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
Traditionally, the Central Time Ceramics exhibit has been split between the Heuser Art Gallery, and the Hartmann Center Gallery. These two buildings are on the campus of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
On top is the Hartmann Center with a nice gallery space immediately right to the entry doors.
Below is the Heuser Art Gallery, through those doors and then left.
The Call for Entry
Submissions were open to all ceramic artists over the age of 18 who currently reside in the Central Time Zone. Central Time Zone states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin; however not all counties within these states are within the Central Time Zone. Artists who reside in areas of Canada and Mexico that are within the Central Time Zone are also eligible. Artwork submitted must have been completed within the last three years.
The Ceramic Art Pieces
This blog is part 4 of 5. Non-lidded pieces are included here. The last blog in this series will cover bowls/mugs. Part 1-3 of this series covered figurative sculptural pieces, abstract sculptural pieces, and lidded vessels.
The Eshelmans’ web site has newspaper articles, and many eye-catching images of their functional pieces. The red clay body combined with lead-free glaze, and simple design produces pieces like these bottles. In one article these pieces are described as ” beautiful, clay vessel creations that scream simplicity, function and strong architectural lines.”.
On her web site Priya’s statement reads: “The work is slowly built with thin coils which retain a visual memory of the marks of my hands and a history of the labor involved in the process. These coils become gridded lines which provide a structure which supports the form, similar to a contour line drawing. Once the work is put into the kiln, the iron rich clay begins to flux out and the carefully placed grid lines begin to move, sometimes with dynamic and precarious results.”. She then adds polymer clay to gain contemporary colors. So, I guess the slightly squiggly edges of this vessel are the result of firing temperatures that melted the clay, and the yellow color is from polymer clay.
On her web site Lisa states: “The utilitarian objects that I design transcend function, becoming symbolic vehicles in the social act of eating or gathering. My work may be used to delight all the senses and to enhance social experiences with handmade ceramics.” This basket is a memorable piece for me, because of simple lines, and because the glazing doesn’t pull the shape.
I couldn’t find anything on the internet about Eric’s artistic motivations. Eric is a professor of organic chemistry, an expert on organic pigments, and he has several talks on rexcord about chemistry and art. These vessels are like little gems with the vivid coloration, and the simple sgrafitto decoration.
I couldn’t find details on Chris, or on the inspiration behind these pieces. Malvina Reynolds wrote the dong “Little boxes”, so theses ceramics vessels maybe Chris’ interpretation of that song. I show here a closeup to point out the incredible surface texture and glazing detail on these pieces.
On her web site Elizabeth states that ” I juxtapose the biomorphic organic forms with porcelain vessels that signify our human condition. Sensuous surfaces, muted colors, and fluid forms create a quiet relationship meant to entice the audience both visually and physically.”
I show here a close up of the “Interlude” piece. This illustrates that subtle mixing of the colors on the surface.
This assemblage of porcelain vessels is a very different piece from Elizabeth. Here she intends to “to explore the perfect balance and depth with a visual texture that represents how this landscape intuitively blends our humanness to nature, memory, culture, history and ideology.”