A Trio of Oakland Potters

Hue Yang, Jason Dunn, Noelle Nakama and me.


Hue caught a picture of Jason and
me chatting ceramics.


Hue took this of the gallery
when is was packed.


Last Friday night was the opening of "A Trio of Oakland Potters" at Surface Gallery.

This opening meant a lot to me. Vikki and I invited potters that I had attended San Francisco State with to have this exhibition here. It had been 7 years since I graduated from there and hadn't spoken to them since that time. I was very shy back then (I know hard to believe). I didn't get very close to anyone, but I greatly admired them and never forgot the three of them or their work.

Fast forward to 2009, ( a year into owning the gallery with Vikki) we were looking for artists to exhibit. I looked Jason Dunn, Noelle Nakama and Hue Yang up on line and discovered they were all still doing pottery in Oakland and from the way their websites all linked to each other I could tell they were all still in touch. After showing their work to Vikki I sent them an e-mail about our interest in them having an exhibition at Surface. That was one of the funnest e-mails I ever sent. I had no idea if they would remember me or even want to have a show her. I was thrilled when they responded with excitement. Jason and Hue drove all of their work down a few weeks ago and the show opened on Friday. All the artists were in attendance along with some family members. It was a great night and now we get to be surrounded by their pottery in the gallery until Dec. 19th. I am so thankful to them for wanting to share it with us (Bakersfield) and for reconnecting with them after all these years.

The Gatherings...

So I am making tiny bottles again... the ones that are off center and remind me of people with our unique imperfections and idiosyncrasies. During college I had a tough time making anything that was off center. I wanted that clay to spin perfectly and I would not accept less than "perfect". As time went by I was able to let that need go and I have been having much more fun not only clay, but life.
These little bottles will be for sale at the gallery soon and on Etsy. They are meant to sit in little groups or gatherings as I like to call them. I like to sit them close to each other and imagine the conversation they might have.
All of these bottles stand under 4 inches in height. Enjoy!

"One" exhibtion showing at Surface Gallery

This is my current work showing at Surface Gallery. The anniversary exhibition "One" opened on Sept. 15th with new work from the 4 artists who showed at the grand opening a year ago. Vikki Cruz, Liz Sherwyn and Brent Eviston all created work interpreting the word one. I created 12 tiled pieces representing the 12 months since Vikki and I signed the lease. I pressed real flowers and leaves into wet clay to create the images; the little buttons of clay represent the month... one button is January and so forth. On display they hang from June-May since the "year" for me began when we signed the lease and construction began at the gallery. I like the fossil like image the foliage leaves behind, a moment is captured. Oh, and they are for sale $140 each but June, May, January and December have already sold. Let me know if you are interested. Enjoy!

Celebratory May Sold

Flowering April

Weathering March

Gorgeous February

Clean Slate January Sold

Milestone December Sold

Colorful November

Steady October

Keep Breathing September

Rushing August


Busier July


Busy June Sold

It's finished! "Cactus Cooler"

I finally finished painted the skull for the Bakersfield Museum of Art! After I fired it in the kiln I decided to add a lot more color with dots of acrylic paint. I was planning to make ceramic flowers and attached them, but time constraints made that impossible. I am pleased with how it turned out. But even more pleased that it is out of my hands and done! When I said to a student today I wasn't sure what to call the piece he said, "Cactus Cooler". Introducing "Cactus Cooler". Enjoy! The show opens Sept 17th at BMOA!

Dia de los Muertos

I realize it might seem a bit early to be talking about Day of the Dead but I am working on a piece for an upcoming show at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. They gave approximately 30 artists a ceramic scull and asked us to turn it into a work of art. I decided to use under glazes on my piece and fire it again in the kiln. The pictures I am posting are the work in progress. I forgot to take some of it bare... oops... so this is it with the under glazes painted on. It is not yet fired so it will appear dull in color now, but after it is fired will be bright and shiny. I am also planning to create some flowers out of clay and after they are fired I will attached them to the crown of the head. Check back to see how it turns out! The show opens at the museum on Sept. 17th.

Sneak Peak

I started creating work for the upcoming anniversary show at Surface Gallery. The show will open on Friday Sept. 4th with new work from artists Vikki Cruz, Brent Eviston, Liz Sherwyn and myself. I am just going to post a few pictures of what I am working on and explain in more detail later... Enjoy and be sure to make it to the opening!

My most recent work is at Valentien Restaurant

I created this work to hang at Valentien Restaurant (located at the corner of Oak and Truxtun). I rolled real flowers into the wet clay to create the image. I like the impression the flowers leave...like little fossils, a moment in time. After the tiles were fired I used an oil based metallic medium to enhance the color. The tiles are for sale (although some are sold already) if you are interested! Also, if you haven't yet enjoyed a meal at Valentien, you should!

I created an Etsy shop!

I finally opened a shop to sell my ceramic work on Esty. My shop can be found at www.yvonnecavanagh.etsy.com

Enjoy!

Starting Here - Past Work