Photos and text by Robert Kokenyesi, Ceramic Artist, Beachfront Pottery, Godfrey, Illinois, USA.

Between April 16 and May 26, 2016 the “Maturity and its Muse” exhibit took place int he Pine Street Gallery of ArtStLouis.  The artists had to be older than 70 years; you had to be born before June 1, 1944 to participate.  Pretty amazing set of artworks were displayed, and it was by no accident.  As I found out, the Maturity and its Muse is a St Louis non-profit whose mission is to promote productive aging throug the arts.  So this exhibit was contained many works created through the encouragement of this organization.  The exhibit had mostly two-dimensional works, butt here was one community-created mosaic piece.  To my surprise there were two ceramic pieces, and not just any garden variety bowls or mugs.  Two well made sculptures graced the pedestal at ArtStLouis.  Potter on dudes and dudettes!!!!

Barbara Weiss

 

I couldn’t find additional information about Barbara Weiss on the internet.  I was hoping to some prehistory to this piece, as it looks that this sculpture is not her first try.

The sculpture depicts two African women who carry baskets on their heads.  The size of the sculpture is about 5 inches tall.

 

 

Sandy Kaplan

This is a large sculptural composition standing about 16 inches tall. The top character is a woman playing the mandolin who serenades the couples on the lower level who engage in various forms of socialization.  The sculpture represents the “complex beauty of the human relationships”, so the sculpture represents a “metaphor for human community”, as she explains in her artistic statement.

Sandy is quite active in making ceramic sculpture.  Check out her blog at http://sandykaplansculptor.blogspot.com/.