Asheboro, NC - The Randolph Arts Guild is set to exhibit the work of potters Benjamin & Bonnie Burns of Great White Oak Gallery in the Sara Smith Self Gallery during the month of January. An opening reception is set for Tuesday, January 5th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. The Randolph Arts Guild’s Sara Smith Self Gallery is located at 123 Sunset Avenue in downtown Asheboro. The event is free and open to the public. The exhibition will be on display until Tuesday, January 26th and will close with a Lunch and Learn at Noon on the 26th.
Benjamin Burns moved to Seagrove in November of 1997, from Maggie Valley, where he lived and worked at Pitter's Potters for six years. Benjamin graduated from Haywood Community College in 1995 with a degree in production crafts. Originally from Miami, Florida, Benjamin learned his craft at the Ceramic League of Miami, and taught wheel classes there for a short time before moving to North Carolina. He has been published in Handmade in America's "Craft Heritage Trails", and "Handcrafted in the Blueridge" by Irv Green and Andrea Gross.
Benjamin is well known for his vivid glazes including Oxblood Glaze (Copper Red), Rutile Blue, Iridescent Green and a rich White over Black Combination.
On his work Benjamin states "With the influence of the Japanese masters, my intent is to make functional works of art, transforming the ordinary into the exceptional. My work explores the thrown form. I am always searching for that quality that survives time, combining the traditional with the contemporary. I use the techniques and glazes of the past out of respect for their legacy, but with my eyes focused on the present. Always testing new ideas and glazes to keep my work new and exciting."
Bonnie Burns, a well known Seagrove artist in her own right. Bonnie has been on an artist's journey since birth. Creating and painting have been two of her most effectual endeavors, culminating in functional pottery. Her work is spontaneous, fun and influenced by Nature. She either throws her pots or hand-builds but they are all one of a kind, hand-decorated and food-safe ironstone. Clay, according to Bonnie she finds to be the most versatile medium. “It can be fashioned into innumerable shapes and vessels, limited only to the potter's imagination. Personal expression with clay is a life-long journey, that I have yet to finish.
The exhibition of Benjamin and Bonnie Burns of Great White Oak Gallery will be on display until Tuesday, January 26th and the exhibition is free and open to the public. The Randolph Arts Guild is open Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm and Saturday from 10am - 2pm. For more information please call 336-629-0399.
The Randolph Arts Guild is “Your window to the arts in Randolph County” providing classes, workshops, exhibitions and much, much, more. For more information please call 336-629-0399, or email arts@asheboro.com
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