Contemporary Pottery Exhibit on Display in Wallman Hall
The Fairmont State University Department of Visual Art presents an exhibition of historic and contemporary pottery from Seagrove, N.C., on campus in the James David Brooks Gallery in Wallman Hall in February and March.
The exhibition, titled “Seagrove: Then and Now,” is curated by FSU alumnus and current North Carolina Pottery Center Artist-in-Residence Josh Floyd. The exhibition will open Feb. 22 and run through March 11, with a closing reception at noon March 10. The show on the fourth floor of Wallman Hall will be open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Work by the artists will be for sale. For more information, call (304) 367-4219.
The exhibit will highlight the significance of Seagrove as a “Pottery Town,” which boasts of nearly 80 pottery shops in the area. Several historic works from the region will be on loan from the North Carolina Pottery Center’s extensive permanent collection, and the selected historic works represent several time periods, reflecting significant changes in styles and aesthetics of the Seagrove area potteries.
To complement the historic pieces, Floyd has also invited 15 area contemporary ceramic studios to exhibit, providing a glimpse into the wealth and diversity of pottery and sculpture currently being made in the Seagrove area. Works from historic potteries such as the Cravens of the late 1800s, 1950s era Jugtown Pottery and Seagrove Pottery of Walt and Dorothy Aulman will be shown alongside the contemporary sculptural work of Carol Gentithes and Fred Johnston, as well as the wood fired pots of Ben Owen III, Daniel Johnston and David Stuempfle. For a complete listing of artists and work, along with images and more content, visit the FSU Fine Arts Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FairmontStateVisualArt.
“Curating this exhibition has been a wonderful opportunity for me to begin to scratch the surface of Seagrove’s rich history, from the influence of early Moravian potters of the 1700s through to the revivals of the early 1900s and beyond. It has also enabled me to reach out to a thriving community of contemporary artists, many of whom are well known outside the boundaries of Seagrove. As I’ve begun learning the stories behind how and why some folks decided to settle here, I can begin to connect the dots of how this place has influenced their work,” Floyd said.
The public is invited to view this special exhibition of contemporary and historically significant ceramic work from one of the most vibrant, dynamic and productive art enclaves on the East Coast.
About the attached photos:
Ash Glaze Carved Pear Vase- woodfired-7x3.5x11
Ben Owens III
Picasso Fighting His Imagery- Hand-built earthenware with slips and glaze- 8x5x7
Carol Gentithes-Johnston and Gentithes Studios
Josh FloydceramicsArtSchool of Fine Arts
