‘Coalescence’ Ceramics Exhibit Showing at Daum Museum
The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting “Coalescence: Exploring Contemporary Ceramics and Artist Communities” on the State Fair Community College Sedalia campus through April 20.
Admission is free.
“Coalescence” explores contemporary ceramics and artist communities and brings together the works of 39 members of Artaxis, a digital community of artists. This group engages the ceramics community through promotion, education, and networking programs.
Josh Novak worked with Artaxis members to organize the initial Artaxis Invitational in 2022 at the Longwell Museum, from which “Coalescence” has grown. In partnership with Casey Whittier of Artaxis and Kansas City Art Institute, the Daum Museum is furthering that dialogue by drawing from artists already in the Daum’s collection, adding works from original participants, and inviting new voices to participate.
The exhibition highlights 39 of the nearly 1,000 Artaxis members from all 50 states and over 50 countries, showcasing a diversity of voices and skills that push the limits of contemporary ceramic crafting. Participating artists live and work all over the U.S. and represent a variety of perspectives and professional practices. Works in the show include everything from functional pottery to installation and video work. Featured artists include Renata Cassiano Alvarez, Nikki-Renee Anderson, Eliza Au, Ian Bassett, Rebekah Bogard, Jason Briggs, Paul Briggs, Jonathan Christensen Caballero, Pattie Chalmers, Adam Chau, Marisa Finos, Misty Gamble, Brian Harper, Rain Harris, Natasha Hovey, Erica Iman, Samuel Johnson, Mika Negishi Laidlaw, Steven Young Lee, Linda Lighton, Linda Lopez, Lauren Mabry, Didem Mert, Jeffrey Mongrain, Steven Montgomery, Gregg Moore, Richard Notkin, Kyounghwa Oh, Jared Pfeiffer, Gina Pisto, Thomas Schmidt, Virginia Scotchie, Malcolm Mobutu Smith, Kwok-Pong “Bobby” Tso, Josh Van Stippen, Adam Welch, Casey Whittier, Nicole Woodard, Jenchi Wu.
“This exhibition is particularly exciting as it allows us to fulfill so many of our goals,” said Garry Holstein, Daum Museum director. “It builds connectivity between arts organizations in the region and builds relationships with artists around the nation. ‘Coalescence’ also provides the opportunity to showcase diverse perspectives from a multicultural society in dialogue with artists in our collection who are members of this global, digital community.”
The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 2002 on the State Fair Community College campus. The Daum collects, preserves, interprets, and exhibits modern and contemporary works of art. The museum enhances the cultural life of SFCC’s students as well as the communities in the college’s 14-county service area. The museum offers a temporary exhibition series that changes three times a year. It houses nine exhibition galleries on three levels with a combined area of 9,300 square feet. The museum’s permanent collection includes diverse paintings, drawings, prints, works in clay, and sculptures created since the mid-20th century. Works by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Dale Chihuly, Helen Frankenthaler, Peter Voulkos, Louise Bourgeois, and Betty Woodman are in the Daum’s collection.
Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, call (660) 530-5888 or visit www.daummuseum.org.
Artwork descriptions:
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Kwokpong (Bobby) Tso, In-between (Where neon still glow), 2022; ceramic with underglazes, decals, LEDs, wood, metals, and rubbers; 15 3/8 x 22 x 7 in. Courtesy of the artist.
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Jonathan Christensen Caballero, Hope/Esperanza, 2022; earthenware, secondhand fiber, gold luster, paper, metal, and wood; 22 x 35 x 14 in. Courtesy of the artist.
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Eliza Au, Green Cube, 2022; glazed stoneware; 7 ½ x 7 ½ x 7 ½ in. Courtesy of the artist.
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Malcolm Mobutu Smith, Churner, 2021; ceramic; 11.5 x 6 x 5.5 in. Courtesy of the artist.