Art & Design

Ruth Reese
Magical Realism I
Porcelain
2011 

Michelle Hamilton
The Secret Life of Birds I
Mid-fire white clay, multi-fired with photo imagery
2011

January 6 – February 7
Monday through Friday
8:00am to 6:30pm

Artists’ Statement
We both began with a simple curiosity of the medium, which has evolved into very different bodies of work, each commenting on the philosophy and ethics of beauty in very unique ways. As we juxtapose our work under the title “To Be Is To Be Perceived,” ontological questions naturally arise. For instance, “How does philosophical contemplation change in the presence of an art object and in an art gallery?” Conceptualism has traditionally seen the de-materialization of the art object, but here and now, we would like to engage in a collaborative approach with philosophy. Please do join us in our thought experiment, where we will be reclaiming conceptualism in our quest to know how art objects carry meaning and help us to understand existence.

When viewing Hamilton’s thrown pieces, one might think of Plato’s Forms. Her pieces are not a casual demonstration of roundness. Instead, platters claim a circular perfection truly transcendent of the act of throwing on the wheel; her urns are an expression of pure form. For her, the sphere and the cone expand and contract in simple geometric elegance. On the other hand, Reese’s sculptural works turn away from ideal and model forms. Reese poignantly observes the softness of flesh and the richness of texture in her figurative work. One might note that her approach draws more from Aristotle than Plato. Her corporeal forms with tangible expression, suggest that she searches for the universal within the particular.

Through our diverse interpretations of the medium, we explore the concept of vessel – literally and figuratively, functionally and sculpturally. And, it is in contrast to each other that we are able to embody some of the basic questions at the foundation of art making and philosophy, yet, both in fast pursuit of the question “How do we perceive beauty?”

About the Artists

Michelle Hamilton  In the studio,

Michelle’s primary tool for the creation of her work is the wheel. For her, it provides rhythm to the balance of material and soul. She chooses white mid-fire clay for its reflective properties that enhance the rich glaze colors she prefers. Michelle’s forms are an investigation of concept between a vessel that holds a commodity and a vessel that holds a story. Her pieces are balanced and strong and although contemporary in nature, they pay homage to classic forms found in architecture and history. Hamilton holds an MFA in Ceramics and Glass from Washington University (1989) and a BFA from Miami University (1986). She has been teaching ceramic and glass courses for almost 20 years. Currently, Michelle teaches at Maryville University in St. Louis. She also owns a glass fusing company that teaches courses throughout the Midwest. Michelle’s art has been exhibited in national and regional shows. In addition, her retail line is carried in several prominent gallery shops in St. Louis and has been included in national and regional magazines.

Ruth Reese  Working primarily with red earthenware and porcelain, Ruth’s work is an expression of the richness of the medium. She explores the fluidity of identity by blending the human form with plant and animal, creating surreal sculpture and vessels. Through character and narrative she is able to explore more philosophical questions. Ruth takes true satisfaction in her work that seeks to be both challenging and beautiful. Ruth Reese holds an MFA in Sculpture (2002) from Washington University and a BA (1997) from Loyola University. She currently teaches at Maryville University and St. Louis Community College but has taught extensively across the bi-state region. Exhibiting locally and nationally, her work has been in shows such as Red Heat and Visions in Clay. She has been published in “500 Raku,” “500 Platters,” “Mourning: A Buddhist Ritual Comes to America” and “A is for…”. Most recently she has curated “Feat of Clay” at PHD Gallery in 2011.

~ by Kelly Brooks on .