Work by Ceramics Artist Jeff Greenham on Display
An exhibition of new work by ceramics artist Jeff Greenham is on display this month at the Brooks Gallery in Wallman Hall on the Fairmont State University main campus.
Admission is free and open to the public. The exhibition will continue through Oct. 31. Regular gallery hours are Mondays - Fridays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For special arrangements, call or e-mail Curator Marian J. Hollinger: (304) 367-4300; mhollinger@fairmontstate.edu.
To quote from the essay by Robert Bridges in the catalogue that accompanies the exhibition: "The elusive moment has played a role during painting in the twentieth century and it continues to play a role in time-based art. This moment is also present in the ceramic works of Jeff Greenham. We see the maker's hand present in the malleable surface and then frozen in time by fire. The first-time viewer of the porcelain work of Greenham can recognize a brilliance in the classic forms of his vessels and the quiet beauty of the deep, translucent glazes. ...Subtle passages of color radiate jewel-like while the sensuous shapes undulate as you move around each piece. The moment can extend into minutes as the viewer explores each surface, and the minutes can elongate into days as with all good art we want to return to those works.
"Traditional Asian ceramics provide inspiration yet an interest in Modernist architecture and design permeates the work. Each piece has the impact of strong form and striking color, with fascinating combinations and unexpected twists. ...The artist is grounded in ceramic history and works with traditional forms but always with a surprising shift in scale and a sly sense of humor. The recent body of work continues this practice but with an added layer of visual appeal.
"Greenham functions within the potter's tradition of acknowledging the past and making his contribution to the ongoing history by carefully addressing, adding, removing, and re-inventing within that tradition."
