Thu 11/4-Sat 12/18
Kent State faculty members Davin K. Ebanks and Peter Christian Johnson put together Kindred Objects: Ceramic & Glass from the Western Reserve, which opens at Artists Archives of the Western Reserve this week.
The idea behind it is that ceramics and glass make for a natural pairing, requiring similar technologies. Both mediums have deep histories in northern Ohio (Toledo in particular is known for glass production), and the two curators have rounded up 23 artists from Toledo to Cleveland and points in between to show the multiplicity of themes and ideas that can be expressed through these mediums and how the seemingly limited processes required to produce such works can be bent to the artist’s will. Some of the artists, such as Brinsley Tyrell, Kristin Cliffel and Eva Kwong are established and quite well known regionally, while others are just starting to acquire a reputation.
The curators didn’t approach the show with any theme in mind, but found that the idea of “adptation” emerged.
“The Coronavirus pandemic has created challenges for all artists,” says Ebanks, “but even more so for those who depend on specialized equipment and studios to make their work. Many of the artists here rose to that challenge, adapting their practice when going to their studio was an impossibility.”
The artists also used their materials to express personal obsessions and well as to simply explore the potential of their mediums themselves.
The show opens with an in-person reception at AAWR on Thursday November 4 @ 5:30-8:30 pm. No reservations are required but you must wear a mask.
artistsarchives.org/event/kindred-objects/