PenArt Exhibit Goes Beyond the Surface

“Gold Dot Bottle” by North Carolina potter Gillian Parke.

The many techniques of pottery embellishment are explored in the exhibit Beyond Scratching the Surface: Today’s Ceramic Decoration, Aug. 18 – Oct. 14, at Peninsula School of Art. Works from members of the Door County Potters’ Guild will be on display alongside those of six potters from Minnesota, New York, and North Carolina.

Among the surface treatments are carving, sgraffito, slip trailing and slip casting, both artisan-formulated and ash glazes, the unpredictable effects of the ancient Raku firing method, the use of wax resist, and the addition of metallic decals.

All works by the Beyond Scratching the Surface featured artists involve a multi-step process in the creation of both the form and surface designs. The process of North Carolina artist Gillian Parke offers an example of how detailed the creation of a ceramic work can be.

Wedging coarse feldspar and molochite into her clay, Parke is able to bring tiny, pearl-like texture to selected areas of her pieces. These areas contrast with the smooth surface of the vintage English porcelain she incorporates into each work. A series of underglazings using wax resist to control color is followed by black underglaze inlayed into etched lines. Sgraffito is also employed to cut through the surface to reveal the clay below.

A panel discussion with members of the Door County Potters’ Guild will take place Aug. 18, 4 – 6 pm. The discussion and exhibit are free and open to the public.

Peninsula School of Art is located at 3900 County Hwy F, in Fish Creek. For more information, call 920.868.3455 or email [email protected].