The year 2020 certainly brought challenges for everyone, but opportunities were found as well. Artist James Tracy discovered time to return to his studio, refining skills in glass blowing and ceramics, which will be on display throughout the month of February at Pine Center for the Arts.
Featuring both stoneware and primitive fired ceramics hand blown blown-glass, turned wood and drawings.
“I have recently been able to spend more time creating works so the majority of the work in this show will be from work I have done in 2020. This show is the result of my recent return to making works in glass and clay and my ongoing work in wood turning,” Tracy said. “The work is built on relearning and working with these materials, both skill development and working on a group of pieces around a series of themes, such as surface texture, tornados, and creating the feeling of objects floating off surfaces.
“The inspiration for my current work is coming from many places some of which I am trying to understand myself,” Tracy continued. “I have always worked using themes and series of work, sometimes crossing mediums around a central idea or message that is speaking to me and needs to be shared with others.”
Tracy will share an array of functional, sculptural and mixed media art that will invite participants to experience the world through a range of textures and media.
James M Tracy Studio Works opens Friday, February 12, with a reception from 4-7 pm. The reception will also feature acoustic guitar by Ron Tracy, a Minneapolis resident who has been playing guitar professionally for over 40 years in various styles and bands. Wine, beer and light snacks will be provided, and COVID safety protocols will be observed. The open reception is free and open to the public.
The gallery is also open 3-5 pm on Thursday, February 18 and 25; 4-6 pm on Friday, February 19 and 26 and 10 am-12 pm on Saturday, February 13, 20 and 27. The gallery exhibit is free and open to the public. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through an operating grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council, thanks to legislative appropriations from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
