From Funk to Punk: Left Coast Ceramics brings together an eclectic group of artists whose varied aesthetic and conceptual styles capture the evolution of ceramics in California, Oregon, and Washington. The exhibition is organized by Peter Held, a longtime curator in the field and acknowledged expert in West Coast ceramics. According to Held, this survey aspires “to track the real and perceived discrepancies between work on opposite coasts of the United States; provide opportunities to experience works by artists who lack broad exposure in the East; and lastly, share his passion for the pioneering and revolutionary artists in the field who challenge prevailing preconceptions stifling the potential of the medium.”
This exhibition features a number of pieces from the Everson’s historical collection—the Funk—alongside works by 24 contemporary artists who are inspired by personal artistic vision while cognizant of their region’s history—the Punk. Their examination of place explores an aggregate of geographical, cultural, and familial histories past and present, embedded and examined in contemporary culture. These artists work with unfettered freedom, curiosity, and passion much like their predecessors, paving the way to redefining 21st century ceramics.
