“Night Visions” by Richard Cleaver / “Surface Circus” | Receptions
Saturday, March 12 • 6-8pm
@ Baltimore Clayworks
Nationally recognized Baltimore artist Richard Cleaver celebrates 50 years of creating ceramic sculpture with an exhibition in the Solo Gallery. His meticulously designed mixed media artworks will be featured from March 12 through May 7, 2022. Richard Cleaver’s works are intricate, Jungian, and always enigmatically multilayered.
“My sculptures integrate ceramic, which is the primary medium, with wood, fresh water pearls, semi-precious stones, gold leaf, and oil paint,” Cleaver explained. “They are made complete with secret compartments which serve as hiding places for multiple, and often times personal meanings. My recent work is based on narratives drawn from personal and historical events that are overlapped with subconscious images.”
He has exhibited across the U.S. with solo exhibitions at the Baltimore Museum of Art, American University Museum, the Kohler Arts Center, and more. His work is represented in numerous collections including the Renwick Museum in DC, Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento CA, DeYoung Museum in San Francisco CA, Delaware Art Museum, Arizona State University Art Museum, and many others.
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The Main Gallery features “Surface Circus,” a group exhibition juried by Sue Tirrell, from March 12 through May 7, 2022. The exhibition features a deep exploration of the myriad ways that texture and surface can complete a piece of ceramic art.
Clay has many potential surface possibilities and “Surface Circus” will show a smorgasbord of ideas from traditional glazes, low to high-fire temperatures, wood-fire atmospheric, and even paint. Artists use the method they need to achieve their vision and function for each object, while colors ranging from bright and whimsical hues to more contemplative earth tones showcase the boldness and skill of contemporary ceramic art.
“Hand-carved or screen printed, kissed by soda or blasted by wood ash, I’m a sucker for a well-executed surface,” said Sue Tirrell. “What makes the most successful surface though – the thing that will draw me across a room in a home or gallery – is the way a surface completes its companion form. Glaze, texture, and graphics don’t exist or make sense on their own in ceramics. These elements complete the form, giving it context, narrative, and function.”
Artists in the exhibit include: Elka Adamowicz, Patrick Bell, Casey Ann Hanrahan, Steve Hilton, Erin Holmes, Shea Kister, Marina Kuchinski, Martine Kuhlman, John Matuszak, Lynne Molner, Rebeccca Murtaugh, Tina Opp, Russ Orlando, Michael Poness, Kit Reseau, Whitney Sherman, Minsoo Yuh, and Kara Zuzu.
