BAYarts visits Wonderland

The works of Elizabeth Varis, left, and her ceramics instructor, Jessica Ramage, are on display at BAYarts.

In the Diane Boldman Education Gallery this August is the work of ceramicist and instructor Jessica Ramage, alongside her student Elizabeth Varis. The exhibition is titled "Teacher Tell Me a Story: The Mad Side of Wonderland," and in it the duo explores the world through the eyes of The Mad Hatter. 

This multimedia exhibition will showcase skills taught and learned by the pair in the ceramics studio and will also include a collaboration between them in mediums beyond clay.

Programming Director Erin Stack is especially proud of this pairing. "Lizzy was one of Jessica's first students in her Middle School Art Club program a few years ago and it seems so appropriate that this mentor and apprentice have come together for a collaborative exhibition. Jessica Ramage is in integral part of the ceramic growth and development among our students at BAYarts, and I look forward to seeing the influence that Jessica has had on Lizzy as an artist. I know that Jessica has worked very hard at trying to get Lizzy to find her own artistic voice and spread her wings." 

In observing the ceramic studio space as the pair worked on finishing their pieces, Ramage and Varis created in tandem with encouraging attitudes. The young Varis worked with adept skill and an impressive, independent confidence.

Ramage has been known for her ambitiously creative pieces done in expert quality, most with a touch of humor. This humor and quality is demonstrated in her mentee's work, such as with the whimsical tree bark wonderland plaques. Another highlight of the show are famous quotes from "Alice in Wonderland" imprinted on plates and platters.

New BAYarts high school programs have been created by Erin Stack to allow for blossoming teen students to continue to grow in many areas, including ceramics. "This coming year, Lizzy will move into Jessica's Advanced Ceramics class, a new program that was developed for serious high school students looking for a place to develop as an artist. She has limited the class to 8 students so that she will be able to give each person the individual attention they will need.

The exhibition will be on display through Sept. 23. 

Jessica Stockdale

Jessica Stockdale is the Marketing Manager at BAYarts.

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Volume 9, Issue 16, Posted 10:11 AM, 08.15.2017