George Catlin in Brussels, age 72, photographer unknown, 1868. Photogravure from the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
PHILADELPHIA – Two Philadelphia galleries are collaborating for the first time to bring together and exhibit masterworks by ceramic artists and woodworkers of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries.
Moderne Gallery in Old City Philadelphia, in cooperation with Helen Drutt: Philadelphia, is presenting “Ceramic Masterworks: 1962-2002” through Saturday, January 4, at Moderne Gallery.
The opening of the exhibition was part of “Collectors’ Weekend” organized by The Clay Studio and coincided with the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s annual Philadelphia Craft Show and the visit of Friends of Contemporary Ceramics to Philadelphia during the weekend of November 8-10.
More than 60 works ranging from vessels to sculpture by major modern ceramic artists have been brought together by Helen Drutt English and Robert Aibel to be exhibited in the setting of Moderne Gallery’s collection of vintage studio furniture by Wendell Castle, Wharton Esherick, Sam Maloof and George Nakashima.
Aibel, owner/director of Moderne Gallery, and English have assembled a group of objects by internationally renowned artists central to the ceramic movement: Nicholas Arroyave-Portela, Jill Bonovitz, Nancy Carman, Anne Currier, William Daley, Richard Deutsch, Ken Ferguson, Robert Forman, Viola Frey, Raymond Gallucci, Andrea Gill, John Gill, Ray Grimm, Wayne Higby, Henry Lin, Daniel Rhodes, Paul Soldner, Rudolf Staffel, Dirk Staschke, Lizbeth Stewart, Robert Turner, Paula Winokur, Robert Winokur, Betty Woodman, Sun Koo Yuh and Luo Xiaoping.
Major artists and historically important pieces were added to the show even as it was opening, including works by Maija Grotell, Toshiko Takaezu, Peter Voulkos and Richard Devore.
“The setting at Moderne is ideal for exhibiting ceramics in an environment that illustrates how we can live with great art in all media as part of our daily life,” said English.
Her work over the past 30 years — as a champion for crafts through exhibitions, catalogs, developing collections and as an educator and author – has elevated craft to an art form and a respected field of study. On October 30, she was honored as a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania for bringing international attention to the craftworld in Philadelphia.
“I am excited to host this exhibition and to collaborate with Helen,” said Aibel, “We have talked for a long time about doing an exhibition together. ‘Ceramic Masterworks’ gives us the opportunity to be creative in our presentation and to help collectors see exceptional ceramics and vintage furniture, combined, in a fresh light.”
Moderne Gallery is at 111 North Third Street. For information, 215-923-8536 or www.modernegallery.com.
