World-renowned Artist to Display Clay Exhibit at Concord through Friday, March 2

Athens, W.Va. – Concord University’s Division of Fine Arts will be featuring a clay pottery exhibit by Brad Schwieger, one of the most outstanding ceramic artists in the United States. More than 30 pieces of art will be displayed. The exhibition opened Monday, February 5 in the Arthur Butcher Gallery in the Alexander Fine Arts Center at Concord. Gallery hours are 12 noon through 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; special viewings will be available upon request.

The works of Mr. Schwieger, a professor of art and ceramics at Ohio University, has been featured world-wide in countries such as England, Germany, Japan, and Korea. He has given workshops and lectures at over 70 colleges and universities and has been headlined in many art journals and publications including art textbooks.

Mr. Schwieger said that the foremost characteristic in his works is form, but he also hopes to create surfaces on his pottery that will enhance the form. He said that he has developed a recent interest in different architectural styles as well. “I find an interesting parallel between architecture and pottery,” he explained. “Like architecture, pottery deals with elements of form and structure, interior and exterior, utility or containment, surface detail and adornment.”

When creating works of art, Mr. Schwieger first creates an item on his potter’s wheel and then alters the item by cutting and stretching certain sections and reassembling them into the whole. He said that the symmetry of the wheel-cast item is more balanced after it has been altered. He then finishes his works by spraying salt and soda into the firing oven; this process produces colorful linear designs, adding intensity and luster to the surface of each work of art.

A reception for Mr. Schwieger will be held Thursday, March 1, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the artist will conduct a demonstration and lecture during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 2. Special viewings of the gallery will be available upon request.

-CU-

PHOTO: “Untitled,” soda fired stoneware, 17” X 8” X 7,” 2006

CONCORD UNIVERSITY NOTES: Corrie McKee, a junior majoring in English and Journalism, wrote this news release. Her hometown is Nitro, W.Va.