Photos and reporting by Robert Kokenyesi, Ceramic Artist, Beachfront Pottery, Godfrey, IL, 62035, USA.  If you enjoyed this post, then give me a “like” on my Facebook page.      There is additional information about Beachfront Pottery on my web site.

The Venue

This is the entry way to the St Louis Artist’s Guild building in Clayton, Missouri.  The green doors are followed by a hallway that leads to the super high ceiling gallery space with a gift shop on the left.

 

 

 

 

 

The Call for Entry

The “All Colors” exhibit was an invitational and juried exhibit that showcased African-American artists.  The exhibit was put together by the Portfolio Gallery & Education Center.  The center is a St Louis-based non-profit organization.  The mission of Portfolio Gallery & Education Center is to educate, enrich lives and foster a greater awareness of American artists of African American heritage.

The Ceramic Art Pieces

I always enter an invitational exhibit with major reservations regarding the quality of the ceramic pieces.   However, here I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised about the quality of the ceramic art pieces.  Take a look.

 

All ceramic pieces at this exhibit were made by Ronald Johnson.  I couldn’t find out ny additional information about him, so you have to live with my descriptions.

 

 

 

The Four-Heads impressed me with the detailed, statue-like heads combined into a sculpture that could have been a vessel.  The piece itself is imposing, about two feet tall.  On the image on the left you see a close up, the carving and coloring is extremely finely detailed.  I wish I know more about inspiration behind this piece.

 

 

 

The “Expecting” piece is a form of a slender, pregnant woman, whose grace and vulnerability are both expressed.  The artwork is detailed, very much figurative.   It’s to my great regret that I couldn’t find anything more out of the artist, or about the inspiration behind the exhibited pieces.