SPECIAL FEATURE: Overthrown: Clay Without Limits, July 2011
In partnership with The Denver Art Museum
Written review of “Overthrown: Clay Without Limits” exhibition at The Denver Art Museum through interviews with exhibiting artists and the curator.
The twenty-five artists in Overthrown: Clay Without Limits took on adventurous challenges to make the works in this exhibition. Most were made especially for Overthrown and many are in direct dialogue with our dynamic Daniel Libeskind-designed architecture; they move beyond the pedestal to the wall, the floor, and even the ceiling. A few extend beyond the Anschutz Gallery, across the entire museum complex. They break boundaries that are physical, technological, conceptual, and spatial.
Working in all scales, from architecturally expansive to almost impossibly small, the artists in Overthrown employ twenty-first-century technology hand-in-hand with standard modeling and molding techniques. They use digital cameras, computers, laser cutters, 3-D printers, and computer-controlled mills along with more traditional tools.
Some push the forms of functional objects. Others push the limits of fragility. They take risks that draw on material chemistry and maverick kiln techniques. Some of their works include not only clay, but also found objects such as metal, plastic, and abandoned industrial materials. Overthrowing our expectations of ceramic art—its size, its context, its methods, and its meaning—these artists show us new ways of using this versatile and timeless material.
OVERTHROWN: CLAY WITHOUT LIMITS
View images / Read all the interviews:
Gwen F. Chanzit, CuratorKatie Caron and Martha Russo
John Roloff
Clare Twomey
Paul Sacaridiz
Linda Sormin
Del Harrow
Mia Mulvey
Benjamin DeMott
The feature was presented on Ceramics Now in July 2011, and was published in Ceramics Now Magazine – Issue One. The “Overthrown: Clay Without Limits” exhibition was on view at The Denver Art Museum June 11 through September 18, 2011.
Exhibiting artists: Katie Caron, Nathan Craven, Benjamin DeMott, Kim Dickey, Heather Mae Erickson, Neil Forrest, John Gill, Del Harrow, Marie T. Hermann, Tsehai Johnson, Andrew Martin, Walter McConnell, Kristen Morgin, Mia Mulvey, Jeanne Quinn, John Roloff, Annabeth Rosen, Anders Ruhwald, Martha Russo, Paul Sacaridiz, Linda Sormin, Julian Stair, Brendan Tang, Cheryl Ann Thomas, Clare Twomey.
Curator: Gwen F. Chanzit, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Herbert Bayer Collection and Archive
Location: Anschutz Gallery, Level Two, Hamilton Building / The Denver Art Museum
Overthrown: Clay Without Limits is organized by the Denver Art Museum. Significant support is provided by Jana and Fred Bartlit and Vicki and Kent Logan. Additional funding is provided by the Adolph Coors Foundation Exhibition Endowment Fund, the citizens who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, and the generous donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign. Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine, CBS4, and The Denver Post.
The Denver Art Museum is located on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock Streets in downtown Denver. Open Tuesday–Thursday and Saturday Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; closed Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. General admission for Colorado residents: $10 adults, $8 seniors and students, $3 for visitors 6-18, free for children 5 and younger. Admission for non-Colorado residents: $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, $5 for visitors 6-18, free for children 5 and younger. The Cultural Complex Garage is open; enter from 12th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock or check the DAM website for up-to-date parking information. For information in Spanish, call 720-913-0169. For more information, visit http://www.denverartmuseum.org/ or call 720-865-5000.
Many thanks to those who helped out with the feature: All the artists, Ashley Pritchard – Communications Associate at the Denver Art Museum, Iunia Ratiu, Miruna Pria.
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitterand LinkedIn.
Above: Linda Sormin, Mine (i hear him unclip me / blood runs cold), 2010–11. Glazed ceramic; souvenir kitsch; and studio remnants from Tim Berg, Gerit Grimm, Nathan Craven, Robyn Gray, and Ted Yoon. Photo by Jeff Wells.
© 2011 Photographs are subject to copyright and belong to photographer Jeff Wells, or to the Denver Art Museum (unless otherwise specified).
© 2011 Texts or other media, are subject to copyright and belong to the artists or to the Denver Art Museum (unless otherwise specified).
© 2011 Interviews are subject to copyright and belong to Ceramics Now Magazine and to the artists. Cannot be used without permission.
