The Kimball Art Center (KAC) just opened the doors on Groundbreaking: Innovations in Clay. This impressive and rare collection was curated by KAC Exhibition Director Nancy Stoaks and features works from twelve nationally-recognized artists, including pieces by Akio Takamori, Lauren Mabry, Cristina West, and more (see below). Although Groundbreaking is the KAC's first exhibit entirely dedicated to ceramics, it is by no means simply a collection of traditional clay pots, tableware, or decorative objects humans have been creating out of clay for thousands of years. Instead, Groundbreaking reimagines the uses of clay by featuring artworks that challenge the norm and turn the rules upside down. The riveting new compositions, although rooted in traditional forms, offer themselves as canvases for completely new approaches that are psychological, conceptual, and abstracted.  

The KAC has long been at the forefront of inspiring and connecting Park City's community through art. "We are dedicated to meeting the needs and interests of our community. As such, we have a thriving community of makers in all mediums, particularly at the Kimball Clay ceramics studio," says Amy MacDonald, the KAC's Artistic Director, "We thought it was a good time to bring together state of the art ceramicists with our making community and encourage the intersection of the two." In service of that goal, while Groundbreaking is on display the work of exhibiting artists will be giving workshops (dates/times, TBD). The work created by various Kimball Clay members are available for purchase in the the gift shop for the duration of the show.

(If this exhibit inspires you and makes you wish you could get your hands dirty, you should consider checking out Kimball Clay's Friday Open Studio.) 

Admission to Groundbreaking: Innovations in Clay is free and open to the public from now until April 16, 2017 at the KAC's Main Gallery at 1401 Kearns Blvd, open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. See below for the complete list of artists. 

Participating artists: 

• Christa Assad
• Francesca DiMattio
• Lauren Gallaspy
• Molly Hatch
• Giselle Hicks
• Lauren Mabry
• Andy Nasisse
• Alwyn O’Brien
• Adam Shiverdecker
• Akio Takamori
• Kurt Weiser
• Christina West