Clay Vessels 2012 & Heroes

Clay Vessels 2012 & Heroes
Shepherd – Clay Vessels 2012/Heroes – Drawings by Guest Artist Randy Fee
December 5 2012 – January 23 2013
Opening reception December 7, 7 – 9 pm
Gallery talk – 6:30 pm
Sponsored by Alpine Bank



Terry Shepherd, The Art Center’s Artist in Residence, will be exhibiting a variety of clay work in what has become an annual tradition. Terry has also invited Denver artist, Randy Fee to show a selection of his oil pencil drawings as a guest artist.
Terry will be showing clay works which include stoneware, porcelain, raku, salt vapor and saggar fired work. Large floor urns and a series of glazed and lively colored stoneware platters will be exhibited. Even with some 42 years of experience in clay and firing in a broad diversity of technique and process Terry still experiences a sense of discovery and wonderment at times. Especially, when during the kiln firing process, some work records and captures the drama and serendipity of direct flame on clay and glazes with final outcome exceeding even humble expectations. “I still find that making vessels that celebrates form, color and function, some quiet and meditative, while others of a sensuous and gestural nature, feeds my high curiosity and passion to embellish life through clay and the firing process.” Says Shepherd.
Terry has been developing and teaching The Art Center’s ceramic curriculum since 1984; on staff as Ceramics Resident Artist since 1993. Previously he operated Shepherd Clay in El Jebel, Colorado from 1972 to 1983. His work is in many private and public collections. In October of 2011 Terry conducted a four-day workshop as a visiting artist in Myersville, Maryland, covering salt vapor firing, raku and saggar firing.

In Heroes, Randy Fee celebrates icons of art, music, and pop culture with vivid imagery of Marc Chagall, The Rolling Stones, Marylin Monroe, and many more. Of Randy Fee’s framed portrait drawings in oil pencil on paper Terry said, “I’m pleased to invite Randy to exhibit with me. He will be showing some 30 drawings. When I first met Randy four years ago and saw his masterful and expressive portrait renderings I was impressed by his ability. We’ve collaborated on some artwork whereby he draws on some of my platters and I glaze and fire them. His work has not been widely shown here in Grand Junction so this will be a real treat to view a large body of his work!”