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THE PROOF
IS IN THE CLAY
Sense of Perspective: The Fifth Annual
"Perspectives" Pottery Exhibit and Sale opens
on Saturday, Sept. 1 at the Oconee Cultural Arts
Foundation (OCAF) in Watkinsville. There will be
an opening reception on Friday, Aug. 31, from
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A preview sale is scheduled
for Friday, Aug. 31, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A $5
donation is requested for the preview sale. The
"Perspectives" exhibition, "Simple Glazes" (see
below), and pottery sale continue through Sept.
19. Located at 34 School St. in Watkinsville,
OCAF is open Tuesday through Friday, from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call OCAF for more information,
706-769-4565, or visit www.ocaf.com.
What Do Potters Collect?: The exhibit includes
two pieces crafted by eacn of the 50 participat
ing artists, as well as one item from each artist's
personal collection. The piece from the artist's
personal collection allows the viewer a glimpse
at pottery that might not otherwise be available
for viewing, and provides insight into the person
al vision of each artist. Several artists selected
face jugs as the item from their personal collec
tion. A piece from Lynne Burke's collection has
a Beatles quote ("You were always waiting for
this moment to arise.") printed on the shape of
a birdhouse. A blackbird is drawn on the surface,
and another bird is perched on top. Annette
Gates included a pair of petite cups with monkey
faces from her collection.
A Exhibition: "Perspectives" includes both
examples of precise, tightly-crafted works, and
pieces that embody the creative "mess" of clay.
Don McWhorter's delicate lidded containers are
adorned with leaf imprints. Mark Knott tran
scends the medium of clay: blue handles look
like glass and a wrinkled body looks like fabric.
Don Penny's work takes a sculptural approach
towards clay. His bold shape seems inspired by
minimalism. Ted Saupe's large vessels with draw
ings of figures, faces, abstract designs, animals
and words include small sculptures embedded in
the vessel. Peggy Pitts' piece, titled "Memories,"
resembles a deep well, and is embellished with
steel rods, copper from an old telephone pole,
and wood from a cedar tree in the artist's yard.
Stamped in clay is a quote from Rabbi Hillel that
begins "If I am not for myself who will be for
me?" Kelly King has taken a painterly approach
to clay, applying gtezes in the fashion of a con
temporary painting or print. Cameron Covert has
transferred a traditional Japanese image to a pot.
(See below for info on workshops to learn more
about this process.) Tina Reuterberg's two large
vases immediately draw attention, with vibrant
colors and dramatic floral forms. Reuterberg's
amoebic shapes resemble a lotus flower. Ron
Meyers' drawn fish is a wonderful example of the
animals that typically appear on his pots, while
Bridget Fox's bowl has scallops like a seashell.
Michael Schmidt's pieces depart from the nature
and animal scenes that we see on many other
works in this show. He has created containers
that resemble silos, and printed oil and gas com
pany logos, such as Fina, Mobil, Exxon, Sinclair
and Pure, on the surfaces.
What Else?: In addition to the pottery exhibi
tion, there will be a sale of works by potters
from around the state. Thousands of pots will
be on sale in the Rocket Hall. "Simple Glazes,"
an exhibit curated by Geoff Pickett highlight
ing historical and contemporary glazes made
from common materials, will be on display in the
Members Gallery.
Learn the Secrets: In conjunction with
"Perspectives," two workshops will be held on
Saturday, Sept. 1. Cameron Covert will discuss
his work and demonstrate the transfer process,
which he applies to ceramics, in a morning
workshop. Michael Schmidt's work
shop, "From Pet Portraits to Complex
. Conceptual Elitist Installation
Imagery: Success with Laser Print
Transfers" will be held in the after
noon. See more at www.ocaf.com.
Take a Tour: A self-guided "Pottery
Studio Tour" is scheduled for Sunday,
Sept. 9 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Several Athens potters will have open
studios on this day. Carter Gillies'
studio is located in his garden at
572 Nantahala Ave. He will be giving
demonstrations on the wheel, assem
bling parts, talking about his process
and philosophy, and discussing issues
of teaching and learning about clay.
Gillies will also invite viewers to "try
their hand at the wheel." Jenn Graff,
whose studio is in her garage apart
ment at 396 Boulevard, will be giving
glazing demonstrations, showing how
she achieves surface depth while fir
ing in oxidation in an electric kiln to
Cone 6. Ron Meyers has been called
"the most famous potter in Georgia."
His studio, located at 180 Hidden
Hills Lane, will be included in the
studio tour. Rob Sutherland, director of Good
Dirt, will be giving tours of the studios and kilns,
as well as demonstrations of throwing hollow-
walled pots. "Pushing Tradition" (see below)
will be on display in The Gallery. Good Dirt is
located at 510 B Thomas St. Find out more by
visiting www.gooddirt.net. R. Wood Studio, 450
Georgia Ave., houses the work of Rebecca Wood
and several local artists. On Sept. 9, her studios
will be open to visitors, who can watch them
"doing what they usually do." See more at www.
rwoodstudio.com.
Fresh Dirt: "Pushing Tradition: Asheville's New
Voices," curated by Josh Copus, will be on
display in The Gallery @ Good Dirt from Friday,
Sept. 7 through Oct. 20. The exhibit also in
cludes work by Kyle Carpenter, Naomi Dalglish,
Matt Jacobs, Courtney Martin and Joy lanner.
These artists comprise a new generation of pot
ters in Asheville. There will be an opening recep
tion on Sept. 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visit www.
gooddirt.net for more details.
Beth Sale
Send your art news to outthere@flagpole.com. Please
write "Art Notes” as the subject.
Tina Reuterberg
9th Annual
Customer Appreciation Night
Wednesday, August 29th • 7pm>llpm
All smalls ... $1
mediums ... $2
larges ... $3
Not valid on Hulks. Shako and FViwrr Meals. Not valid with any other u6a. $5 mu am urn on credit card purchases.
1591 S. Lumpkin St. • 706*613*2600
Voices
September 7 - October 20.2007
Opening Reception September 7
The Gallery @ Good Dirt
510 N. Thomas St. • Downtown • www.gooddirt.net
706 : 355-31 61 FOR MORE INFORMATION
GEORGIA POTTERY SALE & EXHIBITION
Hosted by Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation
34 School St • Watkinsville.-GA • 706.769.4565 • www.ocaf.com
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