A diverse teabowl display showcases forms steeped in rich global tradition, anchoring a show reflecting global culture in clay at the Torpedo Factory Art Center's Scope Gallery.
The Washington Ceramic Guild clay artisans prove cultural crossroads are paved with clay echoing the essence of Eastern, European, ancient and native pottery in "Cultural Crossings: Culture & Clay." An animal form recalls native roots and aboriginal motifs. The bold painting of bamboo and grass strokes recall age-old black ink Asian brushwork. High-fire pottery taps cultural architectural styles or Paleolithic sculpture.
Modern day artists still perform time-honored kiln techniques of ancient peoples in pitfiring and raku, among others. Horsehair pottery, with its distinctive black striping, is marked by the singeing of hair on a hot pot's surface. This process is borrowed from the Native Americans, as is pitfiring, a sawdust firing which results in dramatic smokey finishes. Raku is a 16th century process from Japan that creates crackled and irridescent glaze colors from sudden high-temperature changes.
The Ceramic Guild show runs July 25 to August 28; hours are Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Thursdays open until 9 p.m.
