VISUAL ARTS

From the Mud
February 29 – March 25, 2012
Artists Reception Saturday March 10, 2-4PM
The Loading Dock Gallery at Western Avenue Studios, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA  

The month of March is when we begin to look forward to a muddy spring after a cold winter.
To celebrate this prelude to spring, The Loading Dock Gallery presents “From the Mud”, an exhibit of sculptural ceramics by Lowell artist, Glenn Szegedy.

According to Mr. Szegedy, ceramics are made from “fancy mud,” but that’s not the primary reason for the exhibit's theme of “From the Mud”. Mr. Szegedy was inspired by a Chinese myth about the carp, which is born in the mud. The carp symbolizes perseverance during adverse times, and strength of purpose. The carp will swim upstream, struggling the entire way, until it reaches a final waterfall where it vaults into the mist to become the legendary water dragon.
Mr. Szegedy says “After reading this I became fascinated with the concept of perseverance. My perseverance took the form of mastering a new medium .......clay. I took mud (clay) and persevered until my own personal water dragon began to emerge. I truly love the idea of taking something very plain and simple, and with perseverance turning it into a thing of beauty.”

Mr. Szegedy’s objects of beauty, transformed from the mud, range from goddess figures, to sea creatures, to vessels, to abstract forms. The ceramic objects explore various themes and archetypes that have interested him for most of his time working as an artist. Each object could have its own legend such as the goddess like figure of a woman with the head of an owl looking down at an owl. Is she the goddess of wisdom or the guardian of owls? Mr. Szegedy’s creations draw you into such fanciful musings.

Like the humble carp, Mr. Szegedy has successfully reached the end of his journey creating beauty “from the mud.” The sculptural ceramics capture the whimsy and legendary quality of the Chinese myth.

From the Mud will be on exhibit in The Loading Dock Gallery at Western Avenue Studios, 122 Western Avenue, 2nd floor of the A-Mill from February 29th to March 25th. There will be a reception for Mr. Szegedy's new body of work on Saturday, March 10th from 2 - 4 pm. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11am to 4:30pm. For information about the exhibit, see www.theloadingdockgallery.com or call 978.710.8605.