Artisans
Road Trip artist Hank Hall of Spirit Lake, IA is currently featured in a solo
exhibition at the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum in Mason City, IA. Off
Center: Ceramic Works of Hank Hall will be on
display through Saturday, August 25, 2018. The Charles H.
MacNider Art Museum is free to visit and open to the public.
Hall
won Best in Show during the Iowa Crafts: 42 exhibition in
2015. As prize for his win he was awarded a solo exhibition in the
Museum’s Center Space Gallery in 2016. Hall was in the process of moving,
however, and did not have access to his studio or an excess of artwork.
He asked that we put off his exhibition until he was settled and able to create
some new works. The Museum is now happy to feature his clay and mixed
media sculptures in a 2018 exhibition.
The
name of my show is Off Center because that is how I
work with clay today. Centering clay was the first skill I learned when I began
on the potter’s wheel. From that point on, I began to experience great freedom
as I experimented with how I made my clay objects, especially teapots.
Now I
purposely alter the parts that I throw on center to make what I see as
interesting, entertaining, and sometimes humorous constructions. I like to
push, twist, and experiment with every part of the construction process,
looking to be a little "off" of what would be considered traditional
with my use of materials.
Being
off center in my approach to clay construction allows me to entertain myself on
my journey towards personal expression. If others get a kick out of my work, it
doesn’t get any better than that! – Hank Hall
Hank's
work can be found on Etsy at HankHallTinBinStudio; on Facebook at
HankHallArtist; at Art on 16th/Kurio Kastle in Spirit Lake; at STIL, a new
boutique in Spirit Lake; at Red Door Gallery in the Pearson Lakes Art Center,
Okoboji, IA; and by appointment by calling 712-330-6006. His studio at 15330 250th Avenue, Spirit Lake, will be open
to the public during Artisans Road Trip on Oct. 13 & 14.
