Text and photos by Robert Kokenyesi, Ceramic Artist, Beachfront Pottery, Godfrey, IL, 62035, IL USA.

In the past few months the Webster Arts Organization has organized several exhibits titled “Small Works”.   The exhibits called for paintings, photographs, and in the last exhibit, for all media of less than 14 inches on either side.  The exhibit I’m reporting here was set up in the hallways of the Webster Groves Public Library in Webster Groves, Missouri.  Webster Arts is the successor of  Webster Community Arts Foundation whose goal is to provide opportunities for people of all ages to engage in and enjoy art.

 

This is the hallway of the Webster Groves Public Library.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the beginning of the exhibit hallway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few pictures of the exhibit and the viewers.

 

 

 

 

Here are my pieces on the wall.  This the best photo I could take given the narrow hallway.  The pieces are ceramic tiles 13 X 6 inches in size.  The glazing represent the deep blue ocean, the green shallow pool, and the white or yellow shore or sand bar.  The pieces are the Scallops Dreaming on top, and the Seastar Dreaming on the bottom.   The glass pieces are arranged in the shape of scallops or seastars; the melting of the glass gives the appearance that these animals are rising our of the sand, or, alternatively, sinking into the sand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dreaming aspect comes from the small light-colored round patterns in the green and blue stripes on the pieces.  Aboriginee artists communicated their dreams by drawing it into the sand, and once the rest of the tribe viewed the dream, the drawing was poked with a stick, so the dream drawing was no longer identifiable.  This was the manner of protecting the sacred dreams.  Aboriginee artist paintings have used this dotted pattern for a similar spiritual purpose.  On my tiles the combination of glazes create the dots; this is my salute to the art and inspiration of the Australian Aboriginee people.