Kirkland Arts Center is pleased to present, Intelligent Design, an exhibition featuring contemporary functional ceramics by six noted artists from across the United States. Curated by KAC Artistic Director Jason Huff, Intelligent Design features work by Marc Digeros (Los Angeles, CA), Steve Godfrey (Anchorage, AK), Carol Gouthro (Seattle), Rebecca Harvey (Columbus, OH), Ayumi Horie (New Paltz, NY) and Karen Swyler (Poultney, VT).

Intelligent Design investigates the evolving relationship between contemporary design and functional ceramics. In particular, the exhibit looks at the intersection between the integral purpose of these works – why one makes a plate, vase, teapot or cup – and how their appearance relates to contemporary

life. These works both illustrate artists’ individual aesthetics and display the hallmarks of good functional work: an attention to comfort (how a cup feels in the hand and at the mouth), visual appeal (how food looks on a plate), and use (how well a teapot pours water and retains heat).

The nationally-acclaimed artists featured in Intelligent Design were selected for both their excellent craftsmanship and strong artistic voices. The artists, all academically trained, incorporate the foundational principles of sculpture in their work, reflecting both contemporary life and current movements in art.

Intelligent Design is funded in part with grants from 4Culture, Premier Properties, Artsfund and individuals. __________________________________________

Jason Huff , Kirkland Arts Center Artistic Director since 2001, has curated more than 15 exhibitions, including KAC shows Good and Guilty (2000), Drawn In (2005), Telling Stories (2005) and Buddy Bunting (2003). He received his MFA in ceramics from the University of Washington in 1996.

Marc Digeros ’ earthenware pieces are built from precut slabs formed around plaster molds, resulting in geometric forms with glazed patterns inspired by vintage textile designs. Digeros received his MFA from the University of Washington in 1998 and has exhibited his work at the Ruth Bachofner Gallery ( Santa Monica, CA), Dubhe Carreno Gallery ( Chicago, IL), and was featured in the NCECA Clay National at the University of Maryland ( Baltimore, MD).

Steve Godfrey ’s delicately glazed porcelain works invite interaction. Birds rest atop lids and rims, adding whimsy and creating an intimate connection between the audience and his work. Godfrey received his MFA in ceramics from Alfred University in 1996 and has exhibited in Clay Art Center ( Port Chester, NY), Decker Morris Gallery ( Anchorage, AK) and KOBO Gallery in Seattle.

Carol Gouthro uses strong, repetitive linear and natural motifs in her brightly colored dinnerware. A master technician and dedicated gardener, Gouthro creates a super-natural world in her. Gouthro received her BFA in ceramics from the University of Manitoba in 1976 and teaches at Kirkland Arts Center. She has exhibited at the Everson Museum of Art ( Syracuse, NY), Ferrin Gallery ( Northampton, MA), and Foster/White Gallery and Pucini Lubel Gallery in Seattle.

Glaze is elemental to the composition of Rebecca Harvey’s ceramic forms. Her bright glazes define the forms – appearing almost as if they are stretched material – and seem to emit light rather than simply reflecting it. Harvey received her MFA in ceramics from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. She has exhibited at the Signature Gallery ( Atlanta, GA), the Society of Arts and Crafts ( Boston, MA) and Pewabic Pottery in ( Detroit, MI).

Finger marks and dents are a celebrated component in the work of Ayumi Horie, giving a soft feel to this otherwise hard material. Her animal drawings and splashes of colors create whimsical dramas that reflect human interaction. Horie received her MFA from the University of Washington in 2000 and has been an artist-in-residence at the Archie Bray Foundation ( Helena, MT) and Greenwich House Pottery ( New York City).

Karen Swyler’s paired vessels articulate themes of human communication and interaction. Sensuous surfaces and fluid forms are coupled create visual dialogs of emotional significance that reference personal relationships. Swyler received her MFA in 2002 in ceramics from the University of Colorado and has exhibited at The Clay Studio ( Philadelphia, PA), Dubhe Carreno Gallery (Chicago, IL) and SOFA Chicago 2006.