Natasha Dikareva
This fall, The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts invites audiences to explore the expressive potential of ceramic sculpture during the 15th Annual Bascom Clay Symposium: Forms of Inspiration, September 26–27. This special weekend brings together three nationally recognized artists working at the forefront of narrative and figurative ceramics.
Featured demonstrators Kirsten Stingle, Natasha Dikareva, and Thaddeus Erdahl each offer distinct approaches to storytelling through form. Their sculptures: imaginative, evocative, and finely crafted, bridge mythology, memory, and social commentary, pushing the boundaries of clay into the poetic and surreal.
The symposium opens Friday, September 26, with a keynote address by Bethany Chaney, Executive Director of the John C. Campbell Folk School. Chaney’s remarks will highlight craft traditions as vital to fostering community and creativity, values shared by The Bascom. A public reception will follow, offering attendees a chance to connect with artists, collectors, and enthusiasts.
Thaddeus Erdahl
On Saturday, September 27, artist demonstrations from 10:00 A.M. to noon and 1:30–4:00 P.M. will allow visitors to witness each artist’s techniques and gain insight into their creative processes.
Complementing the symposium is the exhibition Forms of Inspiration: Ceramic Artists of the Bascom Clay Symposium, on view in The Bascom’s Joel Gallery through November 29.
This exhibition presents selected works by each symposium artist, many available for purchase, providing deeper insights into their craft and storytelling.
Kirsten Stingle
Guests are also invited to the Fall Reception on Thursday, September 4, at 5:00 P.M., celebrating Forms of Inspiration alongside two other exhibitions: Chatov: A Retrospective of Works by Roman, Constantin, and Marc Chatov, and Community Call: History of Highlands along with the Dazzling Dahlia Festival.
The Bascom Clay Symposium, now in its 15th year, continues its tradition of bringing influential ceramic artists to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. This event embodies The Bascom’s mission to inspire and empower through the visual arts.
Thanks to generous supporters, the symposium and associated events are free and open to all.
For more information, thebascom.org.
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