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Chester County Press

Strikingly original ceramics and glass at Bookplace in Oxford

12/03/2018 10:10AM ● By J. Chambless

The annual 'Ceramics and Glass' show continues through Jan. 20 at Bookplace in Oxford.

By John Chambless
Staff Writer

The annual show of ceramics and glass at Bookplace in Oxford is becoming a Christmas tradition, offering a nice selection of items for gift giving that you won't find anywhere else -- and that's a nice thing at this time of year.

The show, which opened last weekend and continues through Jan. 20, features seven artists who have a great range of functional and artistic ceramics and glass. Amedeo Salamoni shows a wonderful variety of face jugs, cups and crocks in the southern folk tradition. They retain the traditional gargoyle-like faces, but add a slight contemporary edge. Each one is unique, and the expressions range from grumpy to sleepy to something in between. Salamoni also has some tamer vases, bowls and teapots that have a lovely brown glaze and incised surfaces.

Rick Hohenwarter's spattered, abstract glazes are really fun, reminiscent of the drip paintings of Jackson Pollock. Each one has its own energy, with one foot in mid-century cool and one foot in contemporary art.

Carolyn Hess works with traditional glazes and motifs. Her crocks look like 1800s originals, her redware is elegantly done, and her hens-and-fox teapot is a warm, witty highlight.

Kevin Lehman shows a large selection of handmade glass cups, with transluscent designs that catch the light beautifully. Gill Mallinckrodt's cups and bowls have an appealingly raw look, intriguingly rough and original.

And make sure you stop to appreciate the little things, such as Carlo Jury's bowls and pots. The handles on two of them are actually little pots themselves, clinging to the larger vessels with spindly arms. They are completely charming.

“Ceramics and Glass” continues at Bookplace (2373 Baltimore Pike, Oxford) through Jan. 20. The book shop and gallery is open Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Call 717-715-4775 for more information.


To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].