CONCEPT / FUNCTION

Duality of Ceramics Invitational

August 4 – September 23, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITION DATES:
August 4–September 23, 2017

OPENING RECEPTION:
Friday, August 4 at 5-7pm

ARTIST TALK:
Laurie Spencer
Friday, August 4 at 4:30pm
Education Studio

ARTIST TALKS:
Lisa Pedolsky, Scott Roberts and Kay Harper Roberts
Friday, September 22 at 6pm
Barbara Conrad Gallery

Concept/Function will investigate the duality that many current ceramic artists face, form and concept vs. function.  All exhibiting artists were invited to participate due to their current practice of making both functional ceramics, as well as experimental, conceptual work.

Featuring the work of –

DAC is grateful for the generous support of our exhibit sponsors who enable culturally innovative programs to exist in our community.  Concept/Function is sponsored by the friends of the gallery, Mary Lyn and Richard Ballantine, Don and Judy Hayes, Continental Clay Company, New Mexico Clay, Russell Engineering, Oxford Asset Management and New Face Productions.

Barbara Conrad Gallery Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday
10am – 5pm

Entry to Durango Arts Center galleries is always free.  The galleries are closed to the public on Sundays and Mondays.

Artist Talk: Laurie Spencer

Friday, August 4th at 4:30pm
Durango Arts Center Education Studio 
Free and Open to the Public

ARTIST STATEMENT

“All of my work is inspired by my deep love of the natural world and the beauty of our planet. As a small child, my mother would bring to my attention the smallest details in nature by taking apart flowers to study their structure and identify their internal parts. We would identify the plants, trees, and insects around us. This acute observation created in me a heightened sense of wonder of the world around me. This has been a life long fascination and it comes through in all of my art.

My primary love has been creating sculptural sound pieces. I have been making organic nature based whistling forms for over 30 years. This part of my artistic work has followed the same general direction for a long time. On the side, I have always found time for wheel-throwing. It has allowed me to experiment and try new things and my designs and glazing processes are constantly changing. I have explored many processes such as high-fire reduction, raku, sgraffitto, encising, mishima, cobalt painting, slip trailing and more. The wheel-thrown bowl in this exhibit is painted with underglazes.”

ARTIST BIO

Graduating from the University of Tulsa with a BFA and MA in ceramics, Laurie has exhibited her ceramic sculptures nationally and internationally for over 30 years. She is known for making large-scale ceramic domes ranging from 4-18 feet in height and for her organic ceramic whistle sculptures. Her work has been published in several books and magazines.

Laurie has received many awards for her work including Artworks 1; competition for Oklahoma City’s public art project- the Philodendron Dome metal sculpture in Myriad Gardens, and New Forms Regional Initiative Grant; the Fellowship Award in Crafts from the Mid-America Arts Alliance / National Endowment for the Arts. She has also been awarded several teaching residencies such as the Americans for the Arts, Community Residency Exchange Program in Ireland; the Lila Wallace-Readers Digest International Artist Program Grant and Arts International – a 6-month residency for research and teaching in Ecuador. She also led a firing demonstration and workshop at the International Ceramics Festival 2007 at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre Wales. Laurie has been sharing her talents with her students in ceramics at Holland Hall’s Upper School in Tulsa, OK.