Shepherd + 1: Pots of Purpose + Lost and Found

An Exhibition of Ceramics by Terry Shepherd and Photography and Mixed Media by John Anglim
December 2, 2022, to January 21, 2023
Sponsored by Chuck and Patti Shear/ Shear Inc.
Opening reception Friday, December 2, 2022, 6:30-9pm

Terry Shepherd, The Art Center’s Director of Ceramics, has led The Art Center’s ceramic studio since 1984. With a career spanning over 50 years, he is a highly respected ceramic artist and educator and has studied and worked with Paul Soldner and many other accomplished ceramic artists. Before moving back to Grand Junction in 1983, Shepherd developed and worked out of his first studio in El Jebel, Colorado, from 1972 to 1983. Each year in December Shepherd exhibits new work alongside a selected guest artist. This year Shepherd has invited John Anglim to exhibit with him. Anglim is an accomplished photographer and mixed media artist and has resided in Grand Junction for over 22 years.

Shepherd’s part of the exhibit features a wide variety of mainly functional vessel forms and platters in reduction high-fired stoneware and porcelain. A major part of the exhibited work are non-functional forms, some altered out of symmetry, of a more subtle sculptural stance inspired by natural forms such as river rock, and stylized figurative contours. Shepherd fires much of his work in alternative firing processes such as low-fire salt vapor, Raku, and saggar firing. His use and interpretation of firing process is extensive, and his high curiosity and pursuit of serendipitous results leads him to take risks and embrace alternative firing. His personal approach to firing some work includes deliberate placement of pieces in the direct flame path in the kiln where vapors from sodium and copper and iron metal oxides result in sublime and dramatic embellishment as a record of the flame path drama and lush shading of the vapors and reduced copper. The contrasting colors of Shepherd’s over/under glazes and stains combined with his gestural brush strokes form a counterpoint to the energy of his throwing and the altered symmetry of thrown forms. His functional work is a testament to his demands for high craftmanship and celebration of gestural brushwork in design and color.

“I like the work to communicate a personal and visual language of the maker and firing process, while celebrating the strength and essence of form and the lively spirit of clay and its ability to dress up, titillate, or heighten senses and embellish life as enhanced by the hand! I especially like to embrace the unexpected, spontaneous, and serendipitous results of the firing process as it can embellish the work beyond my intent! Such is the nature of the morphology of clay from such a mundane material as earthen clay and the amazing journey through hand shaping and firing to a finished ceramic composition of color, texture and form!”

Shepherd’s work is in many private collections nationwide as well as Mexico and in public collections including the Soldner Center for Art and Innovation (Aspen), Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction), and The Art Center (Grand Junction). He is represented by Penryn Gallery (Penryn, California), The Blue Pig Gallery (Palisade, Colorado), Tuscarora Pottery School and Retreat (Tuscarora, Nevada), and Ago Gallery (Ouray, Colorado).

This past year Shepherd has conducted two workshops:
March 11-14, 2022. World Stoke International Symposium in Penryn, California. Four-day Raku and low-fire salt vapor firing.
July 7-13, 2022. Tuscarora Pottery School and Retreat in Tuscarora, Nevada. Six-day Native clay prospecting and pit-firing workshop.

Shepherd says, “I’m pleased and honored to have John Anglim show with me. I’ve known John and his wife Diane for many years and have admired John’s work in photography and mixed media throughout these years. He seems to have an uncanny mind and eye for juxtaposing found objects in new spatial orientations to communicate a new and exciting context of form. I get a sense of irony and newfound discovery in seeing his work at times! It’s exciting to anticipate a large sampling of what John’s been up to over the last few years. I’m grateful to John for the energy and initiative it takes to present a large body of work for a major exhibit such as we stage every year. If you’re not very familiar with his work, come on by and check it out and enjoy a visual feast to be sure!”

John Anglim is an award-winning artist, photographer and designer who works in a variety of media. His work has appeared nationally in such publications as PhotoMethods, Creativity, American Institute of Graphic Arts, Arts & Crafts, and Art Directions.

He was formerly the Creative Director for Grand Valley Magazine and operates Resource Design, a graphic design and marketing firm. He is a member of the Rocky Mountain Collage Society and a signature member of the National Collage Society. His work is in the permanent collections of Colorado Mesa University, St. Mary’s Hospital, MarillacHealth, and Mesa County Public Library, as well as numerous other private and corporate collections.

“As a collage and assemblage artist, I like to explore the use of objects, texture, color, and degraded surfaces. I love the "happy accidents" that happen when disparate objects come together in a way to create something new from something old or discarded. In addition to the artistic aspect of the work that I hope creates a dialogue of surprise, and mystery, there is definitely satisfaction in using recycled and re-purposed materials. It's nice to know that these items find new life as part of a piece of art. Those of us who love to prowl junkyards in search of treasures enjoy actually taking stuff back from scrapyards and returning it to the world.

“Most of my photography focuses on textures and spontaneous compositions, and, again, the exploration of degraded surfaces that intrinsically carry a narrative of the passage of time and echoes from another era. I love to capture something special in unexpected places. It’s a way of seeing the world and finding beauty in the mundane, the imperfect, and the ordinary. The Japanese call it wabi sabi, and I confess to being addicted to it. I also like exploring special effects in the digital darkroom which opens up a world of artistic expression.”

Find out more about John Anglim’s work at his website johnanglim.com.