Through July 30, the Springfield Art Museum in Springfield, Missouri, presents its first exhibition dedicated to the art and craft of enamelware. Holding Space: Contemporary Enamel Vessels brings together work by 10 distinguished local, national, and international artists to highlight the varied techniques and personal approaches used to create contemporary enamel vessels.
© Courtesy of Springfield Art Museum
“The title, ‘Holding Space,’ is purposefully evocative,” said Sarah Buhr, curator of art at the Springfield Art Museum. “It reflects key themes of the exhibition: the museum is holding space in its galleries for these artists and visitors, and each vessel also holds space within itself.”
Enameling has a long history in decorative arts and jewelry, appearing on early ornamental vessels and objects. The enameling process involves fusing powdered glass to a substrate during firing. This technique can be applied to metal, glass, ceramics, stone, and other materials that withstand the high temperatures required for firing, producing durable, glossy, and often vividly colored surfaces.
© Courtesy of Sarah Perkins
Centering the exhibition is a selection of work by Springfield artist Sarah Perkins, recognized for her contributions to contemporary enameling. The show also features artists from across the U.S. and abroad: Beate Gegenwart and Helen Carnac from the United Kingdom; Tanya Crane from Rhode Island; Harlan Butt from Texas; Jessica Calderwood from Indiana; Kat Cole from Georgia; Yi Chen from Taiwan; Barbara Minor from Louisiana; and the late June Schwarcz of California.
Organized by Sarah Buhr in collaboration with artist Sarah Perkins, the exhibition includes loans from public and private collections, among them the Metal Museum, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, and the Enamel Arts Foundation. A Slow Viewing session with Shauna LeAnn Smith is scheduled for May 24 at 5 p.m. A full-color catalog is available in English and Spanish. The Springfield Art Museum is located at 1111 W. Brookside Drive, and admission is free.