Triple Take

"Triple Take" an exhibition of work by Jorie Berman, Cheri Wranosky, and Crisha Yantis, will be on display from September 15 through October 13, 2007, at MudFire Gallery in Decatur, Georgia. Each of the artists make sculptural figurative work, but their interpretation of the figure in clay is highly varied.

The three sculptors featured in "Triple Take" present a vibrant portrait of the pluralist landscape of the contemporary ceramic figure. Cheri, Crisha, and Jorie bring fresh perspectives and a whimsical innovation to clay sculpture while incorporating multiple traditions of American studio ceramics.

Jorie Berman relies on memories and sensory impressions of travels to India for inspiration. The childhood pilgrimages engaged her senses with a taste of new and sacred. The sacred - as a space, a feeling, a monument - is now at the core of all of her work. Her father, also a ceramic artist, owned and ran an art gallery when she was young, providing her with the opportunity to meet a myriad of eccentric artists devoted wholeheartedly to their work. Their drive to create and communicate influences Jorie to this day, translating into the honest and direct nature of her ethereal sculpture.

Cheri Wranosky's conceptual and narrative work reflects her view of the human condition as we react and interact with our surrounding environment. Cheri grew up in Kansas, connected to the earth, tied closely to the ebb and flow of life cycles. Her work reflects a rich vocabulary of texture, color and emotion, and provides a thought-provoking examination people's lives, work and attitudes. Her sculpture immediately gives to the viewer the sensation of interaction and empathy. Despite the representational nature of her figures, Cheri's work carries a vivid expression of human energy and poise.

Crisha Yantis' extravagantly fabricated characters bring to mind the varied personas of a town whose occupants, engaged in everyday activities, are caught in the act of rejoicing, grieving, losing and celebrating. Their emotions are literally tied to their sleeves or can be caught peeking out of drawers in their chest or swinging from their heart strings. From solo encounters to multiple character studies, Crisha's work resonates with the viewer on a deeply personal level.

Tying the exhibit together is the prevailing sense that life, in all its iterations, is a continuum, gracefully captured by art.