Ceramic creations take center stage in Greensburg Art Center show

Some have been hand-­molded, others shaped on a spinning wheel.

More than 80 pieces of ceramic art will be featured in “From The Earth,” the next exhibition at the Greensburg Art Center, opening Saturday at 230 Todd School Road, in Hempfield.

“We have some amazing pottery here, it’s a really nice variety,” said Mary Yeager, a member of the show committee. “We have some artists from Washington County and a piece from Frederick, Md. It’s fairly widespread.”

The exhibition, which will continue through Oct. 21, is open to the public at no charge. That includes the opening reception, set for 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Many of the participating artists will be on hand. Clint Van Gemert, who plays an upright bass and other instruments, will provide musical entertainment.

“He’s a one-man band,” said Yeager.

Refreshments and appetizers will be available.

In addition to Best of Show, first- and second-place category prizes will be awarded in the main exhibition, which was judged by Yoko Sekino-Bové, a ceramics instructor at Carnegie Mellon University.

There also will be a prize presentation for a children’s exhibition, featuring works by students who attend ceramics classes at the art center.

The show is sponsored by pottery clay, glaze and equipment company Laguna Clay.

An added element of the show will be a series of paintings meant to complement the ceramic pieces, Yeager said.

The opening reception will include the unveiling of a clay mural depicting iconic area people and places. The mural had its start when a group of California-based clay artists brought their Know Going Back Art Tour to the Greensburg center, stopping to help create the collaborative art piece.

Regular opening hours for the art center and the exhibition are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.