Japanese ceramics enjoy a long and distinguished history, and the Japanese aesthetic of elegant simplicity, along with their approach to materials, has influenced ceramic artists around the world for centuries. Women in Japan have been involved in the production of ceramics for thousands of years, but with few exceptions, their names have remained…

This article profiles Romare Bearden (1911-1988), one of the most talented American artists and well-known and influential African-American artists of the 20th century. An acknowledged master in many media, Bearden was especially innovative and preeminent in the medium of collage and printmaking. A native of North Carolina, he grew up in Harlem…

This article profiles Patrick Dougherty and features his installation at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. With the help of 100 volunteers and a time span of just three weeks, sculptor Patrick Dougherty harvested the materials and constructed the installation entitled "Lookin' Good! Lookin' Good!" on a lawn adjacent to the entrance of…

Clay is one of the oldest materials known to humanity and has been used for utilitarian purposes and creative expression since prehistoric times. As civilizations evolved, ceramic materials, techniques, purposes and design all became more sophisticated and expressive. With the addition of different minerals and firing methods, clay was used to…

Norman Rockwell was the quintessential painter of American life. His images reflect the history of America as told through the eyes of this idealistic and patriotic artist who sought to show America at its best, and to present the lives, hopes and dreams of the average American in the middle-20th century. Few artists have produced so many images…

Presents background information on the artist Ginny Ruffner who was a "flameworker." Includes information on the exhibition entitled "Creativity: The Flowering Tornado, Art by Ginny Ruffner" and the accompanying art pop-up book. Provides photographs of some of her artwork. (CMK)

Provides background information on the life and career of Charles Rogers Grooms, better known as Red Grooms. Describes the art exhibit, "Red Grooms: Selections from the Graphic Work," presented by the Tennessee State Museum (Nashville, Tennessee). (CMK)

Reviews the work and life of Maxfield Parrish, an illustrator and painter. Considers "Maxfield Parrish, 1870-1966," an exhibition featuring more than 170 works, including easel paintings, mural studies, drawings, and prints. Provides examples of his artwork and an itinerary for the exhibition. (CMK)

Focuses on the exhibit, "The Artful Teapot: Twentieth Century Expressions from the Kamm Collection," that features artwork of teapots from the collection of Gloria and Sonny Kamm. Includes examples of the artwork and an itinerary for the exhibit. (CMK)

Focuses on the exhibition titled "American Modern, 1925-1940: Design for a New Age" that documents the efforts and achievements of the United States in the area of design arts. States that the exhibition features more than 150 objects, including furniture, posters, and radios, by leading designers of the early and mid century. (CMK)

Features the artist David Bierk, who uses three subject areas in his paintings: (1) landscapes; (2) still lifes; and (3) "history paintings." Explains that Bierk abstracts and adapts these subjects to create personal tributes to artworks by famous artists. (CMK)

Presents information about the duo exhibit, "CHICANO," and provides background information about Chicano culture. Offers a discussion on artists in the exhibition, such as Carmen Lomas Garza, Leo Limon, Cesar Martinez, and Patssi Valdez. Includes reproductions of art works in the exhibit. (CMK)

Provides information on Edward Hopper, focusing on his use of watercolors. Explores five of his watercolor paintings: (1) "The Mansard Roof"; (2) "House on Pamet River"; (3) "Light at Two Lights"; (4) "Saltillo Mansion"; and (5) "Roofs of Washington Square." Addresses the exhibition "Edward…

Summarizes the life and work of artist Thomas Hart Benton. Focuses on his paintings of the United States that capture the characteristics of regional life, customs, and nature before modern advancements and urbanization. Provides the itinerary for the 14- venue tour of 77 of Benton's works. (CMK)

Focuses on the traveling exhibition from the Musee de Picardie in Amiens, France, called "From the Sun King to the Royal Twilight: Painting in Eighteenth Century France," that provides an overview of French paintings from the reign of Louis IV to the fall of the monarchy. (CMK)