Portsmouth Arts Guild Starts 'Claying' Around

On Wednesday, Sept. 15, members of the Portsmouth Arts Guild and others gathered to learn about the medium of clay from Warren artist and instructor Ellen Blomgren.

Blomgren spoke about the inspiration for her recent series portraying the human impact on the environment at-large, and in particular, animals. 

One piece featured in the slideshow was entitled "Encroachment" and featured a two-foot tall, bright blue elephant painted to look like a crowded city blocks. Its massive legs resembled  high-rise apartments. Its tusks were adorned with traffic lights, and peeking out from under its belly hung a clothesline. 

The sculpture is playful at first, but ultimately conveys the sense of development encroaching on what was once wilderness.

After her slideshow and lecture, Blomgren passed out chunks of raw clay to attendees and told them to form their own creatures.

Once the basic shapes had begun to form, the would-be sculptors were then told to pass their objects to the person on their right. That person could then either pick up where their neighbor left off, or go in a totally new direction.

Helena Touhey, 22, attended the workshop with her mother Felicia, a long-time guild member. Both women chatted as their raw clay slowly took on forms of abstract serpents and otherworldly fish. Touhey's ultimately morphed into the head of Medusa.

For Blomgren, who became a full-time professional ceramics artist in 2004, clay as a medium is timeless. 

"The fact that things made of clay from thousands of years ago are still here, and what they tell us about humans...I wonder what would happen if maybe someday in the future someone will discover one of my pieces and wonder what it meant," said Blomgren.

Blomgren founded Mudstone Studios in Warren several years ago and allows artists to use space for their own clay creations. She also uses the medium as therapy for working through personal challenges. 

The Portsmouth Arts Guild is a growing association of more than 150 artists from Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts who are devoted to the mission of expanding the arts and arts appreciation in the region.

Arts guild President Eric Broudy says of the monthly gatherings, "This exposes our community to a variety of artists and media. It's also a mentoring opportunity for anyone who wants to learn, support the arts, and meet new members of the community, and we are the only place like this in Portsmouth."

For example, Wednesday night, sitting around the three long tables were local artists who take pride in sharing their knowledge in caligraphy, photography, mixed media, sculpture, caustics, print making, oils and acrylics, and watercolors.

The next Portmouth Arts Guild meeting will take place on Oct. 19. Called "Taste This!" the group will host a chef from the Viking Hotel in Newport who will demonstrate techniques on culinary presentation and the artistic plating of food.  Admission is free and open to the public.