Guest Artists

FEATURED GUEST ARTIST:  Christine Davis

FEBRUARY - APRIL 2020

"My works are all wheel thrown and Raku fired.  They are all my original designs and are made by myself alone."

Raku is an ancient firing process in which the temperature is brought up to 1900 degrees in an hour.  The glowing pot is removed from the kiln and placed in a reduction can filled with combustibles.  This reduction phase gives the colors of coppers, greens, and blues.  Black is achieved by the smoke.  Success in Raku depends on knowledge, experience and luck.  

I have a Bachelor's degree from Indiana University.  I began working with ceramics in the 1970s when I was a student at Purdue University.  In the late 1990s, I took a Raku class at the Indianapolis Art Center and that has been my style ever since.

For more information about Christine, visit her web page by CLICKING HERE.

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Pottery by Mary Firestone

Mary Firestone was born and raised in North Carolina, where at a young age, she discovered her medium while playing with the indigenous red clay in her own backyard. She set her art on the back burner, however, while she pursued a botany degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She now resides and works in Eden, a 4.5 acre garden she created in northeast Tippecanoe County. Mary is an Advanced Master Gardener, spending many volunteer hours “helping others grow.” Her love of plants and nature is evidenced in her choice of motifs and glaze colors in her pottery.

Her work consists of mostly functional items for the home and garden created in high-fired stoneware and porcelain. She encourages collectors of her pieces to enhance their lives by using art on a daily basis.

 

 Sculptures by Richard Gorden 

 

 

Wood Boxes by Jim Harper

We are pleased to have Jim Harper exclusivly join us as our "wood guy" at the Gallery.  After Phil Conlon had to stop creating his high quality boxes, he recommended Jim to take his place here at the Opera House Gallery.  Jim produces the most beautiful jewelry boxes that we have seen.  His jewelry boxes come with 5 lined removable shelves to carefully place ones valuable pieces. Each unique box comes with a label describing the species used in its construction.

He also creates other boxes that may be used for a variety of purposes or just to have on display.  One does not develop a full appreciation of Jim's work until you touch and feel the quality of his workmanship. 

 

  

Pottery by Gail Johnston

Gail is a studio potter working with stoneware, porcelain, and raku clays that require a multitude of decoration and firing approaches. Her pottery is unique and distinctive with special attention given to design, texture and form. Her work reveals a desire to reflect the beauty of creation. Representational sculpture is incorporated in many pieces that may develop into a thematic series. Gail’s present work is moving from the more functional dinnerware, fountains, sinks and vases to utilizing nature objects, such as seed pods, flowers, and shells for her inspiration in creating vases and wall hangings. 

 

  

Glass by Sharon Owens

Sharon is from Lafayette, Indiana.  She was born and raised in Lafayette, and moved away to learn glass blowing because there wasn’t any glass here.  Chemistry glass blowing at Purdue University is the first hands-on experience she could get.  From there, she had an apprenticeship at Florida for three years.  She learned cross-fires, using a neon set-up and used lead crystal (which is kind of unusual for most people).  From there, she was somewhat self-taught.  When the opportunity arose, she started taking as many classes as possible from different masters.  When she had the chance to travel, she went to Seattle; Corning, New York; North Carolina; and many other places to learn glass blowing because nothing was offered in the area.  Visit her web page, "Inspired Fire" for more information.