USU's Museum Puts USU Ceramics in the Spotlight

The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, located on the campus of Utah State University in Logan, unveils “Coming of Age: 21 Years of Ceramics at Utah State University."

The show reveals the strengths of the university’s ceramics program and that alumni from USU are making a significant contribution to ceramic art, said assistant professor of ceramics and the ceramics area coordinator J. Daniel Murphy. Many from the program have gone on to exhibit their work in galleries and museums, and 27 of the alumni are teaching in some capacity, he said.

 

The exhibition highlights ceramic pieces created by 63 USU alumni and features a wide range of ceramics in both the vessel and sculpture traditions. The exhibition will be on view through Dec. 9, and an opening reception will be held Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m.

 

Murphy organized this traveling exhibition. It was first displayed in the Hall Gallery during the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) 2006, Portland, Ore., where 6,000 people had the opportunity to view the exhibition.

 

Murphy said the show traces the history of USU’s ceramics program under the guidance of John Neely, currently department head in the department of art, and professor of ceramics since 1984. Neely was influential in bring a more international flavor to the department with focus on the technical mechanics of ceramics.

 

“What a pleasure it is to be part of such a renowned program and to work with professor Neely,” Murphy said. “I’ve been at USU for eight years, while John has 21 years to his credit. This exhibition is a compliment to his dedication and determination to create a stellar program. It shows a diverse range of working and firing methods.”

 

Read more about the exhibit, including comments by art department head and professor John Neely, in the full press release in the Utah State Today archives.