EXUBERANT
WISDOM
February 4 - March 19, 2021
Featuring artworks by Richard Nickel and his former student Anna V. Freeman
ABOUT
THE EXHIBIT
Art is a language all its own, and many artists use their talents to share stories that might be difficult to convey through other means. Both accomplished ceramic artists, Richard Nickel and his former student Anna V. Freeman use their chosen media to communicate various themes including joy, beauty, love, and loss.
Juxtaposing works by Freeman and Nickel, Exuberant Wisdom examines how these artists use narratives in their artistic practices. For Nickel, "Art, like life, is a balance between comedy and tragedy". Through his often joyful and humorous pieces, he explores this balance as a means to gain a deeper understanding of the human condition. Freeman's work focuses instead on environmental concepts relating to global and regional water availability. Through her sculptural vessels and wall-hung pieces, she depicts cycles of drought and excess rainfall, evoking images of cracked riverbeds and glossy raindrops to emphasize the vital significance of our most precious resource: water.
RICHARD
NICKEL
EXHIBITED
ARTWORKS
All images courtesy of the artist.
ANNA V.
FREEMAN
EXHIBITED
ARTWORKS
All images courtesy of the artist.
RICHARD
NICKEL
Richard Nickel is an artist, ceramicist and educator. Born in Rochester, NY in 1969, he was influenced by the comics, cartoons and creativity of the 1970s. He began drawing as a child, and these cultural elements inspired his drawing style, as well as his understanding of the world around him. [1] Nickel received his Associate's in Fine Arts from Monroe Community College (Rochester) before attending SUNY Buffalo State, where he graduated with a BS in Art Education in 1996. He went on to attain a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2000, and later that year he began teaching Art Education and Ceramics at Valley City University in North Dakota. [2]
In 2002, he began teaching at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, where he has remained since. During his tenure he has served as Art Education Program Director and Assistant Professor of Ceramics and Arts Education. Presently he is an Associate Professor of Ceramics and Art Education. [3]
As an artist, Nickel has been featured in exhibitions nationally and internationally. His work seeks to explore the role of humor in art to balance life's tragedies and provide a more well-rounded understanding of the human experience. "Art, like life, is a balance between comedy and tragedy. Shakespeare’s darkest plays were balanced with keen wit and humor. My intent in much of my artwork is to reveal the purpose of humor in art and to show that in art comedy and tragedy are dependent on each other for a deeper understanding of the human condition." [4]
For further information on Richard Nickel, visit his website at: richardjnickel.weebly.com or follow him on Instagram @richardnickel.
___
[1] Richard Nickel, Artist Biography, Burchfield Penney Artist File.
[2] Richard Nickel, Artist Resume, Burchfield Penney Artist File.
[3] Richard Nickel, Artist Resume, Burchfield Penney Artist File.
[4] Richard Nickel, Artist Statement, Burchfield Penney Artist File.
ANNA V.
FREEMAN
Anna concentrated in Ceramics and Printmaking at Alfred University's School of Art & Design, where she earned her B.F.A. She earned her M.F.A. in Visual Studies through a joint interdisciplinary program at Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University. Her work has been exhibited across the country and is held in private collections internationally. Images of her work have been published in multiple books, including Image Transfer on Clay, 500 Ceramic Sculptures, Ceramic Sculptures, and Ceramics Today. Originally from Pennsylvania, Anna now lives in Virginia Beach and is a Ceramics Instructor in the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art’s Studio School.
For further information on Anna Freeman, visit her website at: https://www.annavfreeman.com/ or follow her on Instagram @annavfreeman