Conifer Smith’s journey through the arts has been a circuitous one. Her art career did not begin by going to college. A hands-on apprenticeship was eye opening and life changing.
Introduced to ceramic work in high school and continuing that education at an arts center in Ames Iowa, Smith began working with a wood fire potter, learning all aspects of wood firing including building and firing kilns. The apprenticeship was all encompassing, and the life of a studio potter began.
Art fairs are the livelihood of an emerging artist, and travel throughout the Midwest began. A visiting artist suggested Smith apply for a concentration in ceramics at the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina. Along with visiting artists from the area, Ron Meyers, Frank Boyden and Don Reitz increased Smith’s knowledge and expanded the possibilities.
In the evenings, the glass shop caught everyone’s attention and an introduction to the art of glass blowing began a second lifelong passion. Returning to Ames, she met David Martin, PhD in Material Science and Engineering. Immersing herself in this mentorship, Smith learned the art of blowing glass.
After many years of making her way as a studio potter Smith received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, followed by a Master of Arts from Iowa State, Ames. Smith was invited to join the faculty at Kirkwood College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 2001 to teach ceramics and sculpture. There she started the wood fire and glass programs, building kilns and furnaces, and sharing her passions with her students. Concurrently, Smith earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Conifer Smith’s professional work has been featured in publications such as, Wood Fired Ceramics - One Hundred Contemporary Artists and 500 Teapots, Volume 2- Lark Publishing. Smith curated an historic exhibition of ceramics entitled, “4000 Years of Ceramics” and a juried exhibition, “Gems from the Fire”.
Smith’s work has been featured internationally in ceramic workshops in Greece and China, and in numerous workshops and exhibitions throughout the US. Her research has led her to museums and artists in China, Turkey, England, France, and Italy. Her life has been enriched by interacting with students from diverse cultures including Belgium, Korea, Japan, China, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. Her work has been part of an effort to bridge cultures and promote a supportive learning environment.
Currently, Smith is developing new ceramic work, and focusing on casting glass, as well as conducting research combining ceramic and glass in her artwork.