Scripps College Ceramic Annual, the longest running exhibition of contemporary ceramics in the United States, opens January 21, 2006, and will continue through April 9 at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery on the Scripps campus. In conjunction with the opening of the exhibition, a special lecture and reception will be held on Saturday, January 21. Author and art dealer Garth Clark will give a lecture titled “Ceramics on the Cusp” from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. in the Scripps Humanities Auditorium. An opening reception, featuring live music and light refreshments, will be held at 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the Bixby Courtyard adjacent to the Williamson Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information please call the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery at (909) 607-4690.
Since its inception, the Ceramic Annual has been an “artist’s choice” exhibition and has featured new directions in ceramics. This year, the guest curator is Steven Portigal, M.F.A., Art Department chair at Cerritos College. This year’s exhibition features the work of a diverse group of artists including: Luis Bermudez, Michael Geersten, Babs Haenen, Steven Heinemann, Eva Hild, Robert Hudson, Christine McHorse, Gustavo Perez, Nicholas Rena, Goro Suzuki, Howard Tollefson, and Robert Turner. The 2006 Ceramics Annual explores the theme of transformation.
Some of the artists have used this idea with conscious intent; others less directly, in creating forms that are either vessels or derived from the traditions of pottery making, but moved into a realm beyond utility and into pure expression. The full color catalogue will include an essay by Leah Ollman, a corresponding editor for Art in America and art critic for the Los Angeles Times. The Scripps College 62nd Ceramic Annual exhibition and catalogue are supported by the Ames Fund at Scripps; the Pasadena Art Alliance; Skutt Ceramic Products, Inc.; Laguna Clay; Julianne and David Armstrong; Francine and William Baker; Gloria and Sonny Kamm; Barbara and Victor Klein; Diane and Igal Silber; and Lynn Ballantyne and Randall Welty.