Contemporary Ceramics from the Harry Shaw Collection
September 11 through December 9, 2004
Curated by Robert Bridges and Jeff Greenham
“Out of a kiln load of many pots, only a few continue to ring true after several years. These are the ones to learn from,
since they tap a source beyond personal and deal with the universal experience.”
Warren MacKenzie
Warren MacKenzie's statement seems to sum up the more than thirty years that Harry Shaw has collected contemporary ceramics.
MacKenzie holds an important place within this collection, and his words ring true as one reflects on the collection as a whole and the thoughtfulness of Shaw’s choices. In Harry Shaw’s own words, studio ceramics seems to offer him an “inner experience,” much like the universal experience MacKenzie describes, by bringing him the personally important and close interaction with artists through the tactile elements inherent in their handmade ceramics. Shaw has continuously collected only the works to which he responded to on this personal level, never anything merely on the recommendation of others, sight-unseen, or because of the reputation of a named artist. His personal experience with each piece’s individual character had to meet his expectations of well-crafted objects whose qualities of color, texture, form, sincerity, tradition, humor, or exploration also meet the challenges of contemporary art.
The Harry Shaw collection reflects the rich, broad, and diverse landscape of visual creativity found in all contemporary art. The one-hundred-sixty plus pieces that Shaw has assembled represent a touchstone not only to current dialogues within the contemporary ceramics community but also to the foundations of these conversations.
The curators would like to acknowledge the support and encouragement of Harry Shaw without whom this exhibition would not be possible.
