Thu 5/26 @ 5:30-8PM
The Cleveland arts community has been known as a stronghold for what some might refer to as the “crafts” branch of visual arts — things like ceramics. But what Cleveland artists have done with these “crafts” has often been stunningly creative, taking them way out of the realm of everyday useful pieces into true artistic statements.
You will undoubtedly see some of these at the Ceramics Invititational at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, curated by Mary Urbas, the director of the gallery at Lakeland Community College. She’s pulled together clay pieces by 17 regional artists including Jeffrey Allen, Tracy Ameen, Diana Bjel, Susan Gallagher, Yumiko Goto, Michael W. High, Eva Kwong, James Leslie, Lynne Norwood Lofton, Jenny Mendes, Sandy Miller, J. Derek O’Brien, George Roby, Jack Rotar, Mindy Sand, Brinsley Tyrrell, and Theresa Yondo.
“Urbas’ careful selections both exalt the alchemic quality of ceramics as the invocation of art from raw elements, as well as pay homage to the artist’s mastery of texture, painterly color and transmission of idea through form,” the gallery’s press release asserts.
The show opens with a wine and cheese reception Thu 5/26 @ 5:30-8pm and runs through Sat 7/9. Urbas will give a short talk at the reception at 6:30pm.
Cleveland, OH 44106