MONROE, Mich. – Monroe County Community College welcome Benjamin Watkins, an Illinois-based artist with 25 years of clay experience, as part of its Visiting Artist Series.
The artist will hold a free workshop, give a presentation and have a public art display on MCCC's Main Campus at 1555 S. Raisinville Rd. in Monroe.
All are free and open to the public.
Watkins will showcase his skills at the workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 in Room 120 of Founder’s Hall. That evening, the artist will present from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Atrium of La-Z-Boy Center.
Those interested in seeing Watkins’ artwork in on display will have the chance to do so Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Oct. 15 through Nov. 15. The display will be in the lobby of the Library, which is located on the first floor of the Campbell Academic Center.
Watkins has experience as both a painter and potter. He graduated in 2002 from Emporia State University in Kansas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting, and later, from Bradley University in Illinois where he earned aa Master of Fine Arts in painting and ceramics in 2005. Clay is an art form that allowed his creations to go beyond the two-dimensional. He now specializes in nature-inspired functional pottery and particularly enjoys glazing and atmospheric firing, with experience in soda, salt and wood firings.
Today, Watkins shares his passion for ceramics through his professional studio, Fire Maple Pottery, located in Peoria Heights, Ill.
Each year, Monroe County Community College and The Foundation at MCCC host the Visiting Artist Series, a component of the college’s Campus/Community Events Season. Season sponsors of cultural events at MCCC include La-Z-Boy and Consumers Energy.
For more information about Benjamin Watkins or the Visiting Artist Series, contact Therese O’Halloran, assistant professor of art, at tohalloran@monroeccc.edu.
About Monroe County Community College
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition. The college’s mission is to enrich lives in the community by providing opportunity through student-focused, affordable, quality higher education and other learning experiences. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center at MCCC-Bedford is located at 7777 Lewis Ave., Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu.
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