Broad Mix of Ceramic Ideas at Jordan River Arts Center

The Exhibit, Clay Artists and Friends, opened Sunday, January 20 at the Jordan River Art Center to a most enthusiastic group of art patrons. Over 90 works of clay objects were exhibited by 33 artists. Curator Shanna Robinson after seeing the the high caliber of work by area artists in the exhibit, Rare Threads with a Twist , suggested, “It would be great to have a show like that for ceramics.” The idea was approved by the exhibit committee of JRAC. Dick Cunningham, ceramist and JRAC Board member became a co-curator. They invited area artists who in turn invited ceramic artists whose work each admired.

The exhibit is unique and exciting! Cunningham states,”The idea behind Clay Artists and Friends is to bring a broad mix of ceramic ideas into our Northern Michigan community. As you walk through the exhibit, you will see work that is intended for use in the kitchen and work that is made only for display. The textures range from harsh, volcanic surfaces to rich sumptuous ones that you can barely keep from touching. Colors range from subtle muted hues to vividly contrasted glaring relationships. Some pieces are a couple of inches tall while others are over eight feet in height. The stylistic roots of the works covers a time span from 9th c. folkware to experimental pieces reflecting the 21st C. You will love some of the work or you will hate some of the work.”

Most impressive are the sculptures by Mark Chatterly of Mason, Mi. One such piece was the three horizontal life size swimmers and another was the eight feet tall tree of crows protecting a heart within. Also, the workshop presenters, Doug DeLind and Dana Shearin exhibited impressive works. DeLind, a raku artist, exhibited wall hung pieces in a variety of sizes, while Shearin’s work was three dimensional sculptural pots with riders.

Exhibiting artists present at the opening were: Curators,Cunningham and Robinson, David and June Otis, Gene P. Reck, Barb Garbe, Meg McClorey, Ron and Cynthia Tschudy, Pamela Timmons, Michael and Deb Banyai, and Jeff Cline.

Other artists represented in the exhibit are: Kimberly Jones, Andrew Otis, Kim Krumrey, Audrey Shapiro, Bonnie Staffel, Cornelia Dhaseleer, David Austin, Finn Alban, Mary Nyburg, Ed Gray, Mary Seyfarth, Victor Boyer, Mo Cahill, Greg Schatz, Chatterley, Warren MacKenzie, Louis Raynor, Cleater J. Meaders, Catherine Shinnick, and workshop presenters, DeLind and Shearin.

The exhibit is open daily from 1-4 pm through Feb. 15. The JRAC Center is located 301 Main St., East Jordan. For further information and other viewing times contact Cunningham, 231 582 9373. This exhibit and workshops have been made possible through grants from the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Foundation, the Charlevoix County Community Foundation and the Bonnie Staffel Fund.