About the Artist

I have enjoyed art since I can remember. I admired my mother’s watercolors and pastels in her sketchbook before I was old enough for kindergarten. My sister and I would spend hours at a time coloring and painting on rainy days at our northern Wisconsin family cottage.

In high school my interests changed to math, science music and photography. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in engineering mechanics and from Stanford University with a master’s degree in civil engineering. My artistic talents went into engineering design work for a large computer firm in California.

After midlife I returned to the visual arts and through classes and workshops I found my specific calling in clay sculpture. Moving to central Oregon gave me incentive to pursue sculpture; and with my wife’s encouragement, I designed and built an art studio and began sculpting and conducting sculpture classes. I have joined two groups of professional artists who give me continuing exposure, contacts and encouragement.

Artist Statement

Norman K. Frater is a Central Oregon sculptor who portrays the spirit and beauty of life in his figurative and portraiture works in clay and bronze. He admires Rodin’s sculptures and often is reminded of his statement, “It is simply the power of character which makesbeauty in art.” Norman now sculpts the figure, revealing the inner,quiet moments of human truth and often depicting sadness, reflection or stillness. He uses moist clay that must be dried completely, kiln fired, then colored using oxide stains and layered acrylic patinas but he has also cast some ceramic originals into bronze. His motivation and passion for sculpture come from experiences in photographing nature, from a career in design engineering, from his mother who taught him to draw and appreciate art, and from his spiritual connection with the Creator.

Education:

98-2004	Figure drawing, art history, sculpture, metalcraft and other art classes, Central Oregon Community College, Bend, OR;
2001	Bronze Sculpture class, Nye Bennett Miller, Tumalo, OR;
2000	Garden Sculpture class, Georgies Clay Company, Eugene, OR;
1996-97	Figurative Sculpture classes, Sunnyvale Community Center, Sunnyvale, CA; Portrait in Clay Workshop, Elizabeth Buss, San Jose, CA;
1991-96	Creative Painting Workshops, The Painting Experience, San Francisco, CA;
1994	Level I Expressive Arts Therapy Training, The Person Centered Expressive Therapy Institute, Santa Rosa, CA.
1990	Art for Adult Children, August O’Conner, Santa Cruz, CA
1978	Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Structures, Leland Stanford Junior University, Stanford, CA;
1968	Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI;

Teaching and Commissions:

I conduct several sculpture workshops each year and tutor students at my private studio. I am available for portraiture and figurative commission work in ceramic and bronze. I have completed sculpture commissions for friends and relatives, and a corporate installation in San Jose. I am available for teaching sculpture workshops or sessions at schools or other venues and have also had small classes of middle school kids at my studio.

Affiliations:

Arts Central, Bend, OR www.artscentraloregon.org
High Desert Art League, Bend, OR www.highdesertartleague.com
Clay Guild of the Cascades, Bend, OR www.clayguildofthecascades.com

Special Recognition/Awards:

2005	Faculty Purchase Award by Central Oregon Community College
2005	First place Sculpture, Central Oregon Community College student art show
2000	First place in 3D Design, Central Oregon Community College student art show
1998	Second place in “That’s Amore” juried show at Mirror Pond Gallery, Bend, Oregon
1998	Installation of figurative ceramic sculpture for conference room at IBM Corporation, San Jose, California

Galleries That Have Shown Work:

N. K. Frater is represented by the following galleries:
Inspirations Art Gallery, Madras, OR
Falcon Crest Gallery, Eagle Crest, OR

Frater’s Sculptures have been exhibited in group and juried shows at the following galleries:
Barclay Gallery, Sisters, OR
Brown’s Gallery, Boise, ID
Enid Joy Mount Gallery, Keizer, OR
Gallery at Pinckney Center, Bend, OR
Falcon Crest Gallery, Eagle Crest, OR
Harrington’s Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR
Inspirations Art Gallery, Madras, OR
Mirror Pond Gallery, Bend, OR
Tower Theatre, Bend, OR
Country Fair Art Show, Episcopal Church, Sisters, OR
Columbia River Bank, Bend, OR
Douglas Fine Jewelry Design, Bend, OR
Bend Public Library, Bend, OR
Redmond Public Library, Redmond, OR
Sunriver Public Library, Sunriver, OR
Sunriver Lodge, Betty Gray Art Gallery, Sunriver, OR