The ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center’s Ceram-A-Rama (February 20-21, 2016) is a unique event in the ceramic world aimed at preserving the scholarship and energy of previous generations while reaching out to the next generation of artists and collectors. The event bridges this gap with a celebration of food, drinks, music, exhibitions, and auctions, all bringing people together to benefit the Ceramics Research Center.
As a recent transplant from the East Coast, ASU Art Museum Curator of Ceramics Garth Johnson is impressed by the Valley’s flourishing ceramic community.
“With the New York Times and other publications all declaring that ceramic art is ‘white hot,’ the Phoenix area has always been a hotbed of ceramic artists and enthusiasts,” Johnson says. “The Self-Guided Ceramic Studio Tour is one of the true hubs of the Valley’s ceramics community, as well as a destination for collectors across the country.”
This year’s Ceram-A-Rama will honor Paul J. Smith, legendary curator and director emeritus of the Museum of Art and Design in New York City. Over the course of his long career, Smith helped give shape to the studio craft movement as he worked with hundreds of artists who would come to define the field. When he was working and traveling, Smith was always photographing artists in their studios and professional lives. The Ceramics Research Center’s current exhibition, Paul J. Smith Portraits: A Journal of the Ceramics Community pairs 20 of Smith’s artist portraits with corresponding pieces from the ASU Art Museum’s unparalleled collection, including such notable artists as Toshiko Takaezu, Peter Voulkos, Maria Martinez, and Beatrice Wood.
Ceram-A-Rama will include live and silent auctions to benefit the Ceramics Research Center. The live auction will feature works by Sergei Isupov, Kadri Pärnamets, Max Lehman, Peter Pincus, Richard Zane Smith, Kurt Weiser, Adam Field, Christine Golden, Richard Zane Smith, Patricia Sannit, Virgil Ortiz, Patti Warashina and Eddie Dominguez. The silent auction will be conducted by Givesmart, allowing collectors and donors nationwide to participate in the bidding. See the auction and place your bid here.
The 15th annual ASU Art Museum Ceramics Studio Tour coincides with Ceram-A-Rama and will give visitors a chance to view the studios and artwork of more than 40 artists throughout the valley. The tour is free and open to the public. More information can be found here.
Tickets for this year’s Ceram-A-Rama celebration, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20-21, 2016, start at just $25, making the experience accessible to a new generation of collectors, artists and enthusiasts. Visit the ASU website for more information.
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