By featuring the ceramic creations of Barbara Ellard, Finch Lane Gallery’s latest show highlights the beauty of practical art in abstract form.
Called “Fired,” the showcase depicts an intriguing way of forming asymmetrical shapes. Known to work in a free-form way, Ellard combines wheel-thrown pottery with hand-building techniques. With the geometrical precision of the wheel and the distortion of hand-built aspects, this solo exhibition juxtaposes constraint and fullness.
The works on display at “Fired” take anthropomorphic appearances. “Black Bird” proves Ellard has the ability to combine animal shapes with structured form, giving the appearance of a resting black bird.
Presented as part of a collaborative exhibit at the Finch Lane, Ellard’s sculpted pottery has distinct parallels to other exhibits housed in the gallery space.
“She was a complementary to Jeffrey Hale’s portraits and Annie Boyer’s abstract square canvases,” said Kandace Steadman, Salt Lake City Arts Council’s visual arts program manager. “Ellard fit really well into their two styles.”
Boyer’s detail-oriented paintings mesh with Ellard’s precision at the wheel. By using elements of nature, Boyer creates paintings that provide an in-depth look at human psychological conditions.
As the forces of nature come together to shape the overall appearance of earth, emotions shape the facial expressions of humans.
By contrast, Hale’s abstract representation of portraits provide a different way of focusing on the human body and condition. The portraits feature individuals with slightly distorted focal points. Hale’s work is strongly reminiscent of cubist work and ties in nicely with Ellard’s theme of abstract asymmetry.
The three artists present their work in abstract and nontraditional aspects.
“I like that they are not perfectly symmetrical,” said Tanner Young, a Finch Lane patron. “They allow for your eye to wander around each piece, to a specific area. Even if you pull back from them, they still intrigue you and pull you in.”
These three artists fused together to present the abstract world of art. Focusing on asymmetry as the focal point, the exhibit showcases the community’s emotional side. “It’s really a visually beautiful exhibit to see,” Steadman said. “All of the pieces in the exhibit are just nicely focused and a little bit thought provoking.”
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