·         May 4th - May 25th, 2018

The Strand Center for the Arts was thrilled to host “Fifty Shades of Clay,” an exhibition that featured a diverse showcase of ceramic works by selected Strand Center Clay Studio members. This show included 11 dedicated ceramists who came together to show off their individual talents: Nancy Armitage, Ellen O’Hara, Darlene Virgin, Gerald Gardner, Gregory Hazelden, Jerry Seguin, Jill McLean, Kim Bailey, Kim Mazur, Rob Greene, and Sarah Davis.

 The artists brought together for this show had an amazing diversity of styles with an equally diverse approach to creating art. For instance, Jill McLean made functional pottery with simple and useable forms, with decoration that reminded her of a walk in the woods: whether in the silhouette of tree branches against the winter sky or rich green and blue glazes reminiscent of the water of a woodland pond reflecting leaves and sky.

 Another artist, Gregory B. Hazelden, was born and raised in upstate New York. He attended Vermont Academy and then Skidmore College where he obtained his BA in Art History with a self-created minor in Historic Preservation. It was while he was at Skidmore that the fell in love with ceramics, specifically hand-building. His work was entered in numerous shows and exhibits on campus. It was in his studies that he also fell in love with Greek Art, specifically black and red-figure vase painting. Upon graduating from Skidmore, he spent several weeks in Greece studying first hand ancient Greek Art which fueled his inspiration for further works. After a successful career in Real Estate followed by a rewarding career in the Medical Field in Savannah, Georgia, Gregory returned to upstate New York where he was able to focus his attention on ceramics. 

 Yet another artist, Kim Mazur, had been working with clay for 23yrs.  Most recently, she focused on throwing and hand building.  Concerning her work, she stated, “My work is about paying attention to the clay and letting my pieces speak and guide me.  I also enjoy the camaraderie involved in teaching and working on community projects.”

 In reference to the exhibition, David Monette, gallery director at The Strand Center for the Arts stated, “The collection of incredibly talented artists and the work they’ve assembled for this show is really something to see.  Take Darlene Virgin for example, she’s obsessed with working in clay. She’s mentioned how she loves the whole process of starting with an idea or a design and learning how to work with different clay bodies. She’s said that if the piece makes it through the bisque firing, then the challenge of learning about glazing, and the varied techniques, begins, all of which will hopefully bring about a finished piece that she’s satisfied with. And she’s only one of eleven artists in the show!”