Education

Master of Fine Arts
Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, 2008  

Bachelor of Arts in Art w/ Professional Emphasis
Doane College, Crete, NE, 2003

Experience

Department of Art & Design Chair, Doane University
Crete, NE 2021-Present

Artist in Residency, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
Houston, TX, 2017 (Sabbatical)

Art Department Chair, Doane University
Crete, NE, 2012-2016

Associate Professor of Art, Doane University
Crete, NE, 2016 – Present

  • ART 110 (3D – Design)
  • ART 206 (Intro. To Professional Practices)
  • ART 209 (Sculpture)
  • ART 231 (Ceramics Hand building) 
  • ART 232 (Ceramics Throwing) 
  • ART 333 (Ceramic Problems I) 
  • ART 334 (Ceramic Problems II) 
  • ART 435 (Advanced Ceramics) 
  • ART 460 (Advanced Professional Practices) 

Belvoir Terrace Ceramic Instructor
Lenox, MA, 2012 – Summer

Assistant Professor of Art, Doane College
Crete, NE, 2010 – 2016

Adjunct Professor of Art, Doane College
Crete, NE, 2009-10

Artist in Residency 
Albia, IA, 2008 – 09

Jim Romberg’s Assistant
Penland School of Arts and Crafts – “Raku Ceramics: New Approaches & Processes,” 2007

Summer Graduate Assistant
FHSU, Ceramics – Raku Workshop, 2006

Graduate Assistant

  • Ceramics
    • 260 (Handbuilding)
    • 360 (Throwing)
    • 665 (Advanced Undergraduate Ceramics), 2005-2007
  • History
    • 180 (Fundamentals and Appreciation of Art), 2005-2007

Grants

  • “Glaze Research and Experimentation” 2006
    • Small Research Student Grant, FHSU, Graduate School
    • $420.00

Honors/ Awards

  • Heart of the Art Award, Lincoln Arts Council, Lincoln, NE 2020
  • Merit Award, Iowa Sculpture festival, Newton, IA, 2015
  • Mayors Award, Lincoln Arts Festival, Lincoln, NE, 2013
  • Best of Show, Iowa Sculpture Festival, Newton, IA, 2013
  • Merit Award, Iowa Sculpture Festival, Newton, IA, 2012
  • Best of Show, Annual Governor’s Art Show, North Platte, NE, 2010
  • Best of Show, Lincoln Arts Festival, Lincoln, NE, 2009
  • Third Place, Iowa Sculpture Festival, Newton, IA, 2009
  • Best of Show & Best Booth Award, Albia Restoration Days Art Show, Albia, IA, 2008
  • Outstanding Thesis/ Field Study Graduate Award, FHSU, Hays, KS, 2008
  • 38th Annual Smoky Hill Art Competition and Exhibition, Hays, KS 
    • Best of Show, 2007
  • Russell Original Art Review (ROAR), Russell, KS
    • Second Place & Honorable Mention, 2007
  • Russell Original Art Review (ROAR), Russell, KS
    • Honorable Mention, 2006
  • NebraskaLand Days Competitive Art Show, North Platte, NE
    • Top Ten Award  (2006, 2003) 
    • Honorable Mention (2006, 2004)
  • North Platte Art Gallery Pastel Competition, North Platte, NE
    • Placed in Juried Competition (2nd), 2003
  • Mary L. Chapin Art Award
    • Doane College Senior Outstanding Art Achievement, 2003

Presentations

  • Nebraska Carvers Association, Lincoln, NE, 2013
  • Linda Ganstrom and Eric Stearns, “Raku Rodeo – Developing an Approach to Expand Raku Research and Creative Application,” Second Annual Midwestern Conference on Research at Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, 2007
  • Graduate Image Forum, NCECA, Louisville, KY, 2007
  • Kansas Artist and Craftsman Association (KACA) 
  • National Council on the Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)

Workshops Presented

  • Virtual Demonstration: Lincoln Arts Council, Doane University, 2020
  • Diamond Core: Presenter/Demonstration, NCECA, Minneapolis, MN 2019
  • AMACO: Presenter/Demonstrator, NCECA, Pittsburg, PA 2018
  • Electric Kiln Raku Demonstration, Des Moines Arts Center, Des Moines, IA, 2017
  • Summer Art Workshops, Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV, 2017
  • Pierced Precision, Salt Lake City Clay Guild, Salt Lake City, UT, 2017
  • Ceramics Inspired, Clay Houston, Houston, TX, 2017
  • Ceramics in the Classroom, Wyoming Art Educators Conference, Ten Sleep, WY 2016
  • Piercing Demonstration, Wichita Pottery, Wichita, KS, 2016
  • Meredith Host Collaboration, Bracker’s Good Earth Clays, Lawrence, KS, 2016
  • Raku Workshop, McPherson College, McPherson, KS, 2014
  • Pierced Precision, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN, 2015
  • KACA, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, 2014
  • Throwing Demonstration, Prairie Arts Center, North Platte, NE, 2014
  • Carved in Clay, Bracker’s Good Earth Clays, Lawrence, KS, 2014
  • Raku Rodeo, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, 2014
  • Second Saturday, Bracker’s Good Earth and Clay, Lawrence, KS, 2013
  • Throwing Demonstration, Concordia University, Seward, NE, 2013
  • Rakuness: The Passion, The Art, The Artist, Centre of Arts and Artists,  Newton, IA, 2009
  • Contemporary Raku, Marshall County Arts Cooperative, Marshall County, KS, 2009
  • Electric Kiln Raku, Albia, IA, 2008
  • Advanced Throwing Demonstration, Garden City Community College, Garden City, KS, 2008
  • Advanced Raku and Throwing Demonstration, University of Nebraska- Kearney, Kearney, NE, 2007
  • Throwing and Surface Design Demonstrations, North Platte High School, North Platte, NE, 2007
  • Throwing Demonstration, North Central Kansas Art Show, Clay Center, KS, 2007
  • Raku and Throwing Demonstration, Albia, IA, 2006
  • Horse Hair Firing Technique, High School Arts Days, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, 2006

Exhibitions

  • Evolution of Color, solo exhibition, Norfolk Arts Center, Norfolk, NE 2021
  • Nebraska: Artist Biennial, Gallery 1516, Omaha, NE 2021
  • “Private Collection,” Rall Gallery, Doane University, 2020
  • “Think Outside the Jar…” NCECA, Minneapolis, MN 2019
  • “Fortitude” FHSU Alumni Exhibition, Pittsburg, KS, 2018
  • Sabbatical Exhibition, Rall Gallery, Doane University, Crete, NE, 2018
  • Exhibitors Exhibition, 18 Hands Gallery, NCECA, Pittsburg, PA, 2018
  • 33rd Annual Sculpture in the Park, International Juried Show, Loveland, CO, 2017
  • Offerings, Burkholder Project, Lincoln, NE 2017
  • Workshop Instructor’s, Tahoe Gallery, Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV, 2017 
  • Transparent, Tea + Art, Houston, TX, 2017
  • Reduce, Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC, 2017
  • Off the Table! Plates for the Wall, National Ceramic Exhibition, Missouri
  • Western State University, St. Joseph, MO, 2016
  • Midwest Mentors, NCECA Exhibition, Bracker’s Good Earth Clay, Lawrence, KS, 2016
  • 31st Annual Sculpture in the Park, International Juried Show, Loveland, CO, 2015
  • 30th Annual Sculpture in the Park, International Juried Show, Loveland, CO, 2014
  • Raku Ceramics: Origins, Impact, and Contemporary Expression,
  • International Invitational Exhibition, Sedona, AZ, 2014
  • Moving On…, Burkholder Project, Lincoln, NE, 2013
  • Lincoln Arts Festival, National Juried Show, Lincoln, NE, 2013, Mayors Choice
  • 11th Annual Iowa Sculpture Festival, National Juried Show, Newton, IA, 2013, Best of Show
  • Memories, Burkholder Project, Lincoln, NE 2012
  • 10th Annual Iowa Sculpture Festival, National Juried Show, Newton, IA, 2012, Award of Merit
  • Simpatico, Invitational, Hastings College, Hastings, NE, 2011
  • Burkholder Project, Member Exhibition, Lincoln, NE, 2011
  • 40th Annual Governor’s Art Show, Regional Juried Show, North Platte, NE, 2011
  • 27th Annual Sculpture in the Park, International Juried Show, Loveland, CO, 2010
  • Iowa Sculpture Festival, National Juried Show, Newton, IA, 2010
  • 39th Annual Governor’s Art Show, Regional Juried Show, North Platte, NE, 2010
  • Lincoln Arts Festival, National Juried Show, Lincoln, NE, 2009
  • 26th Annual Sculpture in the Park, International Juried Show, Loveland, CO, 2009
  • The Other Art Show, National Juried Show, Des Moines, IA, 2009
  • Iowa Sculpture Festival, National Juried Show, Newton, IA, 2009
  • Brookside Art Fair, National Juried Show, Kansas City, MO, 2009
  • Rakuness:  A Cooperative of Ideas; Passion and Art, Solo Show, Centre of Arts and Artists, Newton, IA, 2008
  • Albia Restoration Days Art Show, Invitational Juried Art Festival, Albia, IA, 2008
  • 37th Annual Governor’s Art Show, Regional Juried Show, North Platte, NE, 2008
  • Kansas Collegiate Aesthetics, Statewide Juried Show, Lindsborg, KS, 2008
  • 76th Annual Plaza Art Fair, National Juried Show, Kansas City, MO, 2007
  • Fort Robinson Art Show, Invitational Art Festival, Crawford, NE, 2007
  • 36th Annual Governor’s Art Show, Regional Juried Show, North Platte, NE, 2007
  • 38th Annual Smoky Hill Art Competition and Exhibition, Regional Juried Show, Hays, KS, 2007
  • FHSU Master of Fine Arts Graduate Student Exhibition, Invitational Art Exhibition, Garden City Community College, Garden City, KS, 2007
  • Albia Restoration Days Art Show, Invitational Juried Art Festival, Albia, IA, 2006
  • Fort Robinson Art Show, Invitational Art Festival, Crawford, NE, 2006
  • NebraskaLand Days Competitive Art Show, North Platte, NE, 2006
  • Fort Hays State University Ceramic Student Exhibition, Dodge City Community College, Dodge City, KS, 2006
  • Members and Guest Invitational, The Burkholder Project, Lincoln, NE, 2005
  • Alternative Firings by Eric L. Stearns, Solo Alumni Exhibition, Doane College, Rall Gallery, Crete, NE, 2005
  • Solo Senior Show, Doane College, Rall Gallery, Crete, NE, 2003
  • MindExpo, A Showcase of Undergraduate Academic Excellence, Group Invitational, Doane College, Crete, NE, 2003

Exhibitions Curated

  • 13th Annual Norfolk Arts Center Exhibition, Juror, 2020
  • Graduate Exhibit, Garden City Community College, Garden City, KS, 2007

Professional Service

  • Ceramic Badge, Girl Scouts, Doane University, 2018
  • Stearns Ceramics Scholarship $1000 3D, Wyoming State Art Symposium, 2017 
  • Empty Bowls, 100 Bowl Donation, Houston, TX, 2017
  • Hands-on Houston, Community Tile Design, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX 2017
  • Fundraising, Exhibition & Donation, Lincoln Arts Council, What fills your cup? Bryan Health, Lincoln, NE, 2017
  • Fundraising, Exhibition & Donation, Voices for Children Community Cup Project, Omaha, NE 2014-15
  • National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Student Critiques, 2012-2017
  • Art & General Art Endorsements Ad Hoc Committee, Nebraska Council on  Teacher Education, Lincoln, NE, 2014
  • One Million Bones Project, Washington, DC, 2013

Gallery Representation

  • Anderson O’Brien, Omaha, NE
  • Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson, WY
  • Burkholder Project, Lincoln, NE

Publications

  • Mastering Kilns & Firing, Image Publication, pg. 88, 2020
  • Southwest Art Image Publication, pg. 28, July 2018
  • Western Art & Architecture, Illuminations: Ones to watch, June/July 2017, Michele
  • Corriel, http://westernartandarchitecture.com/Article/illuminations-ones-to-watch29, 2017
  • Artist Feature, Precision Piercing, Pottery Making Illustrated, Jan/Feb. 2016
  • Heather Johnson, “The hands of the potter,” North Platte Telegraph, online article,
  • July 2014 http://m.nptelegraph.com/news/local_news/the-hands-of-the-potter/article_a9e9f2c4-fb7a-5155-b9b0-7b277118b010.html?mode=jqm
  • Lance Schwartz, Lance’s Journal: Doane’s Ceramic Specialist, 1011 Now, online
  • Artist Feature, Vollendete Formen, Creativ100.de, online article (German Publication), Oct 2013
  • Online Article: Creativ100.de (German Publication) Oct. 2013
  • In publication: International Porcelain Artists and Teachers
  • In press. Newton Daily News.  Iowa Sculpture Festival. June 14, 2013. 
  • In press: Journal Star.  Bones on capital steps bring awareness to genocide. April 19, 2013.
  • In publication: Clay Times: Ceramic art trends, tools, and techniques. Volume 18. Summer/ Autumn 2012. Pg 35
  • “500 Raku: Bold Explorations of a Dynamic Ceramics Technique,” Lark Crafts, 2011
  • “Artist-In-Residency Stearns Molds Life into Art,” Union-Republican, December 4, 2008
  • “Albia Artist uses Pottery Work to Express Himself,” Ottumwa Courier, November 21, 2008
  • “Math Turns Clay into Art, “The North Platte Telegraph, June 16, 2007
  • “FHSU Students to Show Work at Exhibit,” The Garden City Telegraph, March 2007
  • “Artist in Residency at ACHS,” Monroe County News, November 2006
  • “Artist in Residency’ fires up’ students,” Monroe County News, November 2006
  • “A Potter’s Life: Eric,” Spring Doane Magazine 2006