Workhouse Clay National Ceramics Exhibition

The First Annual Workhouse National Ceramics Exhibition opened on Wednesday, August 3 at the Workhouse Arts Center. The show includes 50 pieces of work by artists from across the United States, selected by Juror Ellen Shankin. The exhibition asked artists to explore the theme of “Confinement” in their works, literally or conceptually. From functional pottery and vessels to sculpture of all shapes and sizes, each piece demands a powerful presence and delivers a definite sense of confinement, both physically and emotionally. Each of these talented artists from all over the country have beautifully interpreted and challenged the theme.

Juror Ellen Shankin describes the exhibition “To jury a show is always an honor and a responsibility. In this instance, to spend time with so many images that circled a theme as broad and gripping as "Confinement" was also engaging and meaningful.  Before viewing the work, I had determined that the show's theme would play a big role in my decisions.  For me, that meant that some submissions of beauty and impact ended up not getting chosen because I was not compelled by their communication of any sense of the feeling of confinement.  Among the almost 300 entries there was a full range of ceramic expression: pots, vessels and sculpture. Functional pottery, in some sense, can often be stretched to engage the theme because of the inherent enclosed space of most utilitarian forms.  The simple act of lidding a jar speaks of confinement. But to convey that was not enough. Each piece needed to offer: clarity, a sense of resolve, a sure sense of material and an execution that took nothing away from its intent. The 50 pieces chosen for this show moved me by their expressive nature and the power of their presence.”

The Workhouse Clay National Ceramics Exhibition runs through August 28 on the second floor of Gallery W-16. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Saturday, August 6 from 7-9pm.