William Catling, MA, MFA
Professor of Art, Chair-Department of Art
Azusa Pacific University, Azusa CA
Education
1994 Master of Fine Arts/Sculpture, California State University Fullerton, CA
1985 Master of Arts/Sculpture, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
1977 Bachelor of Arts/Sculpture and Painting, San Francisco State University, CA
Leadership
2003 - 2014, 2017 – Present Chair, Department of Art, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
2006 - 2018 Founding Director of the MFA in Visual Art, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
2015 – Present Director, Unfolding Moments, non-profit for arts and worship, Riverside, CA
1999 – Present Full Professor
1996 – 1999 Associate Professor
1991 – 1996 Assistant Professor
Teaching
1991 - Present Professor of Art, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
1991 - 1997 Adjunct Art Professor, Biola University, La Mirada, CA
1980 - 1990 Art Instructor, Bridgemont High School, San Francisco, CA
Grants
2016 Duke Divinity Innovative Leadership Grant for Art & Worship and Service
2015 Duke Divinity Foundations of Christian Leadership Seminar
2014 SURE Grant, Scholarly research grant collaborating with a premier undergraduate student
2011 Planning Grant, Faculty Research Council awarded for pursuit of a 35 year retrospective art exhibition and catalogue.
2004 Creative Teaching Grant awarded for “Art and Social Action” a semester experience for all sculptural students in the
Art Department resulting in an exhibition and DVD.
Lectures
2021 “Navigating the Deep Pelagic,” Exploring themes in artist’s recent work, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa CA
2020 “Spirituality and Art: towards creating a theoretical framework,” The Arts in Society Conference, Galway, Ireland
2019 “The Art of William Catling: Historical Influences and Contemporary Connections,” American Museum of Ceramic Art,
Pomona, CA
2018 “To wash in the pool of Siloam,” How seeing like an artist opens the eyes of the soul, Grace College Chapel, Winona,
2016 “Lingering at the brooding rim,” Sabbatical Lecture, APU, Azusa CA
2014 “Art+Re/Search,” Keynote Speaker, The Verge Conference, Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C., Canada
2014 Building a University Studio Art Program, Judy Chicago Symposium, Penn State
2013 “Personal Mythology: An Artist’s Narrative,” The Verge Conference, Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C., Canada
2012 “Natural Rhythms” Artist lecture, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
2011 “Sustaining a Thriving Studio Practice as an Arts Administrator,” NASAD Conference, Cincinnati, OH
2008 Art and Meaning, Museum of Biblical Art, New York, NY
2007 Art and Meaning, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
2002 Art and God, So Pasadena Christian Church, So Pasadena, CA
2000 Artist Lecture Series: Art and Faith, Riverside Arts Group, Riverside, CA
1999 The Artist and the Sacred Life, Workshop, First Congregational Church, Los Angeles, CA
1998 Focus Series Guest Artist - Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
Museum Exhibitions
2019 “Art: theatre for the Mind,” Inland Empire Museum of Art, Rancho Cucamonga. CA
2015 “Inland Empire & Beyond”, Inland Empire Museum of Art Permanent Collection, Millard Sheets Art Center, Pomona, CA
2015 “Figuratively Speaking”, Chaffey Community Museum of Art, Ontario, CA
2012 “Of times and days”, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
2010, 2011, 2012 kilnopening.edu – American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
2005 3rd World Ceramic Biennale, Award Winner, Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, Korea
April 23-June 19, 2005
2000 – 2002 Ceramic National 2000 Traveling Exhibition
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, 14 April 2002-23 June 2002
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY, 6 October 2000-11 February 2001
Solo Art Exhibitions
2021 “Navigating the Deep Pelagic,” The Progress Gallery, Pomona, CA
2018 “Effigies of the fragile”, Art Gallery, Grace College, Winona, Indiana
2018 “Sentinels of True”, Gresham Art Gallery, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino, CA
2016 “Lingering at the brooding rim,” Quad Gallery, Riverside, CA
2013 “Measure of Duration,” Cuttress Fine Art, Pomona, CA
2012 “Of times and days”, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
2010 “Mythos of Being”, Art Cube Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2009 “Another Realm”, Edge Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2007 “Experience-Memory-Reflection-2 Decades”, Mt. San Antonio College Gallery, Walnut, CA
2005 Figurative Sculpture, William DeBilzan Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2001 "On the eve of winter", La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
2000 Figurative Sculpture, William DeBilzan Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
1999 "sharedsufferingspirit", So California Artist's Gallery, Arts Colony, Pomona, CA
1999 "Shared Sufferings", Diane Nelson Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
Art Reviews
2012 “Artist Spotlight” Riverside Press Enterprise, August 30, by Celia Cudiamat and Jill Jones
2010 “Mythos of Being”, Orange County Register by Roberta Carasso
2004 “William Catling…” Artscene, October 2004, by Daniella Walsh
2003 "Journey Within" Pomona Daily Bulletin, Sunday, August 3, 2003
2000 "William Catling: Shared Suffering" by Roberta Carasso, Ceramics Monthly, December, Volume 48, Number 10
1999 "New Pomona Artists' Gallery Features Multi-Media Art Pieces" by Lois Evezich, The San Gabriel Valley Examiner,
December 20-26
Museum Permanent Collections
2015 Inland Empire Museum of Art, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
“Searching the Stillness/one” 2008, Ceramic, wire and wood
Sculpture donated to the permanent collection of the museum
2005 Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, Korea
“And dreams come rustling in the night” 2002, Stoneware, paper & wire
Sculpture donated to the permanent collection of the museum
2001 Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
“And I go, keeping my endless sorrows” 1997, Oil stain on ceramic and wood
Sculpture donated to the permanent collection of the museum
1996 Musee Memorial du Martyr Juif Inconnu, 17 rue Geoffroy-l'Asnier, Paris, France
“Partial ecstasy, partial horror, which flesh cannot endure”
1994, Ceramic with wood and barbed wire
Sculpture placed in the permanent collection of the museum
Two or Three-Person Art Exhibitions
2009 “Journey of the Spirit”, Art Projekts Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2004 “Journeys” – Orange County Center of Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA
2003 "Journey Within" - Cuttress Fine Art Gallery, Arts Colony, Pomona, CA
2003 "Collaborative Language" - University Art Gallery, Biola University, La Mirada, CA
1999 "Ancient Voices" - Keller Art Gallery, Point Loma Nazarene U., San Diego, CA
1998 “Hushed Voices” - Grand Canyon University Art Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
1996 "Voices" -J.J. Brookings Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1991 "within the shadow" - Gallery House, Palo Alto, CA
Selected Group Art Exhibitions
2021 “Nature of Sculpture II” Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia, CA
2020 Gallery Artists, MAR Gallery, Carmel by the Sea, CA
2020 The Nature of Sculpture II, Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia, CA (COVID delayed)
2019 Gallery Artists, Melissa Morgan Fine Arts, Palm Desert, CA
2016 “Epitaphs-what dreams may come” Biola University, Whittier, CA
2016 “Sculpture in the Garden” Sam Maloof Foundation, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
2015 “The Nature of Sculpture” Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia, CA
2014 “Sculpture in the Garden” Sam Maloof Foundation, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
2012 “The Rose Show” - Main Street Gallery, Pomona, CA
2012 Gallery Artists - Main Street Gallery, Pomona, CA
2012 Selected Gallery Artists - Art Cube Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2011 Gallery Artists - Main Street Gallery, Pomona, CA
2011 Flag Show 911 - Main Street Gallery, Pomona, CA
2011 Chain letter –Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2008 “Gallery Artists” – The Edge Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2001 "Difficult Subjects", art sites gallery, Greenport, NY
2001-2007
Annual group exhibition of gallery artists, William DeBilzan Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2000 "Material: Earth - Size: Small - Ceramic Sculpture", Kunstforum Kirchberg,
Kirchberg, Switzerland, 6/18 - 9/24, Curators: C. Abbuhl and H. Dahler
1999 "Common Clay", William Catling, Philip Cornelius, Patrick Shia Crabb, Barbara
Hoshimoto, Susan Rawcliffe, Angels Gate Cultural Center Gallery, San Pedro, CA
1999 "Common Threads", Diane Nelson Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
1998 “Five Sculptors” - Diane Nelson Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
1998 “International Contemporary Ceramics” -Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
1997 "Small Works" - J.J. Brookings Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1996 "19" - The Gallery Downstairs, Pasadena, CA
1994 STATE OF THE ARTS - City of Brea Gallery, Brea, CA
1994 Searching For The Hidden - Queens College, Cambridge, England
1993 “Black and White” - Long Beach Arts, Long Beach, CA
1992 "Walking The Line" - Biola University Gallery, La Mirada, CA
1991 Religious Art Festival - Santa Monica, CA Juror: Ruth Weisberg
1991 "Stuck in the Mud" - Gallery House, Palo Alto, CA
1990 Ceramic Sculpture Show - Gallery House, Palo Alto, CA
1990 "Seeking Refuge" - Arts Council of San Mateo Gallery, San Mateo, CA,
Curator: Angela Kirkner
1989 Bay Arts 89 - Arts Council of San Mateo Gallery, San Mateo, CA
Juror: Ruth Braunstein
1989 Juried Exhibition - Gallery House, Palo Alto, CA Juror: Joe Zirker
1988 Sculpture on the Avenue of the Arts - 1870 Gallery, Belmont, CA
1982 Hayward Area Forum for the Arts - Hayward, CA, Juror: Ruth Asawa
Publications
2016 “Lingering at the brooding rim,” Catalogue with essay by Critic John Seed
2013 “Measure of Duration,” Catalogue with essay by LA Times Critic, David Pagel and a 35 year exhibition history,
Cuttress Fine Art, Pomona, CA
2012 “Look Into The Mirror: To create is to affirm our shared humanity.” CIVA Seen
2012 “Making Art (takes a long time)” Visual Inquiry: Learning and Teaching Art volume 1 number 3
2012 “Of Times and Days” Catalogue, American Museum of Ceramic Art with essays by: Christy Johnson, Museum Director
and Daniella Walsh, Orange County Art Critic
2005 Faith + Vision, 25 years of Christians In the Visual Arts, Edited by, Cameron Anderson
1999 "A Life With Clay" - Ceramics, Art and Perception, Issue # 35 (Spring)
1998 "The Dance" - Southern CA Women's Caucus for Art, Summer Issue
1998 International Contemporary Ceramics Catalogue, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
Awards
2008 Scenic Design Award-“Snow White” Riverside Children’s Theatre, Inland Theatre Awards
2005 International Competition, World Ceramic Biennale, Korea, Special Prize-Juror’s choice
1996 Faculty of the Year (student selection), Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
1996 Teaching Excellence/Campus Leadership Award, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
1983 Teacher of The Year, Bridgemont High School, San Francisco, CA
Commissions
2003 “A Place Of Healing” the Vivian Felix Memorial circle and bronze angel sculpture with Prof Dave Carlson and Lucien
Saxton, (MFA 2009), Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
2000 “President Haggard: The joy of the Word” Bronze sculpture, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
1999 “Centennial Mural” Designed and coordinated volunteer painters for the mural on the exterior wall of the Theatre at
Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
1999 “Mary Hill: Prayerful beginnings” Bronze portrait of founding President at Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
Community Service Projects
2016 Art and Worship, Mentoring young artist integrating art into APU Chapels, Azusa, CA
2016 – Present
“Clay and 5th Graders,” Integrating art into Powell Elementary School, Azusa, CA
2016 “8th Grade Majors Fair,” Guided experience for young people to imagine a life in the arts, Azusa, CA
2012 “Design a Chapel”, In collaboration with Professor Nathan Huff, led a team of APU and Biola students for four months
interacting with the staff of the Orange County Homeless Center in designing a Chapel for men who live and recover at
the Triple R Ranch in Temecula, CA. Project sponsored by Howard and Roberta Ahmanson.
2008 - 2010 Designed and built four theatre sets for Riverside Polytechnic High School, Riverside, CA
2008 “Under the Sea” Entry Mural for Victor Community Support Services, San Bernardino, CA
2007 Murals for the Children’s Court of Los Angeles, Coordinated (along with Prof David Carlson) a student mural team to
paint a special music room where children spend their time when awaiting legal proceedings.
2004 - 2009 Designed and built six theatre sets for Riverside Children’s Theatre, Riverside, CA
2005 Public Murals for the Children’s Court of Los Angeles, Coordinated (along with Prof David Carlson) seven student
mural teams to paint murals on each level of the parking structure and the room where incarcerated individuals interact
with their families (700 linear feet).
1999 Private Murals for the Children’s Court of Los Angeles, Designed and painted 300 linear feet of murals for the private
entrance where foster care children are brought into the courthouse.
In The Collection Of… (partial listing)
Igal & Diane Silber Ceramic Art Collection, Laguna Beach, CA
Howard and Roberta Ahmanson Art Collection, Corona Del Mar, CA
Arthur Williams Ceramic Art Collection, New York, NY
Judith Schwartz Ceramic Art Collection, New York, NY
Gerald Buck Collection, Laguna, CA
Lloyd Abrams Collection, Santa Fe, NM
Lynne and Andrew Grossman Collection, Minneapolis, MN
Atinsky Collection, Santa Barbara, CA
Birnholz Collection, Zurich, Switzerland
Brown Collection, Salt Lake City, Utah
Ferman Collection, El Cerrito, CA
Fine Collection, Redding, CT
Herrick Collection, San Francisco, CA
Jordan Collection, Mesa, AZ
Malinchoc Collection, Scarsdale, NY
Michalowski Collection, Tucson, AZ
Sperling Collection, Tustin and San Francisco, CA
Woodard Collection, Dallas, TX
Zucker Collection, Berlin, Germany