These artists clay well with others
Thirteen Lincoln County ceramic artists will fill the Newport Visual Arts Center from Saturday, Nov. 6 through Dec. 23 for “Lincoln County Clay,” a facility-wide celebration of the redesign and reopening of the VAC’s clay studio.
An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Nov. 6, from noon to 4 pm, with an artist’s talk at 2 pm.
“‘Lincoln County Clay’ should prove to be a significant and contemporary survey of the many talented clay artists working in Lincoln County,” said VAC Director Tom Webb. “The show will include numerous masters in the field as well as artists who have come to ceramics somewhat later in life.”
Participating artists include Jacob Accurso, Frank Boyden, Chasse Davidson, Steve Dennis, Taunette Dixon, Liz Fox, Julie Fiedler, Erica Leach, Alice Martin, Liisa Rahkonen, Christy Steenkolk, Martha Wallace and Pam Young.
“Lincoln County is so rich with ceramic activity, I am honored to be a part of bringing together a collection of that talent to be showcased under one roof,” said Chasse Davidson, a senior curator for “Lincoln County Clay” and a member of the VAC’s clay advisory group. “It has been a personal goal to help expand the local clay community in this area. I think this collection of artists will display the vast array of possibilities within clay creation.”
Accurso found pottery while serving as a novice monk at the Mount Angel Abbey. Today, he produces pieces like those in the monastery — attractive yet still practical for everyday use.
Boyden has worked with clay for 53 years, including raku, terra sigillata and wood firing, and since 1993 has worked only in porcelain. His work is included in more than 100 museums and he has received a major grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He and his wife founded the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology in 1970.
Davidson served as president of the Toledo Arts Guild from 2014 to 2016, and owned and managed Toledo Clay Works from 2015 to 2020. She currently sells dishware and raku at Oceanic Arts in Newport and at Land and Sea in Florence and is collaborating with Ram Papish on a series incorporating his wildlife imagery on her thrown forms.
Dennis has been a full-time studio artist for the past 45 years and is the owner and curator of Earthworks Gallery in Yachats. He is a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship recipient.
Dixon is fairly new to ceramics but has had her hand in clay most days over the last five years. She has a private studio and sells her work at Wind Drift Gallery and Newport Bay Candle Company.
Fox has lived on the Oregon Coast for most of her life and after retiring as a high school librarian in 2020, has been a full-time potter, pursuing an interest she dabbled in for more than 40 years.
After showing an affinity for drawing at age 10, Fiedler began oil painting at age 11. In college she worked in clay for eight weeks, which ignited an interest in hand-building clay sculptures. A project of china painting on tile for a home remodel blossomed into a custom tile-painting business that she continues to operate to this day.
The woman behind the online ceramic outlet Erica Rose Pottery, Leach sells her pots through the site.
A former Alaskan, Martin’s work has been exhibited in more than 24 gallery shows, 12 local and national invitational exhibitions and 17 regional and national juried exhibitions. She is one of 11 artist owners of For ArtSake Gallery in Newport.
Rahkonen is a sculptor, painter and mixed-media artist whose work has been shown nationally and internationally. She was invited to participate in the Art in the Embassies Program and had her artwork in the US Embassy in El Salvador. In 2019, her paintings and sculpture were exhibited in a two-person exhibit at the Lincoln City Cultural Center.
A lifelong Oregon coast local and originally a glass blower, Steenkolk blended her love of creating artistic forms with functionality to create pottery. She has been honing her skills on the pottery wheel since 2019.
Wallace has been creating ceramic art for about 30 years. She retired to the Oregon Coast in 2013 and has been working to refine her skills on the wheel. About five years ago, she began teaching pottery.
Clay has entertained Young for more than 45 years. For the past nine years, it has taken over her life, with farmers markets, shows and galleries. Her pottery is recognizable for its whimsy, humor, color and texture.
The clay studio is set to open in late November with all new equipment, furnishings and supplies. Trial classes in the Clay Studio Project will run in December, with more formal offerings beginning in January.
For more information, go to coastarts.org.