Docent’s Corner | Making the Rounds at BRAHM
When visiting BRAHM between now and April, take time to seek out three interesting pieces of art, all being round to some degree. Start in the atrium where pottery is displayed. Seek out a round pot crafted by Crystal King of Seagrove, NC that sits on a low shelf. The pot has a face that beckons the viewer to share a jovial conversation. Crystal King is a maker of pottery in the Folk Art tradition. Face jugs are just one type of this style in which she works, as have other members of her family for many years. She has developed a keen sense of creativity which certainly shows in this pots’ face. Sit for a spell and visit with him.
Crystal King (Seagrove, NC) Untitled (face jug), 2007 ceramic
Leaving the atrium, round the corner into the Fort Gallery now displaying craft of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. There is much to learn here, but first move toward the center-back of the room and locate the handsome incised round clay pot crafted by Joel Queen, highly versatile artist who owns Hemp Hill Clay. He descends from a long line of Cherokee potters, carving and incising clay, wood, stone and metal and is keenly focused on his art in a way that honors his ancestry.
Lifelong North Carolinians Crystal King and Joel Queen are fine examples of how different historical circumstances produce different art forms.
Incised Vase, Hemp Hill Clay. Maker: Joel Queen, April 2013. Cherokee Preservation Foundation Collection, Mountain Heritage Center.
Finally, locate the Rankin West Gallery and search out the still-life painting by American Impressionist Emil Carlsen. He is well-known for his beautiful work in this genre. He often included pots made from metals or ceramic in his paintings. Look closely at this lovely painting as the artist shows us a vase holding something other than flowers and that round is clearly a theme. Enjoy making the rounds!
Emil Carlsen (1853-1932) Still Life with Self-Portrait Reflection, n.d. Oil on canvas. Alexander Collection, 2016.01.02
This Docent’s Corner is brought to you by Missy Rankin