Reading-Writing-Reviewing

In September 2011 I participated in the Ceramics Annual of America.  It was an odd show but a great opportunity to spend time with a good friend and meet some new ones.  Ilena Finocchi's review of the show was published in the January 2012 issue of Ceramics Monthly. You can check it out on her blog here.  And, while you are reading reviews please take a moment to check out the one I wrote for the  February 2012 issue of Ceramics Monthly. Justin Rothshank's solo show Fatherhood ran from October 1 - November 12, 2011 at Baltimore Clayworks.  

ReFraming - Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art

red line, 2010

woman with yellow line, 2011

portrait in cage, 2011

old woman, 2011

pink girl, 2011 and young man/old man raku, 2011 in background

remmie, 2011 with liz, lori and chris

white woman, 2011 with liz

opening night lecture

Breaking Boundaries: A Survey of Contemporary Ceramics

Breaking Boundaries: A Survey of Contemporary Ceramics

The Ann Street Gallery is delighted to present their newest exhibition, Breaking Boundaries: A Survey of Contemporary Ceramics, with an Artist Reception on Saturday, August 13, 2011 from 6:00-9:00 pm.


In this exhibition, twenty-four contemporary artists from across the country come together and offer an expansive vision of the contemporary ceramic scene. Breaking Boundaries provides a survey of ceramic works highlighting an impressive array of ceramic artists, from young emerging talents to establish artists whose work is on the cutting edge of contemporary art. On display in the exhibition are varied selections of challenging works ranging from small whimsical utilitarian vessels, large sculptural pieces to site-specific installations.


As a medium ceramic art has an ancient and rich history of cultural expression and utility. There is also something fascinating about the primitiveness of clay and its versatile creative process. Perhaps the attraction is its timelessness, or just a medium itself that seems to resound within all of us as human beings. For contemporary artists the potential of clay for expressing aesthetic ideas is enormous, varied and ever expanding. The artists work in Breaking Boundaries reflects new and exciting responses to the medium while exploiting its malleability, which makes for an infinite range of artistic expression and interpretations.


In particular, this exhibition calls attention to the existing prejudices surrounding the medium and challenges those to take a broader view of its possibilities, while elevating an awareness of contemporary ceramic arts. Works showcased offer ceramic enthusiasts new talent to explore, for visitors it is an opportunity to directly connect to the visceral tactility and joy of objects made in clay. In Breaking Boundaries viewers can explore the creativity of contemporary ceramic artists who extend the possibilities of working with clay and unconventional materials while breaking through the boundaries imposed by the art establishment.


Artist featured: Dylan Beck, Ruth Borgenicht, Maureen Burns-Bowie, Bryan Czibesz, Carole Epp, Raymond W. Gonzalez, Doug Herren, Priscilla Hollingsworth, Liz Howe, Roxanne Jackson, Calder Kamin, Debbie Kupinsky, Julie Malen, Kate Missett, Wendy Olson, Vince Palacios, Gabriel Parque, Jesse Ring, Benjamin Schulman, John Williams, Alyssa Wood, Jennifer Woodin, Jindra Viková and Matthew Ziemke.


The exhibition will be on view through Saturday, September 24.
The Ann Street Gallery is a nonprofit art gallery specializing in contemporary emerging and established artists. The gallery is located at 104 Ann Street in Newburgh, and hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 am-5:00 pm and Friday through Saturday 11:00 am-5:00 pm.


For more information regarding Breaking Boundaries and the Ann Street Gallery, contact Virginia Walsh, Director at (845) 784-1146 or vwalsh@annstreetgallery.org, or visit www.annstreetgallery.org.
Image above: "Ass Kissing Angels" by Carole Epp

2011 NCECA Biennial Review - Ceramics Monthly Magazine

If you are a Ceramics Monthly subscriber your copy should be arriving soon...if not here is a peek at my Biennial Review published this month. And, if you saw the exhibition take a minute to share your comments, opinions, agreements or disagreements with my take on the show.....enjoy!!
ps...just click on the images to download and enlarge the links!

Ceramics Monthly - For the Table Review

Check out my review of For the Table, an exhibition at the Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA, in this month's issue of Ceramics Monthly...just click on the pages to get a closer view.

Massive Portrait Project

In October 2009 I came across a wonderful 'art project' called women are heroes. The scale of the undertaking was massive, the visual result beautiful and the conceptual underpinning of the project moving. This week at TED 2011 the artist responsible for that art 'action' was awarded the TED Prize. JR announced his 'Wish' in an inspiring talk about his work to date. Everyone...yes, everyone...is invited to participate in this next large scale project. Click here to take a look and join in!

Arlene Shechet

The December 2010 issue of Ceramics Monthly has arrived! The conversation that Arlene Shechet and I had about her work last Fall (2009) at the Tang Museum, Skidmore College led to the feature article finally in print. Click on each of the four pages to see the entire article or pick up a copy of the magazine to check it out!