Powerhouse exhibition ‘California Clay’ on view at Hastings College

Peter Voulkos (“Molestar S24”)

(Hastings, Nebraska) – “California Clay,” a powerhouse exhibition of contemporary ceramic masters, including pieces by Peter Voulkos, Jun Kaneko, Viola Frey, Akio Takamori and Robert Arneson, is on display at the west gallery of the Hastings College Jackson Dinsdale Art Center (JDAC) January 15 through March 28.

“Imagine if an exhibition of contemporary artists like Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Auguste Rodin, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Vincent van Gogh was on view in central Nebraska. It would be a must see event. Ceramic artists Voulkos, Kaneko, Frey, Takamori and Arneson are the Picassos and Pollocks of the ceramic art world. Voulkos was doing in clay what Pollock was doing in paint during Abstract Expressionism. This is simply an incredible, world-class exhibition,” said Jerome Dubas, instructor of ceramic art at Hastings College.

"California Clay" features more than 25 significant works selected from the Karen and Robert Duncan and Kathryn and Marc LeBaron collections. 

The JDAC galleries, at 700 E. 12th Street, are open 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 12:00-3:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The galleries are free and open to the public.

A free public reception for “California Clay” is Saturday, January 25 at 2:00 p.m. in the JDAC.

“California Clay” was curated by Anne Pagel, who originally curated “California Clay: The Big Bang,” which was on view at Assemblage, a private exhibition space in Lincoln, Nebraska,and the Clarinda Carnegie Art Museum in Clarinda, Iowa. Pagel also provided the College with excerpts from her research for the original show to be used in a catalog available in the JDAC as part of “California Clay.” 

Other artists with work in the exhibition include Paul Soldner, Ken Price, Jerry Rothman, Stephen Destaebler, David Gilhooly, Betty Woodman, Manuel Neri, Don Reitz and Akio Takamori. 

“We thank Ann for curating this exhibition for us, and to the Duncans and LeBarons for allowing us to house such incredible works in the JDAC,” Dubas said.

Bonus Exhibition: ‘Crimson Clay’
To accompany "California Clay," 10 ceramicists with a connection to Hastings College will have work on display in the JDAC’s east gallery. “Crimson Clay” features Jess Benjamin, Ronda Ruby Payne, Jerome Dubas, Jenna Hermann, Jason Pedersen, Garet Reynek, Brock Sindt, Shelby Smith, Amy Troester, and Allen Vap.

Curated by Dubas, “Crimson Clay” includes artists and artisans that represent a variety of philosophical approaches to the use of clay, from functional items to sculptural pieces. The artists’ connection to Hastings College represents each decade of the last 60 years, with a few having served as assistants in Kaneko’s studio, continuing the tradition of the California Clay legacy.