Neighbor News
Cultural cues give form to modern ceramics at the Torpedo Factory Art Center
Relive relics of culture with traditional pottery as local potters of the Washington Ceramic Guild experiment with clay at Scope Gallery
Bringing a little spice to life and riding the cultural spark of creativity, artists expand experiences with “Cultural Connectivity” in clay.
Potters look to age-old artistry, demonstrating a deep spectrum of time-honored influences in glazes, processes and details. This show, focused on a world of styles and influences, is presented in conjunction with The Sogetsu School Biennial Ikebana Show at The Art League Gallery March 2 to 6.
Firing techniques, glazes and spare forms are from ancient Asia are still used today. Ancient woodfired pottery with its warm, rustic toasty finish has migrated from China, through Korea to Japan before immigrating into today’s modern hands.
See the dramatic webbing of Japanese raku crackled finishes and iridescent glazes while flared lintel-inspired details echo imperial headdresses or samurai helmets. Curls and flourishes reflect rooflines of the Far Eastern temples.
Artists expand on the graceful spires and architectural spectacles of minarets of the Middle East with dramatic vertical forms. Hieroglyphic and pictograph influences are reflected in precise texture markings.
The ancient traditions of sculptural reliefs, reminiscent of Greek pediments, are still practiced by artists with renditions of flora and fauna and human forms.
European decorative painting highlights intricate exterior painting while Native American firing techniques offer striking smoked finishes.
Time travel through the arts, as pottery’s origins back to the ice age, and are still alive more than 22,000 years later.
The “Cultural Connections” Ceramic Guild show at Scope Gallery runs March 7 to April 3, hours are Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Thursdays open until 9 p.m. Closed Sunday, March 27 for Easter. The gallery is located at 105 North Union Street, ground floor Studio 19, Alexandria, VA. 22314. For further information, call Scope Gallery at 703-548-6288, visit www.torpedofactory.org/galleries/scope, Scopegallery.org and ‘Scope Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center’ on Facebook; Follow @Scope Gallery on Twitter.
The Ceramic Guild is an organization of over 40 juried Washington D.C. area artists working in the clay medium. Organization members exhibit themed shows every other month at the artist-run cooperative Scope Gallery in Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory Art Center. Visit Scope Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center on Facebook and Scopegallery.org.
