The Clay Studio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2009 – PHILADELPHIA The Clay Studio, Philadelphia's premier non-profit ceramic arts organization is pleased to present Nate Prouty: New Work from January 8 through January 31, 2010. The exhibition will take place in the Harrison Gallery at The Clay Studio’s Old City home at 137-139 North Second Street. An Opening Reception will be held on the second Friday of the month, January 8th from 5 - 9 pm. The public is cordially invited to attend.
Nate Prouty received his BFA in ceramic sculpture from the New York State College of Ceramics in Alfred NY, and is currently a Resident Artist at The Clay Studio. At the time of this release, Prouty is working in Cardiff, Wales at The Fireworks Clay Studio as a part of an international exchange program established in 2008 with Wales Arts International. Prouty’s work was recently identified as among the best in the field when it was selected for publication in a book entitled “500 Ceramic Sculptures Contemporary Practice, Singular Works”, a Lark Ceramics Book.
Prouty states, “I am interested in subverting the viewing experience. Ambiguous points of reference in my sculpture-- both in imagery and in scale--invite a comparison with personal memory and the structures of experience." Prouty is interested in exploring the boundary between an object and its situation. ”My recent body of work concerns itself with concepts of architecture and landscape. These pieces are at once objects upon pedestals, and also pedestals unto themselves.”
For such a young artist, Prouty has a very personal voice, one representative of one more mature. His ability to reference known objects in combination with one another, to mix the organic with the inorganic, and to combine various materials with his incredible color sensibility allows him to create odd, whimsical, and unique sculptures all his own. Prouty’s skill as a craftsman is evident in every piece he makes regardless of his material choice. Beautifully finished and highly refined, his work references the early fetish finish movement of Southern California in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s in an updated and contemporary way.
Internationally renowned and highly selective, The Clay Studio's Resident Artist Program offers individuals the opportunity to continue to develop their work, establish professional contacts and standards, and work within a community of like-minded individuals in an urban environment. A Residency at The Clay Studio includes: studio space (approximately 185-195 sq. ft.); use of four electric and two gas kilns; collective buying of materials; a glaze mixing area; teaching opportunities; and the right to exhibit in The Clay Studio's galleries.
Founded in 1974, The Clay Studio is a non-profit educational arts organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the ceramic arts and the work of new clay artists. The Clay Studio supports the ceramic arts through its artist residencies, gallery, studio space, school, educational and outreach programs, and its permanent collection. The Clay Studio believes in promoting broad access to the ceramic arts; accordingly, it gears programs to all levels of interest and proficiency.
Press Release for solo show at The Clay Studio
2009