Ceramic Artist Debra Ketchum Jircik Joins The Flying Pig Gallery

The figures emerge from the clay, revealing their personalities while Debra Ketchum Jircik is in the process of sculpting them. From there, texture, slips, underglaze, glaze and found objects create layers of surface and meaning. These artistic works are now on display at the Flying Pig Gallery and Greenspace in Algoma.

Jircik’s unconventional ceramic work is inspired by her natural surroundings in Wisconsin’s northwoods, in folk art, outsider art environments, sacred art and artifacts, the rough and the raw, the mystical and the quirky. Her current clay work is focused on figurative sculpture and mixed media birdhouses. Jircik’s husband Greg collaborates with her in the creation of wood elements and incorporation of found objects in the pieces she designs.

Jircik currently divides her time between clay and hand papermaking, sometimes merging the two in her assemblages. She incorporates paper, old fabric, found objects, things from nature and hand stitching in her mixed media pieces. Her work is exhibited locally and nationally. She enjoys sharing her work through teaching and working on collaborative community art projects and installations.

The Flying Pig Gallery and Greenspace is located at N6975 Highway 42, two miles south of Algoma. The gallery is open 9 am – 6 pm daily. For gallery and event information, please call 920.487,9902 or visit http://www.theflyingpig.biz.