2017

CVPA alum named Artist in Residence

CVPA graduate Seth Rainville ’96 has been selected as a 2017-2018 Artist in Residence at the Ceramics Program – Office for the Arts at Harvard.

Seth Rainville is a potter, educator, and curator living in New Bedford, MA, where he divides his time between dedication to his craft and passion for promoting the arts and artists.

College of Visual & Performing Arts (CVPA) graduate Seth Rainville '96 has been selected as a 2017-2018 Artist in Residence at the Ceramics Program – Office for the Arts at Harvard.

I'm really proud of what is coming up for me at Harvard.
Seth Rainville '96

"Mile Marker 112973"

Rainville is a ceramics artist, educator, and curator. He graduated from CVPA, summa cum laude, in 1996 and was a post-baccalaureate student in 1996-97.

His work diverges into two distinct categories. "Rainville-ware" is a functional line of ceramics devoted to the art of entertaining, while his signature "Ink-ware" gives him the freedom to be a storyteller. He fires in a variety of atmospheres and temperatures while pushing the boundaries of his material.

"Mettlach inspired beer steins"

He is also passionate promoter of the arts and artists. Most recently, he has been working with the Falmouth Art Center on Cape Cod to make connections between the creative economy and the general public.

"Recuperate"

"I'm really proud of what is coming up for me at Harvard," Rainville said.

"I’ll have studio space and will prepare work for an exhibition at the end of the year. I’ll also have tremendous access to all that Harvard has to offer: research libraries, conservation practices, museum curatorial access, and more. Beyond that, I will be teaching two classes."

Opportunities to create, teach, collaborate

The residency is offered through the Ceramics Program within the Office for the Arts at Harvard. Resident artists work in dynamic, urban studio spaces and have access to materials, equipment, and facilities including electric, saggar, wood fire, soda, and gas kilns.

The program offers dedicated artists the opportunity to teach, to mount exhibitions, and to participate in academic collaborations within the Harvard community. Artists are encouraged to engage in research, professional development, and creative problem solving.