The Gallery
The Gallery at PNW has seen tons of clay---tons of clay transformed by the hands of students, resident artists, guest artists and even an occasional anonymous potter in the guise of a historical piece of great beauty. The Gallery exists for those who “collect”, and for those who simply enjoy the immense pleasure of using a handmade object on daily basis.
We are committed to helping you find that favorite cup, or the wall piece that you cannot explain your fascination with to anyone else, but nonetheless it speaks to you. The cup, the teapot, a figurative work, a mixed media installation, and even that archetypal pot, the bowl, all have relevance both for the field, and for its supporters. We have them and we look forward to sharing them with you.
In the next year we have scheduled a number of shows that will cover a wide range of work from people both within and without our studio. Please come and explore for yourself.
The Potter Northwest Gallery is open 11 am-5 pm Tuesday through Friday and by appointment.
Call 206-285-4421.
Programs at Pottery Northwest are made possible in part through the generous support of:
Dane Youngren — Prospecting
June 1 - 28
OPENING Reception: Saturday, June 1, 6- 8 PM
Prospecting is no longer just used to describe mineral and oil explorations like in a nostalgic mining scene on the western frontier. It has now become a redundant term in many ways in the business realm to describe everything from engaging clients to targeting customers. It’s not just businesses; in modern day society, we are all actively “prospecting,” searching for likely paths of success, be it in our careers or personal lives. To call our interactions as such may seem impersonal or excessively business oriented, but in reality there is a substantial marketing realm that focuses on prospecting strategies, even if it isn’t overtly apparent. The business surrounding prospecting is a very real thing.
This exhibition seeks to not only call attention to the modernization of prospecting, but to also take a step back to the roots and the perhaps simple (but unruly) days of gold prospecting and other mining scenes that sprung up in mineral rich regions. It is in this kind of spirit that the sculptures in this show create a sense of a different time and place where wood-built structures ruled. In the old west, there seems to be a very real sense of care and attention to form and function, and perhaps no architectural plans or drawings were used for construction. The structures in this exhibition draw light to this and vary from tall, mine shaft towers to town saloons and various sheds, all built off the cuff without a plan but a purpose in mind. In terms of mining and layers of meaning, clay presents itself as a suitable earth material that is pliable and able to take on these architectural forms. It also is interesting to consider our associations with materials, and the clay, prior to assembly, is carved to give it a wood-like texture. The firing is also a very critical component and is approached in light of giving the surfaces a dry, seasoned appearance that is in harmony with the forms. There seems to be no shortage of possibilities and structures to explore, and this two year residency has been one in which these new projects and new forms have been developed.
Meg Murch — Coloring Outside the Lines
May 3-24
OPENING Reception: Friday, May 3, 6- 8:30 PM
Artist Talk: 7 PM
Meg concludes her residency at PNW with this exhibition of work created in the past 18 months. Three bodies of work will be on display. All are explorations of color on sculpture.
- larger than life portrait busts and expressive self-portrait masks,
- large abstracted figures exhibiting Archipenko and Picasso influences, and finally,
- hoop-dancing-inspired wall pieces.
Meg works with the human figure and face, both abstractly and realistically. In this exhibit, Meg has applied her years of studying painting, sculpting and portraiture to work that she truly loves. Each work is intended to be a visually coherent statement about an individual. She addresses their likeness, emotional expression and her respect for them. Painting these pieces allows her to amplify her vision. The complexity of the sculpture, the dynamism in the form and the piece's mood, if it is tangible all are considered. Then she decides whether to play up or down these aspects.
I ask what the sculpture reminds me of, a period in art history, a particular artwork, an aspect of the model’s own history. Using these associations, I think about color and mark making. Some sculptures have no strong suggestions to make and I feel free to have fun, play, try stuff out.
Meg values variety and experimentation more than a guaranteed outcome.
As my painting progresses, I struggle with the sculptural information, texture, line and feature that can be lost, reshaped or dominated by color. Colors and lines have to be softened or muted to work with the sculpture. The sculpture has to be considered in the round. The painting is a panorama and has to wrap the piece. My challenge is to make the sculpture integrated as a painting and readable as a sculpture. It is all good mind bending work.
Kristin Schimik — Meditation for Carbon
April
Kristin Schimik is one of the recipients of our in-house grant program, the RAP. It stands for Resident Artist Project and it is meant to give one the opportunity to move the boundaries on their work. Kristin also received a 4Culture grant this year for a site specific work at the Renton Mine Hoist. We'll get a look at her investigations of resources and their use when she places an installation in the gallery.
Pottery Northwest Artists in Residence
January 1 - February 15
In the Pottery Northwest Gallery we have a continuation of our Artists-in-Residence Show. Since the holiday reception, new work has magically appeared, and it is a good look at the depth and breadth of the program. All of the current artists-in-residence are represented.
In connection with the gallery we are also announcing the First National Bank of Pottery where we will convert your Christmas gift money into a piece of ceramics. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday 11 am - 5 pm.
