Martin displays ceramic art in Blackberry Farm Gallery exploring functionality in art
The Blackberry Farm Gallery located in The Clayton Center for the Arts Building B is gallery space dedicated to featuring different visual exhibits each month. The space is designed to be a professional artist and designer space where artists can submit their work and collections to be featured on exhibition for a dedicated month.
This November, the Blackberry Farm will be featuring the work of Frank Martin who is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee’s School of Art. Although Martin partners with Polly Ann Martin, MC’s own ceramics instructor, this is a solo exhibition of his own ceramic works.
In addition to instructing at UT, Martin is a past recipient of an Individual Artist Fellowship through a Tennessee Arts Commission Award. His work has been exhibited in various galleries across the country including Parkland Art Gallery in Champaign, IL, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, TN, the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA and Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art in Alfred, NY. Frank’s work has also been featured in various books on ceramics and pottery including “The Ceramic Design Book” and “Make it in Clay.”
Inspired by serendipity, the results of process, the interactions of color and form, as well as the effect of nature, this collection will present viewers with ceramic pieces that explore both the utility and visual possibilities of each piece. Through this collection, Martin aims to investigate division and reassemble elements in his pieces through the use of both color and form. These techniques provoke the viewer to consider both visual interpretation and the every day use of these pieces.
“My goal is to gratify the viewer’s pleasure through the appearance of the object, while assuring that and the user and the vessel performs pleasingly in its use,” said Martin.
This exhibit will surely do so as viewers experience the colorful and practical pieces created by Martin. This exhibit will provide community members, students and staff with an opportunity to view and enjoy these ceramic pieces that portray visual variety as well as functionality in artwork.
On November 21st from 6-8 this exhibit will be part of the Last Friday Art Walk which is a reoccurring event in the city of Maryville. A free reception will be open to the public where members of the community as well as MC students, faculty and staff will be welcome to view the exhibit with refreshments and speak with the artist.