WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 31, 2019 — West Liberty University’s Nutting Gallery welcomed Artist Eric Pardue with his clay works in a new exhibition entitled “Filling the Vessel” on Wednesday.
“I like the work here because it’s not only ceramics but it also has elements like drawing and painting on it, so you must re-image what ceramic is,” said Professor of Art Brain Fencl.
A West Virginia native, Pardue earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. After graduation, he remained in New York and maintained an apprenticeship under Jeff Shapiro, an internationally-known artist.
“Stenciling, mark making, and utilitarianism, his work is useful and not useful. It breaks the boundary of how ceramics go, and everything is really well-made,” said Fencl, who is also the chairman of the Department of Media and Visual Arts.
Pardue’s ceramics are cohesive with vintage colors and collaged images on top. Those sepia tone images such as kids on the playground and soldiers with airplanes create stories for viewers.
“In my current ceramic work, I am combining layers of underglaze, slips, glazes and decals of images that I come into contact with during my daily activities into a narrative. These narratives may refer to a specific current situation, past experience, a specific song lyric, or passages from books. Although the references I make are personal and come from my experiences, I do intend for the viewer to build on my intentions with their own ideas and to develop their own story as they interact with the piece,” Pardue stated in his biography found on the website the Clay Studio.org.
Pardue currently lives in Milton, W.Va., where he owns his own studio and works as a full-time artist. His works are for sale at the gallery and he also maintains a Facebook page.
“Filling the Vessel” will remain on display until Nov. 20 and is open to the public. The Nutting Gallery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays, evenings and weekends by arrangement. For additional information contact the Director of Nutting Gallery Jim Haizlett at jhaizlett@westliberty.edu.