May 2, 1996
Catalogs
“Mungyeong Traditional Teabowl Festival 2011”, Charlie Youn (curator), Mungyeong, Korea
“13th International Macsabal Woodfire Festival”, Kim Yong Moon (director), Osan, Korea, 2009
“Selections of Ceramic Art from International Masters”, Li Zi Yuan (curator), Zibo, China, 2008
“12th International Macsabal Woodfire Festival”, Kim Yong Moon (director), Osan, Korea, 2008
“California Clay Competition 2008”, Sandi Simon (juror), Davis, CA, 2008
“11th International Macsabal Woodfire Festival”, Kim Yong Moon (director), Osan, Korea, 2007
“2007 International Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition”, Xu Aimin & Janet Mansfield (advisors), Jingdezhen, China, 2007
“Salzbrand Keramik 2006”, Karl-Heinz Scherlag (juror), Handwerkskammer Koblenz, Germany, 2006
“California Clay Competition 2003”, Richard Shaw (juror), Davis, CA, 2003
“Salzbrand Keramik 2002”, Karl-Jurgen Wilbert (juror), Handwerkskammer Koblenz, Germany, 2002
“California Clay Competition 2001”, Yoshio Taylor (juror), Davis, CA, 2001
“California Clay Competition 1999”, John Toki (juror), Davis, CA, 1999
Workshops & Lectures
2012: “Mimbres-inspired bowl making workshop”, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
2011: “Homemade: Interpreting Traditional Folk Art in the Domestic Environment”, 2011 Mungyeong Traditional Teabowl Festival, Mungyeong, Korea
2009: “Cross-cultural Influences of Contemporary Philippine Ceramic Artists”, National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts, 43rd Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ
“Face Jug Workshop”, The Sculpture Studio, Livermore, CA
“Moldmaking Workshop”, The Sculpture Studio, Livermore, CA
2008: “Usapang Luad”, 5-week colloquium series on ceramic art, University of the Philippines, Diliman
2007: “Pit Fire Workshop”, University of the Philippines, Diliman
2006: “Sculpture Workshop”, Orchard Valley Ceramics Arts Guild, San Jose, CA
“Soda Firing Workshop”, Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA
2005: “Pit Fire Workshop”, Pettyjohn Mendoza Pottery School, Makati City, Philippines
Awards
J. William Fulbright Scholar Grant, University of the Philippines, Diliman, 2008
Award of Excellence, From the Fire exhibition, Alameda Art Center, 2004
East Bay Clay Award, 14th California Clay Competition, 2003
First Place, 18th North American Sculpture Exhibition, 1996
Award of Merit & Purchase Award, California Collegiate Ceramics Competition, 1996
First Place Sculpture, Triton Museum Juried Exhibition, 1995
Teaching Experience
2006-present: City College of San Francisco
Courses taught: Beginning Ceramics, Intermediate Ceramics, Advanced Ceramics (wheel throwing and hand building), Ceramic Sculpture I & II, full-time instructor (sabbatical replacement) Fall 2007
2000-2011: California State University, Sacramento
Courses taught: Beginning Ceramics (wheel throwing), Advanced Ceramics (wheel throwing), Beginning Hand-built Ceramics (lower division), Hand-built Ceramic Techniques (upper division), Clay Sculpture (lower division)
1997-2006: Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA
Courses taught: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced Ceramics (wheel throwing and handbuilding), Directed Study in Ceramics (advanced wheel throwing and sculpture)
1996-2000: Ohlone College, Fremont, CA
Courses taught: Beginning Ceramics, Intermediate Ceramics (wheel throwing and handbuilding), Directed Study in Art, Introduction to Graphic Design, Digital Photograpy, Macintosh Graphics
1993-1995: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Courses taught: Introduction to Ceramics (wheel throwing and handbuilding), Two-dimensional Concepts (lower division)
Managerial Experience
1999-2002: Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, Hayward, CA
Coordination of year-round pottery program serving over 200 citizens with 12 instructors and volunteers.
