Now on view post-security in Concourse D is a captivating new ceramics exhibition curated and presented by Eutectic Gallery. Founded in 2012, Eutectic Gallery is a contemporary ceramics gallery exhibiting both national and international artists. Eutectic plays a vital role in the development of the contemporary ceramics market and takes a diverse approach to work that intersects the fields of design, craft, and art. The gallery is located on the grounds of East Creek Art Center situated in 20 forest acres in the coastal Oregon mountains.
Works pictured by: Amy Fields, Ruri, & Lilith Rockett
Aptly titled Into the Fire, this exhibition showcases wood fired ceramic pieces made by women artists who are masters of this labor intensive method of ceramic production. Featured artists include: Amy Fields, Shelly Fredenberg, Jessica “Squirrel” Komaromy, Anneliese Kiefer, Lilith Rockett, Ruri, Mandy Stigant, and Careen Stoll.
Wood fired pottery is the oldest method of producing ceramics. Burning wood creates large volumes of ash which floats through the atmosphere of the kiln and falls onto the surfaces of the pots. The ash then melts and creates an ash glaze. The varying colors you see on the works featured in this exhibition are the result of the uncontrollable firing process and ash accumulation. The slow cooling needed for this type of work also produces the formation of crystals on the surface in a range of colors and sizes. This process creates unique and individual pieces that are each amazing works of art.
Works pictured by: Anneliese Kiefer, Ruri & Shelley Fredenberg
Using wood-fueled kilns that reach temperatures as high as 2,400°F, wood-firing produces pieces that are organic, dramatic, and beautifully unpredictable. This collection of wood-fired ceramics are all hand-crafted, fired for 3 to 7 days, and food safe. These pieces represent multiple types of wood fired kilns: a traditional anagama, a catenary arch wood kiln, and a catenary arch soda kiln. Firing wood kilns takes a tremendous amount of work and a large crew of people willing to work around the clock. The entire process takes weeks to complete. There are days of continual stoking (putting wood in the kiln) in order to reach the temperatures necessary for melting glaze and ash during a firing.
Works pictured by: Shelley Fredenberg, Anneliese Kiefer, Jessica Komaromy & Lilith Rockett
Many of these pieces were fired at East Creek Art, located outside of Willamina, Oregon. They are a fantastic community that helps make wood firing more accessible for everybody, including area high schools. They primarily use Douglas fir, and other species available in slash piles from logging, because of their abundance in Oregon. The anagama kiln at East Creek uses as much as 12 cords of wood for one firing, including wood that is split down to the circumference of a dime. Because firing a wood kiln is so intensive, they only fire this way a few times a year during the rainy season to reduce fire danger.
Thank you to Eutectic Gallery and Anneliese Kiefer for partnering with the PDX Art Program to bring this exhibition to fruition!
Works pictured by: Careen Stoll and Mandy Stigant
All exhibition photographs by Mario Gallucci
For more information about the artists in this exhibition or artwork inquiries, please contact ceramics@eutecticgallery.com