“Remembering Past Lives” is the piece I have chosen to present in Arts Worcester’s un-juried show named above and Opening on June 20th with a Reception from 6-9 PM and running through August 16th in their Gallery on Portland Street, Worcester, MA in the Printer’s Building.
I will be showing three pieces in the Krikorian Gallery at the Worcester Center For Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road, Worcester, MA thanks to my instructors Ginny Gillen, Tom O’Malley, the many Residents, and other students who have given me advice and support. There will be an Opening Reception on June 13th from 5:30-7:30 PM and the work will be on view from June 13th to July 6th. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 AM-5:00 PM.
“When Elephants Fight The Grass Lies Down” featuring a poem inscribed on one “monster” by Tony Brown.
“Boat People”
and “Life Transforms Death Transforms Life”.
Mentors and Teachers:
Tom O’Malley who was my first teacher through Worcester State University and who started my journey into making ceramic sculpture. He is Department Head and managed to find the perfect bases for the art I am showing now. He has also put up with my significant number of experiments.
Ginny Gillen: My mentor and ongoing teacher who manages to provide exciting and varied projects for both new students and those of us who have taken her classes for years.
Ginny with Tom, Pam Farren, Head of the Metals Department, and a student.
Ginny with students and staff.
“Changing of the guard”: The Craft Center’s “Old” Director Honee Hess, and “New Director” (wearing my favorite green boots), Elaine McKenna-Yeaw. 
In the background on the left, Gale Scott, Director of the Glass Studio, who did an amazing amount of work setting up and organizing this show.
Some of my favorite pieces that I managed to photograph:
While you’re here, don’t miss the display cases in the hall which contain Pam Farren’s jewelry and other objects made from recycled materials.
I was lucky enough to have the next iteration of my installation, “Remnants Of Visual Memory In This Life” chosen for display including 20 Artist’s Books with 240 individual collages at the Davis Gallery in the Printer’s Building on Portland Street, Worcester, MA.
This show Opens on June 6th and runs through August 16th. Photos of the piece installed to come.
Installation in process.
Because of the crowds at the Opening, it was virtually impossible to photograph the work displayed in the hall. So I returned yesterday to do so.
While there, I happened to glance into the main gallery. The slightly overcast daylight was perfect for photographing the work there. It eliminated most of the reflections that I had battled at the Opening and the effects of the spotlights that were wonderful for highlighting the work but that were impossible for my camera. So, of course, I took more photos. Doing so vastly increased my respect for the show’s curators since I more fully realized the number of “gems” that were included.
I am very pleased to have my piece selected to be part of this exciting show. The new Gallery space is wonderful and even allows passers by to see the work through the front windows.
What follows is a slide show of the work that will come down at the end of the week. It is a reflection of which photos were not totally out of focus and what I could capture with my camera only. The show is better than my pictures of it.
The best reason I know of to be sure to attend Openings:
I am sad to report that I was unable to get a photo of this amazing work. Although plugged in, the lights were off and I could not get them to work. I did inform the gallery monitor.
Again, I was not able to capture adequate images of the work itself. All the more reason to come and see it in person. 
Still another instance where my photos could not capture the work.
Again, this is a show not to be missed. There are other far more able photographers at Clark who will provide greatly improved documentation of the Show. I refer you to them.
I am thrilled to be able to invite as many people as I can to this show because the students have historically done a great job of jurying, installing, and showcasing the work we have submitted and deserve much credit as well as the instructors (listed below) who guide them. Because of the time frame, and number of invitations we were each given, I began by giving them out to those people who have provided me with ongoing support and inspiration through my illness and treatment. Even then, I didn’t have enough! I feel blessed to have you all in my life.
INNER VISION VERSUS OUTER APPEARANCE
Getting older, as I walk past mirrors, I am startled to see my mother staring back at me or certainly a person who is broken and barely patched together, not the person I think of as “me” or who appears in my dreams as “myself”. She is hidden inside and whole.
Medium: cone 10 ceramics, glazes, stains, chicken wire, steel wire, epoxy.
Date: 2/19
Dimensions: 24” wide, 20” deep, and 38” tall.
Mailing Address: 129 Beacon St. Worcester, MA
E-Mail Address: 129.jwatts@gmail.com
Cost/Insurance Value: $2,800
Artist’s Statement: For many years, I have worked with dreams and visions with the goal of realizing the ephemeral in concrete materials. Ceramics, especially cone 10, reminds me just how fragile and unpredictable reality can be. We are all in a constant process of dying and being born as our cells are replaced, as the living things we all harbor come and go. It is more obvious for some than others. These cycles repeat throughout the universe and interact. There is more space than substance to all living things allowing for change. Those of us on the surface of the earth are the connection between the beings living in the earth and what is above, the substance becoming more dense as it descends. The kiln provides many surprises, some positive and some not particularly so. My challenge is to accept both as with the dreams and visions. This piece had to be made in sections because of the size of the kiln. The plan was to have the chicken wire cause disruption to those pieces and to mirror the chicken wire used to assemble the entire torso and to hold the inner figure in place.
Humanity’s incessant impulse to both create and destroy may be an expression of the life force itself, but with the pace of these cycles seeming to increase ever more markedly and with the impact of human activity felt ever more globally, it is worthwhile to reflect on this impulse. While material culture transmutes continuously, so do socio-economic, political, and religious “structures”. We see marvelous systems designed only to fail in various ways – from the Internet to transportation networks, from medical science to government programs. Are we building beyond our ability to control or manage what we build? Is poor design contributing to things falling apart?
The artists in this exhibition are creating things, while commenting on breakdown at the same time – from individual bodies succumbing to age and affliction, to the falling of great empires; from the building of new “temples” on the rubble of the old, to the questioning of consumer culture and unfettered growth. There is also fear expressed about the impact of all this activity on the climate of our planet and the well-being of all of its denizens. These artists also find meaning in the ruins, remnants, and debris left behind in the wake of this relentless building and breaking, and breathe new life into this material. Like the ever-dancing figure of the Hindu god, Shiva, we humans hold creation and destruction in our hands. With this enormous power comes both grief and hope.
This exhibition was conceived, curated and installed by students in ARTS 296 Gallery Culture and Practice, a “problems of practice” course, in which students explore opportunities to connect what they learn in the classroom with issues and matters faced by professionals working beyond the campus.
A bottomless cup to serve a guest who wants too much.
A cup for serving tea to an enemy.
A cup with many handles.
A cup for a hostess with very little tea and a thirsty guest.
A mug with perforations.
A glass that will not hold liquid.
A plate for a small child.
This weekend, Nov. 24th and 25th from 1-4 PM is the last chance to see this show. The artists will be present to answer questions and hear comments. If you haven’t made it yet, consider a visit to the Sprinkler Factory Gallery. Photo below taken by Cathy Weaver Taylor.
This is a heartfelt thank you to all those who attended the Opening of our show and made it the success it was.
Selections from Cathy Weaver Taylor’s “wall”.
On Mari Seder’s “wall”.
A partial view of Laura Cahalane’s Installation.
Jennifer Davis Carey’s “wall”.
Steffanie Schwam’s work.
From Lisa Shea’s “wall”.
Carlotta Miller’s work.
A portion of Anne Diamond McNevin’s “wall”.
Jennifer Amenta’s “wall”.
A sampling of Al Weem’s work.
Some works of Pamela Esty.
A portion of Julie Merritt’s “wall”.
Selected views of my work.
Gallery 1
Photograph by Anne Diamond McNevin who also conceived and curated this Show. Opening Reception: November 3rd, 5-8 PM
Open Gallery Hours: Saturdays & Sundays, 1-4 PM
Closing Reception: November 25th, 1-4 PM
The exhibit features the works of 13 artists in sculpture, collage, textile, paint, vitreous enamel and photography. The pieces boldly uncover the interior lives of the artists while considering the myriad perspectives needed to comprehend and integrate the complexities of life in the new millennium.
Participating Artists:
Jennifer Armenta
Laura Cahalane
Jennifer Davis Carey
Pamela Esty
Carlotta Miller
Anne Diamond McNevin
Julie Chen Merritt
Steffanie Schwam
Mari Seder
Lisa Shea
Cathy Weaver Taylor
Jill Watts
Al Weems
I am pleased and excited to be part of this show. While knowing most of the artists and being familiar with their work, I believe that I will be seeing it with “new eyes” when each piece is able to enhance the others. Join us in what will amount to a gallery sized assemblage.
