Clay Art Center Presents 'A Pretty Mess: Kurt Anderson and Kathy King'

Clay Art Center is proud to present A Pretty Mess, featuring the work of Kurt Anderson  and Kathy King.  The exhibit will run from October 26 through November 30 with an opening reception on Saturday, October 26 from 6-8pm. The pair will also lead  a two-day, simultaneous demonstration workshop on Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27. To register, visit www.clayartcenter.org. Admission to the gallery and the SHOP at CAC, featuring one-of-a kind handmade pottery and sculpture, is free. 

This month’s Featured Artist in The Shop at CAC is CAC Artist Debra Holiber and the Classroom Showcase will feature work by Keiko Ashida’s classes.

Kurt Anderson and Kathy King met at a Watershed Artists Invite Artists session in the Summer of 2010. Realizing they are “cut from the same Karmic cloth” as Kurt puts it, the two decided to propose a two person exhibition. Clay Art Center is thrilled to have the duo join us this Fall. Both artists use graphic imagery and included historical references as an element to their surface compositions. Humor is also an important component to both artists’ work. From there, the two are very different. While Kathy’s work is narrative in focus, Kurt relies on simple iconic figures. The similarities that tie the work together mixed with the stark are what promises to be a rich and visually interesting Pretty Mess.

About his work, Kurt Anderson states: “I am generally attracted to the raw and unrefined spectrum of the Arts and Crafts.  My most significant pottery influences have been the folk traditions of China, Japan, and Persia.  In my work I attempt to combine the archetypal motifs of these traditions with more contemporary imagery inspired by advertising logos, graphic novels and urban street art.  By shuffling and recombining these proven formulas, it is my hope that the muse of familiarity appears cross-dressed as innovation.” 

About her work, Kathy states: “I utilize ceramic vessels, tiled furniture and printmaking, either presented individually, or combined in installation, to present narratives from a feminist point of view. The narrative presented on the surface of a vessel, united with the intended contents or utility, creates a working dialogue between function and concept. The surface imagery, reminiscent of an underground comic book style, often incorporates the portrayal of myself as a character. This presentation of personal narrative through satirical humor, irony and sarcasm allows me to work from a place of exposure and, hopefully, honesty.  To both celebrate and poke fun at my gender, sexual identity or social placement within society, I attempt to exhibit the ways that popular culture not only reflects our lives but also helps create them.”

Clay Art Center is a not-for-profit ceramic art organization offering exhibitions, clay classes for adults and children, studio spaces for clay artists and outreach programs in the community.  It is located in the heart of Port Chester at 40 Beech Street, Port Chester, NY 10573.   Gallery and SHOP hours are Monday through Saturday, 10am-4pm or by appointment.  For more information or images, please contact Caitlin Applegate at caitlin@clayartcenter.org or 914-937-2047.