Ceramic exhibit to open at CLC gallery
“Thrown Altered: Vessels Out of Round,” an invitational exhibit of beautiful and interesting ceramic works by 14 artists will open on Friday, Aug. 19, at the Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art at the College of Lake County in Grayslake.
An opening reception will be held from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, in the gallery. The event is free and open to the public and includes refreshments and music by the Rick Embach and Jim Seidel Duo. The exhibit runs through Sept. 25.
The exhibit includes 28 pieces created by Daniel Anderson, Ben Bates, Bruce Cochrane, Edward Eberle, Martha H. Grover, Doug Jeppesen, Nicholas Joerling, Kristen Kieffer, James Lawton, Lorna Meaden, Ronald Meyers, Jeffrey Oestreich, José Sierra and Tara Wilson.
The title of the exhibition, “Thrown Altered: Vessels Out of Round,” is the key to the concept that links the works. The exhibiting artists all started their forms on the potter’s wheel, but then altered the round vessel to suit their aesthetic needs. The 14 invitees represent some of the most respected artists working in clay today, according to guest curator David Bolton, head of CLC’s ceramics program. He wanted to assemble a group of artists who have demonstrated ingenuity and creativity with the manipulation of the thrown form.
“The beauty of a round symmetrical vessel has been long appreciated in the world of ceramic art,” according to Bolton. “Even before the use of the potter’s wheel, artists strived to maintain the circle of the vessel. Today, contemporary artists have shown that there are more possibilities through altering the thrown vessel. The artists were chosen for their vision and ways in which they have explored throwing and altering to challenge the potential of the thrown vessel. Although these works are born from working through the traditional process of forming clay by throwing and altering, these artists have transcended the process and have created powerful visual statements with clay. Often the final work is unrecognized as a thrown vessel,” he said.
The Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art is a major cultural resource for artists and Lake County residents. Established by the College of Lake County Foundation in 1981, the gallery is committed to displaying the works of Illinois artists and increasing the visibility of nationally known artists in Lake County. The gallery is located next to the Library/Learning Resource Center on the Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St. Fall semester gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. The gallery will be closed Sept. 5-6 for the Labor Day holiday.
For information, contact curator Steve Jones at (847) 543-2240 or at sjones@clcillinois.edu. Or visit http://gallery.clcillinois.edu/.