Photos and reporting by Robert Kokenyesi, Ceramic Artist, Beachfront Pottery, Godfrey, IL, 62035, USA.  If you enjoyed this post, then like the post, and also like my Facebook page.    Check out Beachfront Pottery posts on Instagram @beachfrontpottery.    There is additional information about Beachfront Pottery on my web site.

The Venue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This installation was exhibited from April 2 through May 22, 2021 in the Staenberg Gallery (pictured above) of the Craft Alliance in St Louis, Missouri

The Call for Entry

There was no public call for entry, as this seems to be an invitational exhibit.

The Ceramic Art Pieces

The exhibit statement reads: ” In 1870, Heinrich Schliemann began excavating a site in Northern Turkey believed to be the location of Homeric Troy. Schliemann, so captivated by the Iliad and Odyssey, earnestly believed the fantastical epics to be historical fact, and worked tirelessly to unearth the archaeological evidence that would prove him right.  Malaika Tolford and Abigail Lowe present a new body of work exploring the power of myth in the making of truth. As a ceramicist and archaeology-enthusiast, Tolford has delved into the materials, surfaces, and imagery of Homeric antiquity, creating a collection of works to masquerade as Schliemann’s “discoveries” from his digs throughout Greece and Turkey. Lowe uses her interdisciplinary training in literature and studio art to create paper installations that contextualize Tolford’s objects within the frameworks of the Iliad and Odyssey, as well as keystone stories from Schliemann’s personal history.”

I will describe only the ceramic art aspect of the installation.  Malaika Tolford has produced immense number of pieces for this installation.  Let’s see the pictures!!

These are great starter pictures to show you walls full of shelving with a pottery piece on those shelves. Pots, tiles, medallions of different sizes and shapes, all with an image or inscription.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the left you see a table with three larger pots, and on the right the glass-covered table has round, inscribed medallions and a blue landscape-like drawing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet more sets of shelvings with tumblers, mugs, plates, and even crumpled up newspaper made from ceramics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another parts of the installations had large drawings and paper figures, and smaller ceramic wall pieces, or ceramic shards hidden in sand (bottom of orange wall).

 

Here are two examples of mimicking an archaeological dig at Ancient Troy. Pottery pieces are mixed into the sand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the left is an example of a nice plate, and on the right are flat pot-shapes on the wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet other locations of the installations had large treasure chests had ceramic shards attached to the wall (rightmost picture); tiles and crumples paper-like ceramic pieces on the wall (in the middle); cabinet with drawers filled with ceramic pieces (on the left).