Photo: Michael Derr
KINGSTON, R.I. — On the heels of its wildly popular annual Art Heist, the South County Art Association will be showcasing the works of seven local artists in its Members Invitational beginning this week.
The show features 8-10 works each by artists from disciplines including photography, mixed media, pottery, sculpture, ceramics, and painting, and will be presented per each artist’s unique theme.
Wakefield ceramic artist Paula Guida will be presenting a sample of all the techniques she has learned during her journey with clay. She will present nine works in this show.
“What I tried to do with my work was bring examples of the various types of things I can create with clay,” she explained.
A highlight of her collection is a dragon teapot that was created using several techniques.
“The main body of the teapot was thrown on the wheel,” she explained, “but then the spout, which is the head of the dragon, is sculpted from a piece of clay.” Guida used a third technique to perfect the dragon’s wings.
Guida explained that the environment in which the clay is fired makes its mark on the work as well.
“What I tried to show was the different kinds of firing techniques that I sometimes employ,” she said, “so some of the pieces were fired in a wood kiln, some in an electric kiln, and some were raku fired.”
“I tried to show my range of work. I just can’t seem to stick with one thing. I’m always off in a new direction,” she laughed.
She explained that she prefers to create her pieces at the SCAA due to the variety of materials and equipment available to her.
Guida has been a member of the SCAA for 12 years.
Ken Steinkamp of Westerly, who admitted he had hoped to be invited to exhibit at the SCAA for quite a while, explained he was excited to present both old and new pieces to his colleagues and the local art community.
Steinkamp, who works in mixed media, explained he loves the culture of the SCAA.
“I really like the vibe here,” he said, “and I think for me, at this point in my career, exhibiting gives me a chance to give context to a wide variety of work.”
An airline pilot for 28 years, Steinkamp explained his day job ultimately gave him the ability to pursue art as his passion.
Watching people come to appreciate his work, having it “speak” to them, has proven most rewarding in Steinkamp’s art career. He explained that though his primarily abstract work may not be universally appreciated, he relishes learning it has touched someone his style may not otherwise have.
That yearning to create connection and appreciation has kept him active in the art world for nearly 30 years.
Westerly painter Richard Inserra, who works primarily in oil, has been an SCAA member for over two years and is also a member of the Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of Westerly.
As a self-taught artist, Inserra explained he is learning and growing with every completed piece.
Inserra most often works in landscapes and is particularly proud of his work Idyll, which features a gently flowing river highlighted by sunlight filtering through the trees.
Work from members Sylvia Hampton, Linda Covington, Michael Yefko, and Iwona Lapczyk will also be exhibited as part of this show.
The Members Invitational opened Thursday and has an opening reception scheduled for today. The exhibit will run until October 14. The South County Art Association is located at 2587 Kingstown Road in Kingston. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday 1-5 p.m.