UNC Asheville to Host Debut Exhibition of "Alfred Ceramics: The Henry Bauer Collection;"
Legendary Ceramic Artist Val Cushing to Give Gallery Talk February 10

UNC Asheville will host the debut exhibition of “Alfred Ceramics: The Henry Bauer Collection” from February 10-March 14 at University Gallery, first floor of Owen Hall. The show features more than 40 pieces by nine internationally known ceramic artists who have been affiliated with the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, long considered the finest ceramics program in America.

The exhibition includes work by Val Cushing, John Gill, Tony Hepburn, Wayne Higby, Bill Parry, Ted Randall, Don Reitz, Daniel Rhodes and Robert Turner. Henry Bauer, an Alfred-area contractor, collected the pieces over a period of 25 years, trading work for art. It is now considered to be among the most important ceramic collections in the country.

The exhibition will open with a gallery talk by legendary ceramic artist Val Cushing at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in the gallery. A reception will follow.

Cushing earned a master’s of fine arts degree from Alfred University in 1956. After graduation, he returned to the program and taught for 41 years. Cushing’s trademark vessels have been featured in every major ceramics book published in the last 30 years and in more than 200 exhibitions. His sculptures are included in the collections of the American Craft Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the International Museum of Ceramic Art in Japan.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Cushing will also discuss and show slides of his work at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Asheville Art Museum. Admission is $5. UNC Asheville student, faculty and staff will be admitted free with their OneCard.

UNC Asheville’s University Gallery is open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays. Admission is free. For more information, call UNC Asheville’s Art Department at 828/251-6559.

Media Contacts:

• Megan Wolfe, UNC Asheville Associate Professor of Art, 828/251-6876
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526