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Indepth Arts News:
"Andrew Coombs : I want to show you something"
2009-07-25 until 2009-08-15
Clay Art Center
Port Chester, NY,
USA United States of America
Clay Art Center is proud to present Andrew Coombs: I want to show you something, a solo exhibition featuring utilitarian pottery by Clay Art Center 2008-09 artist-in-residence Andrew Coombs. Marking his residency experience, this body of work explores the intersection of function, content and beauty. The exhibit, held in the Choy Gallery, will run from July 25 – August 15, 2009.
Andrew Coomb’s thoughtful pots harmoniously combine opposites: spontaneity and precision, humor and sincerity, cool and warm. This subtle push-pull makes his work a delight to see, handle, and use. His use of text on the work is often a play on words, or a philosophical statement of the obvious. For example, a mug will have the word CUP glazed in big bold block letters wrapping around its belly, reminding us that this pot is a functional object, and should be treated as such. His pieces seem to remind us of their intent, and welcome us to fulfill their mission in life.
About his work, Andrew states, “I am a potter. I intend for my work to be used. I strive to address the subjects of presentation, utility, beauty, and craft in my work. Although I seek to make work that stands on its own, I feel that a piece is not truly complete until it is in use. The pot and its contents should exist symbiotically, each elevating the other to heighten the enjoyment of a meal.
“In my current body of work, I am decorating the pots with layers of text. The text is a decorative element, as well as a record of my communication with the object. The words that I record on the surface of the pot are those that I would like to say to the pot as it begins its life. I believe pots become alive though use, as they bear witness to the life of the user. The words I communicate to the pots give them their first breath of life, which I can only hope will be nourished by the next owner.”
Andrew Coombs began his ceramic career making pinch pots in his father’s pottery studio. After an academic career that ranged from chemistry to philosophy and back to pottery, he earned his MFA in ceramics in 2008 from the School for American Crafts at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is one of the resident artists at Clay Art Center for 2008 - 10. He enjoys making functional pottery, giving people the opportunity to interact and form personal connections with his work.
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