THE FINE ART OF CONTEMPORARY CRAFT IV

DATES: DEC. 8, 2015 TO JAN. 3, 2016

The world of crafts continues to expand even as people simplify their lives. Rather than more, people are seeking meaningful, heart-felt pieces that add beauty and functionality to their homes. The work from the eight artists in this exhibit exemplify this aesthetic. 

The Artists (from top left to right)

In 2011 Cassie Ryalls Butcher (Asheville, NC) first exhibited her iconic ceramic sculptures called "Souls" at the gallery. Since that time her simplified figures have grown in size and variety while never losing their ability to resonant with something deep within. 

An international award-winning fiber artists from the Republic of Georgia, the wonderful Maia Tsinamdzgvrishvili has sent over her newest silk "button" creations incorporating new proprietary techniques that add another fascinating dimension to her work. 

Textile artist, Linda Green (Sanibel, FL) combines quirky and abstract design with traditional and precise beading and stitchery on colorful hand painted fabrics for her emotion driven 'story portraits.' This unusual combination gives Green's work an unique style - quirky with soul. 

Sheryl Zacharia (Santa Fe, NM) creates geometric sculptural objects inspired by ancient relics and modern paintings. With a music and painting background, she strives to make visual poetry. 

The soda-fired process, vibrant color, repetitive design and slightly oversize of Mark Knott's (Atlanta, GA) vessels move his work from functional to sculptural. For this exhibit Knott created a variety of 30 beautiful vessels. 

We see the influence of Vicki Grant's (Littleton, NC) 30-year architectural experience in her art. She builds her "Center to Earth" pieces around natural found objects with layers of porcelain, which she obsessively textures, then paints and mounts on slate. Grant applies the same process and dedication to her new work - "Spirit Sticks" and "Creature Pots." 

Melissa Cadell (Bakersville, NC) continues to surprise us with her clay sculptures of intense female figures both beautiful and macabre. This exhibit features new work from her Head series. 

Sondra Dorn (Ashville, NC) uses her imagination and mixed media to develop medatative series of intriguing landscapes. Dorn leaves traces of her drawings and stitching in these pieces showing the "hand" of a multi-talented artist at work.