In the Walt Meade Gallery
Of the Roxbury Arts Center
Fire!
January 19 – March 2, 2019
Opening Reception: January 19, 2:00-4:00 pm
Just Added! Artists’ Talk: March 2, 2:00 pm
The Artists’ Talk on Saturday, March 2, at 2 pm, is free and open to the Community.
Fire! is an exhibition of ceramic art curated by Peter Yamaoka. Featuring work from Solveig Comer, Megan Irving, Kim L’Heureux, Tony Moore, Elizabeth Nields, Gerda van Leeuwen, and Peter Yamaoka, Fire! is a survey of ceramic artists living and working in and around the Catskills. The artists selected for this exhibition represent a spectrum of stylistic approaches, firing techniques, and artistic vision. Most of the artists maintain fully equipped ceramic studios and many offer classes and workshops open to the public for novices to technically advanced potters. Fire! introduces the abundance of ceramic artists in our region to a wider public audience.
Solveig Comer is primarily involved in the production of utilitarian vessels. This production employs various ceramic techniques, enhanced by patterns found in the textiles and in nature.
The work of Megan Irving’s wall pieces are miniature landscapes in clay involving glaze washes and dry point incisions in her unique approach to the medium. They evoke natural elements such as landmarks and animals. These small and intimate pieces depict scenic vistas of our Catskill region.
Kim L’Heureux is a skilled potter with vast knowledge of materials and firing techniques. Her experience yields stunningly beautiful ceramic vessels that delight in the landscapes of upstate New York. She mixes all her clay and glazes from scratch. Her interest in firing in reduction with “flame” kilns demonstrate how she likes to play with fire.
Tony Moore operates a wood-fired, Anagama-Noborigama kiln which is a unique and labor intensive firing technique which requires a team effort of round the clock firewood stoking and supervision. The firing process can take up to several days to complete. These firings yield surprising glaze variations and subtle effects unique to this process. His work conveys the beauty of nature in all its forms and his newest work evokes the enigma of the human condition. His work also pays homage to the Japanese Mingei (folk art) tradition which utilizes similar firing and reduction processes.
Elizabeth Nields operates several kilns at her studio, covering a wide range of firing techniques including electric, gas reduction, and salt reduction. Her inner landscapes are a conversation with the clay and herself, expressing her inner feelings about the organic nature of clay and glazes that enhance her work. She feels the fire of the kiln enlivens everything about the nature of her medium.
Gerda van Leeuwen’s porcelain figurines are a tribute to the Catskill Mountain animal world. Her animal figures are often endowed with humanity emphasizing the link between man and animal Her work is inspired by the tradition of European Renaissance painting and the funeral ornaments of the Tang Dynasty of China.
The work of Peter Yamaoka, curator of this exhibit, can be divided into three categories: Power of Myth, Archeological Ruins, and Beauty of the Catskill Landscape. His work often tells a story and this narrative content can be seen throughout his work. His ceramics reflect his Asian cultural heritage and European art education. He works primarily in mid-rage firing techniques with vibrant colors inherent in the firing process.