NEWS RELEASE: NCECA Exhibition Explores Islamic Influences in Contemporary Ceramics

at the
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 North Union Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
targetgallery@torpedofactory.org

March 3, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT & IMAGES: Claire Huschle, (703) 838-4565 x 4

NCECA Exhibition Explores Islamic Influences in Contemporary Ceramics

Torpedo Factory Celebrates Ceramics and Cultural Exchange in March and April

Alexandria, VA— From March 16 through April 24, 2005, Target Gallery, the national exhibition space at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, will host an important cross-cultural exhibition entitled Fertile Earth: Islamic Influences in Contemporary Ceramics. The show is part of the National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) annual conference (March 16-20) in Baltimore/Washington, DC. Karen Koblitz, a Los Angeles-based sculptor, curated the exhibition.

A reception and panel discussion on Islamic influences on the arts will be held on Sunday, March 20, between 5-8 pm. Lebanese Taverna Restaurant will provide a culinary program, Cultural Exchange in Cuisine, at the reception. The exhibition has inspired a series of programs throughout the months of March and April at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, from Middle Eastern music and dance to a children's event recreating the archaeological excavation of ceramics.

Fertile Earth and its related programs are made possible by the generous support and partnership of the Adams Center, a Muslim community center in Northern Virginia; the national and regional offices of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America's largest Muslim civil liberties group; the American-Turkish Association of Washington, D.C.; Lebanese Taverna Restaurant; and members of the Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a non- profit organization supporting the outreach programs of the art center.

The nine ceramists in Fertile Earth use the decoration and techniques from the rich artistic heritage of Islam to demonstrate how contemporary artists are keeping ancient styles and methods alive. These sculptors are among the most lauded in the world of ceramic art. They are Alan Caiger-Smith (United Kingdom), Sanam Emami (United States), Neil Forrest (Canada), Andrea Gill (United States), Amanda Jaffe (United States), Karen Koblitz (United States), Nermin Kura (United States), Liz Quackenbush (United States), and Carolinda Tolstoy (United Kingdom). A digital catalogue of the exhibition is available through the gallery.

In addition to the culinary presentation by Lebanese Taverna, the March 20 reception will include a panel discussion on cultural exchange in the creative arts at 6 PM, and all 14 ceramic studios and galleries in the Torpedo Factory will be open for visitors. On Saturday, April 2, at 2 PM, the Alexandria Archaeology Museum on the third floor will present a children's program entitled The Potter's Art (reservations required). On April 14, from 6-9 PM, Second Thursday Art Night, ceramic studios will present demonstrations for the public. For a complete description of programs related to the Fertile Earth exhibition, contact the Target Gallery at 703- 838-4565, extension 4, or visit the Torpedo Factory website at www.torpedofactory.org. Unless otherwise noted, all events and receptions are free of charge and open to the public.

Target Gallery is the national exhibition space of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, displaying artwork in all media from artists across the United States and abroad. Target is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, 12 noon to 5 pm and other times by appointment. Contact the gallery at (703) 838-4565, ext. 4 or by e- mail at targetgallery@torpedofactory.org. The Torpedo Factory is located at 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA.