Artist Statement
I am a reformed modern dancer and ceramic artist who moonlights as a yoga teacher. Clay and yoga share the necessity of exploring space in combination with earthy materials. Plus heat. As if by a gentle stroke of magic, each discipline transforms the ordinary (clay and body) into the extraordinary (vividly colored stony forms and limber consciousness). Whether it’s making a drawing of a line or articulating a direction in space through fluid manipulation, the quality of the movement that creates the mark or gesture is what attracts me most.
My current ceramic work is a collection of imaginary landscapes drawing upon the physical properties of geomorphic processes. Tectonic shifts, glacial moraines, the erosive forces of rain and wind upon sediment – these are the incremental movements I looked to for inspiration. Plus, after years of creating crisp geometric forms with clay and glaze I decided it was time to see what else my materials might offer. Their silting, slaking nature seemed ripe for mining a new direction and a fresh attitude toward the illusion of control.
Conversely, other explorations take me on a journey of time travel. Anonymous photographs haunt my imagination and form the backbone of a series of ceramic prints. When something as temporal as paper is recast as a thin sheet of porcelain, it takes on the perception of permanence. But slip and it will shatter into splinters of cold, sharp dust erasing the images printed upon it back into faded memory.
Teaching yoga rounds out my professional life with public classes in Jackson and Sutter Creek, CA along with a small private practice for students interested in individual care and attention.
Exhibitions
What Remains – 2021, Radius Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA
Flow – 2021, Epperson Gallery, Crockett, CA
Light Show, 2019 – Roscoe, Oakland, CA
Ceramic National, 2018 – University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Marshes and Salt Flats – Ceramic Paintings, 2017, Roscoe, Oakland, CA
Transference, 2016 – The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
I Have Always Been a Storm, 2014 – NIAD, Richmond, CA
From Heaven to Earth, 2014 – Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Splendid Objects, 2013 – Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
Solo Exhibition, 2013 – Roscoe, Oakland, CA
Julia Terr Annual, 2012 – Gallery 212, Sonoma, CA
Not Just For The Office, 2012 – Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Small Favors VII, 2012 – The clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Good Company, 2012 – Petaluma Art Center, Petaluma, CA
American Craft Council Show, 1997-2010, Baltimore, MD
What in the World, 2011 – Commerce Bank of California, Lafayette, CA
Fire and Ice, 2011 – Petaluma Art Center, Petaluma, CA
ACGA @ DAC, 2011 – Davis Art Center, Davis, CA
White, 2011 – Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Five Dimensions, 2010 – Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Eight From ACGA, 2010 – Davis Art Center, Davis, CA
Objects of Virtue, 2009 – Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
Small Ceramic Wonders, 2009 – Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI
CraftForms 2008 – Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
Drawn Lines, 2008 – Idyllwild Gallery of Fine Art, Idyllwild, CA
Flatlanders, 2008 – Richard L.Nelson Gallery – UC Davis, Davis, CA
New West Coast Design, 2008 – SF Museum of Craft + Design, San Francisco, CA
Plates and Platters, 2007 – Pewabic Pottery Gallery, Detroit, MI
Small Works, 2006 – Red Dot Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
Clay, Color and Composition, 2005 – Idyllwild Gallery of Fine Art, Idyllwild, CA
California Design, 2004 – CCCA, San Francisco, CA
Craft Showcase, 2002-2004 – Museum of Craft & Folk Art, San Francisco, CA
Smithsonian Craft Show, 2003, Washington, DC
Featured Artist, 1997, 2001, 2003 – del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Featured Artist, 2002 – Aaron Faber Gallery, New York, NY
Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, 1999, 2000, Philadelphia, PA
Form as Function, 2000 – Maclaren Markowitz Gallery, Boulder, CO
Geometry – Solo Exhibition, 1999 – The Clay Place, Pittsburgh, PA
The Ceremony of Tea, 1995 – Images Friedman Gallery, Louisville, KY
California Design, 1994 – CCCA, San Francisco, CA
Awards
2011 – Award of Excellence, American Craft Council – San Francisco
2009 – Third Place, Ceramics, Scottsdale Arts Festival
2005 – First Place, Members Show, Art Alliance of Idyllwild
Commissions and Collections
Autograph Collection Hotels – Turnberry Isle, Miami, FL
The Ballantyne, Charlotte, NC
Butterfield Country Club, Oak Brook, IL
BVA Group, Houston TX
Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA
FM Global, Johnston, RI
Forest Park Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Fratello Restaurant, Milwaukee, WI
Grand Hyatt, Atlanta, GA
Hotel del Coronado, Coronado, CA
Hyatt Miami at the Blue, Miami, FL
Kaiser Permanente, Tyson’s Corner, VA
Kaiser Permanente, Richmond, CA
Kitsap Credit Union, Bremmerton, WA
Lake Buena Vista Hotel, Orlando,FL
Lenbrook Senior Living, Atlanta, GA
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
MayoSeitz Media, Blue Bell, PA
Montgomery County Circuit Court, Rockville, MD
New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee, WI
One Brookline Place Medical Center, Brookline, MA
Park Lane Seaport, Boston, MA
Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong
Radian Group Inc, Philadelphia, PA
Renaissance Suites, Washington, DC
Ritz Carlton, Dana Point, CA
SFMOMA Museum Store, San Francisco, CA
Sodexo USA, Gaithersburg, MD
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Milwaukee, WI
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
TriHealth, Cincinnati, OH
U.S. Embassy, Ottawa, Ontario
U.S. Navy, Philadelphia, PA
Valley Health Center, Milpitas, CA
Wilkes Bashford, San Francisco, CA
Wyndham, Tampa, FL
Publications
Highlights, Art Patron Magazine (March/April, 2018)
Profile – James Aarons, handfulofsalt.com (November, 2011)
The Journey – James Aarons’ long-time dance with ceramics, American Craft (August, 2011)
Contemporary Objects at the SF Museum of Craft + Design, American Craft (February, 2008)
Up Front – Ceramics Monthly (February 2008)
American Art Collector – Alcove Books (2006-9)
Fascinating Art – Amador Ledger Dispatch (June 2005)
The Gallery – Clay Times (September 2002)
Hands in Clay by John Toki – Mayfield Publishing Company (1999)
A Crafty Trio – San Francisco Examiner/Habitat (August, 1997)
Table & Cadeau International (October, 1995)
What’s New – San Francisco Chronicle (August 2, 1995)
Bon Apetit (April, 1995)
90s Pastiche – San Francisco Examiner Magazine (May 15, 1994)