This First Friday, September 6th at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, “Elusive Amalgams,” ceramic works by Joanne Gustafson opens in the Kortman Gallery starting at 5:30pm. Joanne, a recent graduate of Rockford University, is an emerging artist who creates unconventional porcelain sculptures inspired by imagery from childhood memories. Things like doll heads and arms arenʼt quite where they should be, which is both fascinating and peculiar..
Also this First Friday, we will be presenting a “Dot Sale” in the store. Many cool things will be on sale from 20% to 40% off if marked with a color coded dot. Do some early holiday shopping or find something special for yourself at a savings! Shop ‘til 9pm.
The Gallery Bar will be open even later, hosted by Dennis Horton.
Joanne Gustafson is attracted to the anonymous, feminine, handmade types of mass-produced crafts...particularly doilies, doll parts, and animal figurines. These objects were part of the scenery of her childhood...and became visual influences for her porcelain sculptures, which go on exhibit Friday, September 6th in the Kortman Gallery.
The exhibition, titled “Elusive Amalgams” is ceramic art influenced by craft, thrift, and even kitsch that relives and reinvents Gustafson’s imagination of childhood memories.
“Because I feel such strong correlations between playtime as a child and studio time as an adult, I try to seal this notion in something finer and more fragile than the memories: porcelain,” says Gustafson. “This way, I give my past a certain presence. Dolls, doilies, and animal figurines are scenery from places where, as a child, I took play most seriously.”
A recent graduate of Rockford University with a BFA in drawing and ceramics, Gustafson employs a variety of techniques, from wheel-throwing to slab- and hand-building to slip-casting, creating unusual combinations of imagery in a single piece of art.
“Joanne’s unconventional porcelain pieces really grab your attention,” said Kortman Gallery director Doc Slafkosky. “Things like doll heads and arms aren’t quite where they should be, which is both fascinating and peculiar and at the same time cute and creepy. They are really fun to see.”
The opening reception for “Elusive Amalgams,” works in porcelain by Joanne Gustafson, will be Friday, September 6th from 5:30 to 9:00pm in the Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street. The show is part of First Fridays Downtown. “Elusive Amalgams” will be on display through September 30th.
What: “Elusive Amalgams” an exhibition of works in porcelain by Joanne Gustafson
When: Opening reception for “Elusive Amalgams” will be Friday, September 6th from 5:30 to 9:00pm in conjunction with First Fridays Downtown. The exhibition runs through September 30th. Gallery & Store open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 6pm.
Where: Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street, Downtown Rockford
Admission: Free