Open to Coffee Mugs, Cups, Goblets, Tumblers and other drinking vessels which use UNDERGLAZE.
2021 Juror: Michelle Ettrick
“I was a non-English speaking 13-year old when I arrived in the United States in 1982. Life in Brooklyn, New York was a stark contrast to my early memories of Panama and the simple joys of climbing trees and playing with my friends while my mom was nearby hanging clothes on the line. As an Afro-Latina, I struggled to find a community that would accept me and where I felt I belonged. My own identity was regularly challenged by others who judged me by the texture of my hair or the fact that I spoke Spanish fluently and struggled to communicate in English. When judged by adults and my peers, my hair was “too good” to be considered black and the color of my skin was too dark to be speaking Spanish. In addition to the hardships, I have many fond memories of my time in New York. Brooklyn is where I learned about double dutch and cooling off from the New York summer heat in the open fire hydrants.
I love being a maker and clay is my medium of choice. Clay is a very personal material to me. When I put my hands in the clay and my fingers get lost in the mixture, for the moment, we become one. I stretch pull, pinch and form shapes where I leave evidence of my having been there. I follow up by drawing on my work where I embrace my natural curly hair, heritage, womanhood and at times current worldly struggles. My artwork is a record of my experiences as an Afro-Latina American.”
-Michelle Ettrick
Material Mugs is our annual material based cups show and this year we will again be featuring underglazes! Our hope is to exhibit cups which express the full range of surface possibilities- underglazes that are trailed, painted, sprayed, transferred, washed, globbed on, inlayed etc.
Now in its sixth year, Material Mugs is one of the most anticipated juried ceramics exhibitions by makers and collectors alike. This will be the 3rd juried exhibition at our new location.
The exhibition is open to cups using every type of clay, temperature, and atmosphere, just as long as underglazes are used in the process.
Companion Gallery will be printing custom t-shirts designed by Michelle Ettrick and the entire exhibition will be available for sale online.
The exhibition opening will be held at our new location on Friday September 10th
Companion Gallery 3600 East Mitchell Street, Humboldt, TN, as well as ONLINE at companiongallery.com.
Participating artists will each receive a complimentary t-shirt designed by 2021 juror Michelle Ettrick.
