Janet Richardson Baughman (1947-2013)
Biography

A move to an eighty-acre farm in Western Michigan from Detroit suited Janet Richardson Baughman to a tee. She and her three siblings loved country life, and relished the many humorous adjustments to their new surroundings. The one-room schoolhouse she attended, for example, contrasted sharply to her earlier city school. Sports programs had been fairly sophisticated in the city. Rural sports consisted of her teacher piling everyone in her car, including the trunk, and then driving the children to another one-room schoolhouse for games. When Janet reached the sixth grade, a chapter in American history closed because all of the one-room schoolhouses were annexed by the nearest cities, but that unusual educational experience is something Janet fondly remembers.

Growing up in a family that was very artistic, it is not surprising that Janet loved drawing. She and her brothers and sisters would make Christmas decorations for the Christmas tree and had ongoing art projects all year long. Her architect father was an artist in his free time. As the children have become adults, they are all involved in artistic endeavors from carving to sculpture.

Starting college with the intention of majoring in speech and drama, Janet took an art class only because it was required. She found the art classes so appealing that she took one after another. Eventually, having taken every art class offered, the university had to design independent studies for her.

With her beloved horses back on the farm, Janet discovered a new passion, and that was ceramics. First working as a waitress during college to earn income, Janet later became a Student Assistant and lived at the Ceramics Studio. As an assistant, she would make clay and glazes, fire the kiln, and assist the instructor however she could. At first, she had planned to become a high school teacher, but she was encouraged to earn her graduate degree and pursue her artistic endeavors, in addition to teaching. Janet graduated in 1975 with a BFA in Ceramics and Weaving from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Following her mentor’s advise, she went to Indiana State University in Indiana for her graduate work where she studied under Dick Hay. She joined the National Council for Education in the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), which is a ceramics networking organization. She was on the Board of Directors for two years. Janet received her MFA in 1977.

Moving back to Western Michigan, Janet found teaching positions with various colleges and taught art history, ceramics and a myriad of classes. However, she never forgot her mentor’s advise which was to continue her craft. Janet met a businessman/artist, John Baughman, who sold her artwork around the country. Janet bought a studio and her work was selling so well that she no longer needed to supplement her income with teaching. Janet and John had a business relationship for several years until life took one of those magical twists, and their relationship blossomed into much more. Later, the two of them were married.

Janet Richardson described her life as an idyllic rural existence with her artist/husband. She is quoted saying he was “the love of her life.” They worked together in the studio, and raised and trained horses, they were very active in their community and in the family life of their three children and grandchildren. She died peacefully with her husband of 28 years, John, at her side October 29, 2014.

Born: 1947
Died: 2014

Education:
MFA, Ceramics, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana, 1977
BFA, Ceramics, Weaving, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, 1974

Artist Statement

“I find inspiration in my surroundings and environment. Small vignettes of tranquility are drawn from the property my husband John and I own in Northern Michigan. The land and the meadows flow together to create a distinct landscape, captured with atmospheric effects that the human eye interprets, rather than the clear focus of a camera.” – Janet Richardson Baughman

Exhibitions

Select Exhibitions

2009
ArtExpo, New York, New York

2008
Boston International Fine Art Show
ArtExpo, New York, New York

2007
Boston International Fine Art Show
ArtExpo, New York, New York

2006
Boston International Fine Art Show
ArtExpo, New York, New York

2005
Boston International Fine Art Show
ArtExpo, New York, New York
ArtExpo. Los Angeles, California
PPFA Atlanta Art Show, Atlanta, Georgia
PPFA Orlando Art Show, Orlando, Florida
PPFA Chicago Art Show, Chicago, Illinois

1998
Philadelphia Art Show, Philadelphia, PA

1995
Ceramic Invitational, Muskegon Community College, Muskegon, Michigan

1988
Two-person exhibition, “Clay, Canvas, Paper,” Corporate Art Source, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
One person exhibition, Jackie Chalkley Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Earthen V, Michigan Gallery, Detroit, Michigan

1987
One person exhibition, “Food for Thought and a Place to Eat,” Southwest Craft Center, San Antonio, Texas
Two-person exhibition, Corcoran Gallery, Muskegon, Michigan
Clay Treasure Boxes Invitational, Clay Gallery Pinch
Pottery, Northampton, Massachusetts
Showcase Exhibition, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan
Teapot Invitational, Springfield Art Association,
Springfield, Illinois

1986
Six Women, For Decades, Kretschmer Gallery, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Beyond Function, Saginaw Museum of Art, Saginaw, Michigan
Changing Collection, Signature Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts
One person exhibition, Creative Arts Gallery, Central Michigan
University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
Two-person exhibition, Battle Creek Center for the Arts, Battle Creek, Michigan

1985
Group exhibition, Mill Street Gallery, Aspen, Colorado
Architectural Implications for Ceramics, The Hand and
The Spirit Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
NCECA exhibition, Jury Members, Craft Alliance, St.
Louis Missouri, traveling until 1986
Two person exhibition, Susan Cummins Gallery, Mill Valley, California
Recent Works in Clay, Carr Gallery, Houston, Texas

1984
Private Domains, The Elements Gallery, New York, New York
New Work, Malton Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
Festival ’84 Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Invitational Exhibition, Low Fire Gallery, Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, Michigan
Michigan Ceramics ’84, Detroit Artist Market, Detroit, Michigan

1983
Group show, Stone Press Gallery, Seattle, Washington
Two person show, Jesse Besser Museum, Alpena, Michigan
Battle Creek Craft Biennial, The Art Center, Battle Creek, Michigan
Michigan Ceramics ’83, Selo-Sheval Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan

1982
Altar-Cations, collaborative installation with James Kuiper, John Baughman Gallery and Association, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Tribute, Invitational group show, Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, Michigan
“What I Did on My Summer Vacation,” Group show, John Baughman Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan
National Crafts Exhibition, Gavelston Arts Gallery, Gavelston, Texas
Intimate Spaces, NCECA Invitational, Gallery I, San Jose State University, San Jose, California, traveling until 1983
100 at 100, Invitational, Artistac Sass Gallery, Hilton
Head Island, South Carolina
Michigan Ceramics ’82, An Exploration in Red, Detroit
Artist Market, Detroit, Michigan
Renaissance ’81, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan
1981
Ceramic Expressions, one person show, John Baughman Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Lake Superior Craft Biennial, Tweed Museum, Deluth, Minnesota
Group Show, Artisans Gallery, Wilmette, Illinois
Two women show, Overvoode Gallery, Muskegon Community College, Muskegon, Michigan
Michigan Ceramics ’81, Detroit Artist Market, Detroit, Michigan

1980
Containers ’80, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Impressions, one person show, Campus Center Gallery, Grand Valley State Colleges, Allendale, Michigan
Michigan Artists 80/81, organized by Detroit Institute of Art, Kalamazoo Institute of Art, Kalamazoo, Michigan
All State Drawing and Sculpture Competition, Battle Creek Center for the Arts, Battle Creek, Michigan
Festival ’80, Art Council of Greater Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, Michigan
53rd Annual Regional Exhibition, Hackley Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan
Primary Art, Artistic Sass Gallery, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Michigan Ceramics ’80, Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, Michigan
Small Works, East Gallery, New York University, New York, New York
Seventh Invitational Ceramic Exhibition, in conjunction with NCECA National Conference, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan
Seven Artists, Faculty Show, Gallery Luisa, East Grand Rapids, Michigan

1979
Beaux Arts Designer/Craftsmen ’79, Columbus Museum of
Art, Columbus, Ohio

1980
Festival ’79, Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Battle Creek Biennial, Battle Creek Center for the Arts, Battle Creek, Michigan
Michigan Ceramics ’79, Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, Michiga
National Clay, Form/Function/Fantasy, Long Beach Gallery, Long Beach, California
Mid-Michigan Show, Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, Michigan
Pensacola National Crate Exhibitions, Visual Arts Gallery, Pensacola Community College, Pensacola, Florida
New York University Small Works Competition, East Gallery, New York University, New York, New York
13th Annual National Drawing and Small Sculpture Show, Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, Texas

1978
Arts of Fire and Fiber, Center for the Arts, Mt. Clematis, Michigan
A Close-up View, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Two Women Show, Gallery 28, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Central Michigan Area Show, Creative Arts Gallery, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
Hackley Regional Show, Hackley Art Museum, Muskegon, Michigan

1977
Michigan Artist Invitational Campus Center Gallery, Grand Valley State Colleges, Allendale, Michigan
Sixth Annual National Ceramics Invitational, Utah
Designer/Craftsmen, Ogden State College, Ogden, Utah
Indiana Women, Yesterday and Today, Turman Gallery, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana
M.F.A. Exhibit, Turman Gallery, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana
14th Annual Wabash Valley Art Exhibition, Sheldon Swope Museum, Terre Haute, Indiana
Ceramic Invitational, Chicago Art Institute, Chicago,
Illinois, Lake Superior International Crafts Exhibition,
Tweed Museum, Deluth, Minnesota Indiana Arts, Tirey
Memorial Union, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana