An art exhibit that focuses on an abstract exploration of ceramic imagery is coming to William Woods University (WWU).

“Smoke-Fired Vessels and Prints,” featuring the work of St. Louis-based artist Susan Zimmerman addressing the unique synergy between pottery and photography, will run on the WWU campus for four weeks beginning August 17 at the Mildred Cox Gallery. Admission to Cox Gallery is free.

 

 

As a ceramist who hand-builds and smoke-fires, Zimmerman creates smoke-fired vessels and photographs them, allowing her to create abstract impressions of landscape and figure which would otherwise go unnoticed.

“There is an intimate connection of form and light that I experience between clay and photography – from shaping to the earthy hues of smoke firing, each stage of the vessel gives way to ceramic imagery,” said Zimmerman. “While I am and always will be foremost a potter, seeing my hand-built pinch pots evolve into a form that speaks with clarity is what I strive for each time I hold a ball of clay.”

Ms. Zimmerman’s work with ceramics is on permanent display at Washington University in St. Louis, and has been featured in galleries throughout the St. Louis area since 2005. A working journalist, she has also had more than 100 articles published in national and international publications in her career.

The Smoke-Fire Vessels and Prints exhibit will be on display at the Cox Gallery in the Gladys Woods Kemper Center for the Arts on the William Woods campus. The show will run from Friday, August 17 until Saturday, September 15, with an opening reception on Wednesday, August 22 from 4-6 p.m.

The Cox Gallery is open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.