Cynthia Levine received a B.A. in French with a minor in studio arts from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Following a residency with Richard Bresnahan at St. John’s University Levine discovered the dramatic effect that flashes of soda or drips of ash had on her coil-built vessels. “At this time,” she states, “the primary focus of my work is the coil-built vessel, which provides me with a defined arena from which I can explore my sculptural and formal interests.” For this project grant she focused on translating her ideas about volume, space, and containment into a more vertical format. In 2005, she received a Jerome Artist Project Grant from NCC, as well as an Artists Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.