I have been aware of and connected to art since childhood. I believe it's because I find it easier to connect and express myself thru this form of communication...

My 1st brush with recognition was in 1968 with weekly drawings collected and put into booklet form. All through school I was involved in extra curricular art activities; from bulletin boards in grade school, to Pep Club posters and murals in high school. I was often asked to do posters for a variety of functions and was featured in the local newspaper.

77-80: I attended the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) and the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA). I won an award at a street fair for some paintings I did while I was a student at UMF. I participated in a few juried student shows.

82-87: I attended University of NC at Asheville (UNCA). I practically lived at this school when I was not holding down a full time job or working part time at my professors gallery, Gallery 10.

*Won purchase award for the UNCA Permanent Collection; I was featured twice at the UNCA Library for Women's Month; and participated in many group exhibits at UNCA and Gallery 10.

*I juried into the October Show with a ceramic piece at the Asheville Museum of Art.

*Taught Super Saturday at UNCA. This is a program for exceptionally bright children. I had a huge group of children for 6 consecutive Saturdays. I also organized and presented the children's work at their own opening at the end of the 6 weeks. I was a huge success.

*Taught at F.O.P. for the City of Asheville. This was a program for underprivileged children.

87-89: I attended Haywood Community College in the Production Crafts Program.

*I earned membership into High Country Crafters.

*Juried into the Fine Art Show at Asheville Museum of Art with a drawing.

*Demonstrated wheel throwing to fourth graders at the Smith McDowell House in Asheville for aprox. 5 years. This was a four day program that took place every spring. I was voted the Best Demonstrator.

89-91: Worked at Sono Press

1991: I entered my 1st Street Fair, "Church Street Fair", in Waynesville, NC. I won $200 for 2nd prize.

1993: I juried into Southern Highland Craftsman Guild. This is the premier craft guild on the east coast and in the US. This was no small feat.

1996: I juried into St. Augustine Fine Art Show in Florida.

*I was invited into a group show honoring Gary Clontz of Haywood Community College, "20 Years of Teaching Excellence in Clay."

1997: I was invited to a 4 person invitational, "Dedicated Clay," to honor retiring professor Elma Johnson of UNCA. Other participants were Virgina Schotchie, Chairman, Dept. of Art at University of SC; Ron Dale, Chairman, Dept. of Ceramics at University of MS; Mary Lynn Portera, Instructor of Ceramics & Sculpture at Baylor HS in Chattanooga, TN; and me Cat Jarosz, self-employed Studio Potter.

*Interviewed and published in Andrea Gross and Irv Green's, "Handcrafted in the Blue Ridge Mountains." This book featured only the best crafters and was juried.

1998: Published in Lark Books, "The Ceramic Design Book." Thousands of slides were received from around the world and only 300 slides were selected.

1999: I juried into the Piedmont Craftsmen Guild located in Winston Salem, NC.

2001: Invited in a group show by NCECA for a bus tour held at Haywood Community College.

*Invited to show for Women's Month at Blue Ridge Community College.

2006: My work was featured in 500 Pitchers, published by Lark Books.

*Awarded Best Platter by the Carolina Potters Guild.

*Demonstrated making a platter on HGTV's "That's Clever," Episode #244.

2007: American Craft Council - Southeast Region annual juried exhibition. A juried exhibition of craftspeople from eleven southeastern states, in conjunction with the 2007 ACC- SE Conference (Sept 6-8 ) at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts , Gatlinburg , TN. I had a teapot set juried into this most prestigious exhibition.

2008: My work was featured in 500 Plates, Platter, and Chargers, published by Lark Books.

*Merit Award for Golden Tea Set in the 41st Annual Juried Exhibition 2008 at the Rocky Mountain Arts Center.

How to describe my work?
I create "high definition" functional stoneware. My striking, beautiful and user-friendly works invite you to explore, use, and enjoy them. While the whimsical, lively qualities of my forms make them difficult to ignore. I build each piece with function firmly in mind.

Everything I do revolves around function, like placing the handle in the best position, making a dripless spout, and choosing the right clay body and glaze treatment. I strive to go beyond functional requirements to make works of art that anyone can use on a daily basis.

I hand sculpt and carve each of my pieces to give a unique artistry and movement to the final form. I make my own slips, glazes, and oversprays to create touchable, durable surfaces that complement my forms. The distinctive slip trail technique I use to decorate each piece requires considerable time and skill but makes my work special and enlivens the surfaces.