Ceramic Exhibit, Events Study Human Form

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 8) - Kicking-off the schedule of art exhibitions coming to the University of Kentucky's Tuska Center for Contemporary Art (TCCA) is "Figuration to Fragmentation: The Human Form in Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture," a national figurative ceramic exhibit held jointly between TCCA and Morlan Gallery at Transylvania University. The shows, which are free and open to the public, run Sept. 11 to Oct. 15, on the universities' Lexington campuses.

The artwork on display in "Figuration to Fragmentation" focuses on the use of the body in contemporary ceramics—from representational to conceptual--while examining structures of identity and, the effect of human psychological degradation on the body. Featured in the joint exhibit is artwork from a diverse selection of artists including Tanya Batura, Anne Drew Potter, Keith Wallace Smith and Liz Zacher at TCCA, and Tom Bartel, Kira Campbell, Sergei Isupov and Hunter Stamps at Morlan.

Artist talks, workshops, lectures, receptions, a conference and online catalog are offered the length of the exhibition. The lecture series will be presented at both UK and Transylvania, on consecutive Thursday nights. The conference, "The Role of the Figure in Contemporary Ceramics," is scheduled for Oct. 1-2, at UK. An online catalog for the exhibit, featuring an essay on the use of the figure in contemporary ceramics by noted ceramic critic Adam Welch, will be produced and available for download or purchase from www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/figuration-to-fragmentation/7554253.

The "Figuration to Fragmentation" exhibit's schedule of events includes:

- Artist Talk by Tom Bartel and Hunter Stamps, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, Morlan Gallery;

- "Who’s/Whose Nude: Contemporary Women and the Nude" by Art Historian Nancy Wolsk, 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, Morlan;

- Exhibit Opening Reception and Lexington Gallery Hop, 5-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, Morlan and TCCA;

- Workshop: Anne Drew Potter, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, UK Ceramics Studio, Room 220 Reynolds Building;

- Artist Talk: Anne Drew Potter, 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, Niles Gallery, UK Lucille C. Little Fine Arts Library;

- Art Professions Class: Anne Drew Potter, noon-12:50 Friday, Sept. 25, Room 118 UK Whitehall Classroom Building;

- "The Role of the Figure in Contemporary Ceramics," Conference Workshop: Keith Wallace Smith, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, UK Ceramics Studio, Room 220 Reynolds Building;

- "The Role of the Figure in Contemporary Ceramics," Keynote Lecture: Adam Welch, 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, Room 102 UK Whitehall Classroom Building;

- "The Role of the Figure in Contemporary Ceramics," Gallery Reception, 8-9 p.m. Thurs, Oct. 1, TCCA;

- "The Role of the Figure in Contemporary Ceramics," Conference Workshop: Keith Wallace Smith, 9-11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, UK Ceramics Studio, Room 220 Reynolds Building;

- "The Role of the Figure in Contemporary Ceramics," Art Professions Class: Adam Welch, noon-12:50 Friday, Oct. 2, Room 118 UK Whitehall Classroom Building;

- "The Role of the Figure in Contemporary Ceramics," Artist Talk: Keith Wallace Smith, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, Room 102 UK Whitehall Classroom Building;

- "The Role of the Figure in Contemporary Ceramics," Closing Discussion led by Zoé Strecker, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, Room 102 UK Whitehall Classroom Building; and

- Artist Talk: Kira Campbell, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, Morlan.   

The exhibit and its corresponding events are free and open to the public.

The Tuska Center for Contemporary Art (TCCA) is on the first floor of the UK Fine Arts Building, located on Rose St. Gallery hours for the fall 2009 semester are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Morlan Gallery is located in Mitchell Fine Arts Building on Fourth St. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on "Figuration to Fragmentation" events being held at UK,  contact Kate Sprengnether, director of the Tuska Center for Contemporary Art, at (859) 257-1545 or e-mail to k.sprengnether@uky.edu. For information on exhibit events being held at Transylvania, contact Andrea Fisher, director of Morlan Gallery, at (859) 233-8142 or e-mail to afisher@transy.edu.