BREAKING FROM TRADITION / Japanese Ceramics Today: Harvey/Meadows Gallery
August 6 - September 8, 2009

  • Opening reception: August 6, 5 - 8pm
    Gallery talk: 6pm

    Harvey/Meadows Gallery Inc.
    0133 Prospector Road, Ste. 4114A
    Aspen Highlands Village, CO 81611

    Since our first visit to Japan together in 1986, we have enthusiastically visited many of the artists selected for this exhibition and actively collected their work. Our passion for this incredible art form recently became the focus of a major exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Japan Society in New York, at which time the work by these artists spurred a high level of interest by new collectors, the press, and other institutions in this country and Europe. We were very honored and excited, in conjunction with our lecture at the Anderson Ranch, to be asked to curate this exhibition, drawing from the New York gallery of distinguished and pioneering dealer, Joan B. Mirviss.

    The fourteen artists chosen by us for this show are among the leading creative forces in Japanese sculptural ceramics today. Each in his or her own way has broken from tradition with innovative ideas, creative forms, patented new glazes, remarkable textures, and inventive building and firing techniques. They range from senior pioneers active since the start of the sculptural movement in the 1950s to emerging young talents. Some have studied at academic institutions while others are descended from long lines of distinguished ceramic traditions. The work of every member may be found in numerous museum collections in America. All have been richly recognized with awards and honors both in Japan and abroad; furthermore, most have been included in several important international exhibitions. The work of four may be seen starting this month in Soaring Voices: Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists that has just moved from its Paris venue to the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento and is scheduled to tour across America.

    Our heartfelt appreciation goes to Alleghany Meadows, Sam Harvey, and Joan Mirviss for making this exhibition possible. We all wish to thank Lee Eagle for conceiving the show and her encouragement, Paul Collins for his steadfast support, Anderson Ranch for its continuing commitment to excellence, and the artists for their sheer creative brilliance. Their works never cease to amaze and delight us. With over 10,000 ceramic artists making a living in Japan, we hope that you will enjoy this encounter with these fourteen, whom we believe to be among the best and most creative talents working today.
    - Halsey and Alice North
    Guest Curators

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