DSU Professor Glen Blakley honored, ceramic arts education

Professor Glen Blakley | Photo courtesy of DSU

ST. GEORGE – Dixie State University art Professor Glen Blakley was recently presented with a “Certificate of Appreciation and Gratitude” by the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition Foundation in recognition of his support of education for the ceramic arts.

“This is a very thoughtful consideration that they made to give me an award, but the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition Foundation is doing so much work to help kids throughout the country,” Blakley said. “They really help change the lives of kids. To see the work that some 8, 9 or 10-year-old kids are doing now is just mindboggling. It’s really wonderful to be involved and to (have) been able to get (ceramics education) off the ground.”

Blakley has been a longtime supporter of ceramics education not only in Utah but the entire country. He, along with several other professors and instructors, helped create the Regina Brown Teacher Development Award, which is aimed to continue the work and ideals of dedicated art teachers through the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition Foundation.

Blakley completed his master’s in fine arts at Brigham Young University in 1973. Prior to his tenure at Dixie State, formerly Dixie State College of Utah, he taught art at Oregon City High School and at BYU. He has also directed travel study programs at DSU to art museums in the western United States and Europe for more than 30 years.

Since his arrival on the Dixie State campus in 1976, Blakley has worked to bring art experiences to the institution, the St. George community and the state of Utah. He helped establish the St. George Art Museum, for which he was its first director for six years, and was the first director of the St. George Arts Festival in 1979. In addition, Blakley served on the Dixie Task Force, St. George Arts Commission, Southwest Utah Arts Council, St. George Film Commission and the Utah Arts Council Advisory Board. In addition to this honor, Blakley was presented with the “Fellow of the Council” award by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts in 2008.

The National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition Foundation was created to support quality K-12 ceramic education in the United States. The goals of the foundation are to support the exhibition at the highest level possible, support teachers of ceramics who are looking for assistance and to raise money to provide scholarships for students wishing to study ceramics.

Submitted by: Dixie State University

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Professor Glen Blakley | Photo courtesy of DSU
Professor Glen Blakley | Photo courtesy of DSU

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