Celebrating Clay Art

A mix of styles and techniques

Artists from San Antonio, San Marcos, Fayetteville & Beyond converge at Red & White Gallery’s 2nd Fayetteville Clay Invitational

The second Fayetteville Clay Invitational exhibit will take place at the Red & White Gallery, Fayetteville, Texas, opening Saturday, September 16 from 4-7 p.m.

A large selection of pieces, from figurative to functional, by artists JoLea Arcidiacono, Danville Chadbourne, Mary Fischer, Bridget Hauser, Gaye Lynn Hodgson, Michael Hodgson, Cecy Holcomb, Pat Johnson, Lebeth Lammers, Billy Ray Mangham, Jamie Wade, and Jess Wade will be on display.

“We started the Fayetteville Clay Invitational in 2018 as a biennial event with a very successful show,” states gallery co-owner Joan Herring. “Covid cancelled every attempt to hold the second show until now. So, we are thrilled to again bring some of the State’s finest clay artists to Fayetteville.”

The twelve artists in the exhibition have a range of styles and techniques.

Danville Chadbourne, who has had over 100 oneman exhibitions, works with simple sculptural images. “I am concerned with the intellectual speculation that we make regarding other cultures, especially primitive or ancient ones based on our observation of their artifacts,” states Danville. “This anthropological perception is a key issue in my work.”

Billy Ray Mangham is one of the founders of the annual Texas Clay Festival in Gruene, and is currently the director of the Eye of the Dog Art Center located in San Marcos. His whimsical style attracts the eye and engages the mind. “‘Work hard and have fun’ has been my motto from the beginning,” says Billy Ray. “Those two ways of being guide me and neither is worth anything without the other.”

“As a lifelong maker, I’ve dabbled in many mediums,” states JoLea Arcidiacono of San Marcos. “Clay has always been my favorite. It is so versatile and so challenging.” JoLea works with porcelain, carefully layering underglaze over her sculptures of expressive human shapes. Her series of wall-hanging faces adorned with windows, pie, or snakes make for arresting images.

Gaye Lynn and Michael Hodgson of Wimberley enjoy collaborating on joint projects as well as producing their own individual work. They create functional pottery that can be used and enjoyed every day. For over 30 years the pair have been expressing their love of function and form with a passion for the process of handmade pottery. “Working together in the studio fosters a creative environment for the exchange of ideas and techniques,” says Gaye Lynn, whose large platers are the proof of that process.

Bridget Hauser of San Marcos is widely known for her skill at creating figurative art. Her expressive pieces feature rabbits, hares, monkeys, and birds of all sorts. From functional to purely sculptural pieces, her work is easily identified for its color and craftmanship. Bridget says “my work has varied from functional production pottery to ceramic art, and on to sculpture. Currently most pieces include a little of all three.”

Cecy Holcomb is the artist and owner of Holcombville Pottery in San Marcos. Cecy’s work is primarily wheelthrown on a potter’s wheel before being altered, carved, or slip decorated. She makes different series of pieces with stoneware or porcelain, then adorns them with her own very colorful glazes. While being functional, her forms are inspired by natural shapes. “I enjoy creating traditional and organic forms and I am humbled knowing that my pottery is used for both special occasions and on a daily basis.”

Jess Wade of San Marcos and Austin, creates figurative sculptures. “I am interested in expressive characters and fragmented narratives that speak to the beauty, horror, folly, and wonder that is human existence,” he says. His compelling busts are beautifully crafted works that tell of Wade’s artistic journey.

Fayetteville’s Pat Johnson is widely exhibited around the State and is known for her thought-provoking works. “While I use humor to quickly grab the viewer’s attention, the weighty statements concerning social, environmental and corporate responsibilities become evident upon further observation,” she says. Pat cocurated the Clay Invitational, and many of the artists represented participated because of Pat’s high regard in the Texas clay scene.

Jamie Wade of San Marcos and Austin is “fascinated by living things all over the natural world, especially what thrives in and around water.” She combines a variety of visual and tactile elements from nature. “I enjoy birthing unusual new creatures and theoretical environments to explore. I love seeing people engage with these creatures, as you can often see the wonder in their eyes as their brains explore previously unfathomable possibilities.”

Born and raised in New Braunfels, Mary Fischer recently moved to San Marcos. The focus of Mary’s work is architecture. From the beginning of her career, she gravitated toward sculpting clay by hand, constructing boxes and then architectural structures, including houses and arches. She works with slabs and extruded pieces of clay, often adding printed surfaces to her work.

Lebeth Lammers, in San Marcos, is having a good time experimenting with techniques. “I began using colored slips of clay applied by brush onto hard, hand-built or thrown pieces. Then I carve into the surface to expose layers of color and patterns,” she explains. “After going through several different phases in my work, I now call my pieces ‘quilted clay.’” Lebeth’s multi- colored plates, cups, mugs, and vases are truly unique pieces of usable art.