What To Do

Clay Art Center is pleased to present

US

A national invitational exhibition of ceramic works exploring the idea of what it is to be an American.

Opening Reception: 

Saturday, July 21st

6 – 8PM

In the Gallery: July 21st– September 15th

US is the third of four themed exhibits for 2018, a year featuring artists whose works examine social justice issues and the intricacies of maneuvering life, lifestyles and living within a global society. US is a national invitational exhibition of ceramic works exploring the idea of what it is to be an American. Social and political issues will be touched upon by ceramic artists in an array of expression. Artists such as Ehren Tool, a US military veteran, will activate the community by creating ceramic cups with imagery of war to start a discussion with other veterans. At the close of the exhibition on September 15th, Ehren Tool will generously give away his handmade cups with a suggested donation to Clay Art Center programs. He states “I hope that some of the cups can be starting points for conversations about unspeakable things.” Juxtaposed with this is Mariko Paterson, an immigrant from Canada who layers her colorful pottery with patriotic and social imagery that draws upon her interpretation of America’s past.

Invited Artists:  Natalia Arbelaez, Russell Biles, Andrew Coombs, Jared Gelormino, Brian Harper, Virgil Ortiz, Mariko Paterson, Jessica Putnam Phillips, Hope Rovelto, Steven Montgomery, Sana Musasama, Ehren Tool, and Shalene Valenzuela

Concurrent to this exhibition will be Port Chester Day with Ehren Tool on August 25that 10am. Ehren, a US military veteran, will be doing a ceramic demo in Lyons Park in Port Chester, NY followed by a process slide lecture from 6 – 7pm at Clay Art Center.  Ehren states “When I returned from the 1991 Gulf War I was surprised to see a G.I. Joe version of myself, my gas mask and my war, in stores, “for ages 6 and up”. I am compelled to make work that talks about the strange places where military and civilian cultures collude and collide.”

The 2018 gallery year is hosting 4 Degrees of Separation, a series of four exhibitions featuring artists whose works examine the intricacies of maneuvering life, lifestyles and living within a global society with its political and social ramifications. The exhibits will focus on relationships from different vantage points on the intricacies of individualism, racial biases, national identity or environment and how all of it is communicated and understood. Clay Art Center is committed to exhibiting emerging, mid-career, and established artists, as it seeks to become a platform for the field to express potent ideas and relevant topics of our time. 

Clay Art Center was founded in 1957 by Katherine Choy and Henry Okamoto. Unknown to them at the time, Clay Art Center would grow into an 11,000 square foot non-profit art center that delivers programming for professional artists, students, collectors, and the Port Chester community at large. 

Clay Art Center is a nationally recognized non-profit center for the advancement and practice of ceramic arts offering exhibitions, clay classes for adults and children, studio spaces for clay artists and outreach programs in the community.  It is located in the heart of Port Chester at 40 Beech Street, Port Chester, NY 10573. Gallery and SHOP hours are Monday - Saturday, 10am-5pm or by appointment.