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Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

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California Clay: Oozing, Writhing, Glistening Art. Now at the Bedford Gallery

February 3, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 2 Comments

california clay blot-by-Mary-Alison-Lucas
California Clay: Detail of “Blot,” a work in stoneware clay and nichrome wires by Mary Alison Lucas. It’s part of the California Clay show now at the Bedford Gallery. Photos by Barbara Newhall

Is it a porcupine? Or a toad? Whatever it is, your fingers can’t help wanting to reach out to touch the prickly, worty thing. But, hands off! This is a work of ceramic art, and a sign warns, “Please Do Not Touch.”

You can do all the looking you want for the next few weeks, however. Mary Alison Lucas’ homely creature will be on view through March 31 at the Bedford Gallery of the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, California.

It’s part of a show, “California Clay,” where ceramic art appears to have forgotten how to look like art and chooses instead to ooze, glisten, drip and writhe.

Itchy Fingers?

If your fingers itch to fondle one of these works of art — not a problem. For $3,600, “Blot” can be all yours. Take it home. Touch it all you want. Introduce it to your pet iguana.

Same goes for Ahn Lee’s  “Miasma,” priced at $4,400. Or Erik Scollon’s “Lava Lamp,” a more affordable $500.

Or just head on out to the Lesher Center, take a look, and enjoy the wonderful stuff on view. hands behind your back.

More notes on clay at “Ceramics Envy at the Berkeley Art Center — I Want to Get My Hands Into That Earthy, Messy Squishy Clay.”  Also,  “I’ve Got a Pile of Antique Bricks in My Backyard. And They’re Headed for the Dump.”

california clay miasma-ahn-lee
Detail of Ahn Lee’s beautiful, writhing “Miasma.” Glazed porcelain.
california clay erik-scollon-lava-lamp
Erik Scollon’s oozing “Lava Lamp.” Layers of glaze on stoneware.
california clay reniel-del-rosario-sunday-painters-studio
Reniel Del Rosario’s ceramic and glaze “Sunday Painter’s Studio,” with brushes crying out to be dipped into paint.
california clay Nathan-Lynch-glazed-ceramic
At the California Clay show, Nathan Lynch’s glistening glazed ceramic — stepstool? —  tempts the viewer to take a seat.

do-not-touch-sign

 

Filed Under: House and Garden

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Comments

  1. Sharie McNamee says

    February 4, 2024 at 9:52 am

    I like the old fashioned lava best

    Reply
    • Barbara Falconer Newhall says

      February 4, 2024 at 8:41 pm

      😉

      Reply

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