Anne Hirondelle

Anne Hirondelle was born in Vancouver, Washington. Both geographically and conceptually, Anne’s work has changed, as she has changed from feminist turned ceramist to vessel based to sculpture based. While Anne has maintained her career from the corner of Jefferson County in serene and scenic Port Townsend, it has been one full of shifts and national recognition. As nominator Francine Seders puts it, “she is determined to push her work in new directions rather than stay within the comfortable parameters.” Anne’s ability to do so has brought her consistent attention from the press. Her work has been featured in the May 2009 publication of Ceramics Monthly and the 2008 October/November edition of American Craft. More than 30 years into her career, notice such as this is admirable.

Anne’s promise was recognized in 1988 with a Visual Arts Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and as a Betty Bowen finalist in 2004. Her work, made locally and exhibited globally, is found regularly in Seattle at the Francine Seders Gallery but has also been exhibited at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, the Kitteredge Gallery in Tacoma, and the renowned ceramic galleries of Garth Clark. Her work has been to SOFA and traveled in a White House Collection of American Crafts. The Museum of Arts and Design, SAFECO, Stanford University and the White House are a few who house Anne’s work in their public collections.

The 2009 panel for the Irving and Yvonne Twining Humber Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement saw in Anne a quiet and steady voice, a long interesting career, and an astounding, remarkable woman whom, in their eyes, honors the legacy and memory of Yvonne Twining Humber herself.