Tom Belden and Gary Greenberg
Eigth Annual South Texas Ceramic Showdown presented by STC Library Art Gallery
| Art Talk: | June 11, 5-6 p.m. | STC Pecan Library Rainbow Rm., McAllen |
| Opening Reception: | June 11, 6-8 p.m. | STC Pecan Library Art Gallery, McAllen |
| Clay Demos: | June 12, 9-12 & 1:30-4:30 | UTPA Visual Art Bldg., Edinburg |
| Opening Reception: | June 12, 6-8 p.m | UTPA Visual Art Gallery, Edinburg |
| Clay Demos: | June 13, 9-12 p.m. | UTPA Visual Art Bldg., Edinburg |
| Art Talks: | June 13, 1:30-3:30 | UTPA Visual Art Bldg., Edinburg |
South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery partners with the college’s Visual Art Department and the University of Texas-Pan American in order to present the RGV’s eighth annual ceramics exhibition and conference, “Challenging Conventions: A South Texas Ceramic Showdown.” The full exhibition includes collaborative pieces from 12 universities and community colleges. The pieces will be at both the STC Library and UTPA’s Visual Art Gallery.
The exhibit will be on view from June 11-August 7, 2015. A special ceramic art talk by, Tom Belden of Central Arizona College and Gary Greenberg Clarion University of Pennsylvania, will take place on Thursday, June 11 from 5-6 p.m. just before the opening reception which is being held from 6-8 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Library, located at 3201 West Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. The following day at UTPA there will be a free, two-day conference and workshop taking place on Friday, June 12 and ending Saturday, June 13 at UTPA’s Visual Arts Building Ceramics Lab. All activities are free and open to the public.
“We are back in action for our fifth go around of ceramic collaboration. There are a number of variables that we are putting in place with our own facilities being upgraded here at STC this summer so we are collaborating with UTPA to put on the show and workshop,” said Chris Leonard, STC ceramics instructor and exhibit/workshop organizer. “People across the state and even the nation are putting things in place and into kilns in order to make the show happen very soon.”
The conference includes clay demonstrations and talks by nationally recognized and distinguished ceramic artists, Tom Belden of Central Arizona College and Gary Greenberg of Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Both ceramicists are M.F.A. graduates of Arizona State University, and they bring with them over 40 years of experience exhibiting nationwide, teaching, and working in the medium. Among Tom Belden’s vast accomplishments, he was instrumental in establishing Central Arizona College’s Gallery, and he has served as gallery director and curator for the past fourteen years at Central Arizona College. Gary Greenberg’s work has been featured in solo exhibitions at the University of Missouri, Adams State College in Colorado and the Stretch Gallery in North Carolina to name a few. Greenberg serves as director of Disco Inferno, the tri-annual firings of the Clarion University wood-fired, anagama kiln.
“We are continuing with a paired show format; plus the institutional invite will be back along with a pair of visiting artists, Belden and Greenberg.” Leonard said. “It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be educational. It’s going to open some eyes and minds.”
Participating institutions include Texas A&M University-Kingsville, The University of Central Missouri, The University of Texas-San Antonio, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at Brownsville, The University of Texas-Pan American, Kent State University, Mesa Community College, South Texas College, Tarrant County College, Cuyahoga Community College.
South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery Program exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.
For more information contact Gina R. Otvos at 956-872-3488 or email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu. For a complete listing of exhibits, visit library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryartgallery.
