The most intimate ceramic form is an everyday object we use without even thinking about its importance.
“As a ceremonial and utilitarian vessel, the cup is something we put to our lips and takeliquid from to put into our bodies. It doesn?t get more intimate than that,” said Deborah Bedwell, Baltimore Clayworks executive director.
Bedwell asked 42 established and emerging artists to contribute cups to Another Cup? on display at Clayworks. She invited artists from Colorado to Georgia, gathering close to 100 cups varying in size and surface.
“Throughout human history, the cup has held a lot of personal and cultural significance,” Bedwell explained. “I wanted a diversity of expression.”
Selling from $25-450, Another Cup? includes functional as well as sculptural cups from “stoneware mugs to elegant, narrative porcelains works, with silky surfaces, and very colorful, hand-built cups, which look like ceremonial vessels from Central America,” Bedwell said.
“There a lot of great cups in the show,” said exhibiting artist Stan Burgess. “And it?s really a great privilege to be with so many outstanding potters.”
While holding Burgess? three, dark tea cups “you can feel the tension in the surface,” he said. “The surface looks smooth, but you can feel the texture as your drink from and hold a cup. That is a very important part for me ? the sense of feel.”
Burgess worked as a design manager for the Rouse Company and The Mills Corporation before retiring in 2005. He now teaches ceramics at Frederick Pottery School.
Like designing a building, pottery gives a sense of progression and satisfaction, Burgess said. “Yet, to me, it?s never quite good enough. There?s always a learning curve.”
Another Cup? exhibiting artist Susan Gladstone began working with clay 37 years ago just for fun. Her raku firing process, entrenched in Japanese tradition, dates back to the late 1500s. Unlike other firing process, raku firing takes only an hour and never exceeds 1800 degrees, said Gladstone from her Stevenson home. “I?m happiest when I?m firing outside at my kiln.”
“You can put anything in them,” joked Gladstone, “pens, pencils or even your loose diamonds.”
IF YOU GO
Another Cup?
When: Through Feb. 23; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday
Where: Baltimore Clayworks
5707 Smith Ave., Baltimore
Cost: Free
Info: 410-578-1919
