Thursday, October 3, 2013

Emory & Henry Presents the Ceramics of Valerie Zimany


Valerie Zimany's ceramics are on exhibit at the 1912 Gallery at Emory & Henry College, Emory, Virginia. Zimany’s work ranges from large-scale installations to sculpture and functional items.  Many objects appear organic. Some have figurative elements added to them in the form of silkscreen decals.  She often draws inspiration from the Japanese tradition, having been to Japan several times as a Fulbright Fellow.  Zimany is currently an assistant professor of ceramics at Clemson University in South Carolina.

She discussed her ceramics during at an Artalk that took place September 30 in the Board of Visitors Lounge of the E&H Van Dyke Center.  Zimany discussed how casting organic forms suspends their growth -- creating an artifact or memory out of something that cannot otherwise be preserved.  She also said that she utilizes porcelain for its implicit emphasis on fragility, preciousness, luminosity, and ability to retain fine details. 

The exhibition runs from October 1 through November 2, 2013 and is free and open to the public.  Gallery Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment.   The 1912 Gallery is located on the campus of Emory & Henry College just off exit 26 along I-81.

The 1912 Gallery features three artists each semester. These temporary exhibits are by emerging and nationally acclaimed artists. Jerry Uelsmann, Jack Beal, Virginia Scotchie, Cora Cohen, Richard Jolley, Tom Nakashima, Jennifer Pepper, Anne Austin Pearce, Cort Savage, Barbara Tisserat, James McGarrell, Willie Anne Wright, and Jake Berthot have served as visiting artists. The gallery has also featured work by Harvey Littleton, Janet Fish, Dale Chihuly, and Sally Mann. Artalks, conversations with the artists about their lives and inspiration, are held in conjunction with the exhibits. Exhibits and Artalks are free and open to the public.

The Emory Train Depot was built in 1912 and served as a train station for travelers, including Emory & Henry students, traveling to and from Emory, VA. 

Emory & Henry College
P.O. Box 947
Emory, VA 24327
276.944.6846
www.ehc.edu