Give the gift of art this holiday season! Moab’s cooperative gallery is the perfect place to shop for original art and artisan crafts in a variety of mediums, styles and prices, all made by talented local artists.
Ceramic artist Barbara Gregoire is exhibiting a selection of recent work for her show, “Conversations with Clay,“ through the month of December. Her career in clay spans more than 40 years, during which she has studied ancient Japanese techniques at workshops with renowned ceramic artists. Over the past year she has experimented with three distinct clay bodies, developing her own approach to creating traditional ceramics.
The art of glazing has always been a priority for Gregoire. She says,“For me, glazing is what brings out the identity of the clay you are working with. It always begins with a conversation – with the traditions of the past, with the peculiarities of the clay you are working with, which helps me choose the type of glaze that brings it all to life.”
She explains, “Porcelain, for example, is so tight and solid that the glaze has very little to react to, which makes it the perfect medium for Shino.” Her Shino pieces have a unique orange and smoky black spotting that is a result of carbon trapping during the firing process. “You never know what’s going to come out of the kiln. That’s the wabi-sabi factor that makes Shino tea cups a big hit in traditional tea ceremonies. Black clay on the other hand, is more porous, almost like a sponge in the way it soaks up the glaze. Only certain glazes will work with it.” She uses a modern twist on another traditional Japanese technique called Kohiki, resulting in a bold contemporary take on an ancient tradition, full of contrast and motion.
Gregoire is also displaying work made from a third clay body. “Stoneware isn’t as finicky as porcelain. It holds its form better and there is enough iron in the clay body to give the glaze some depth,” she says.”This allows me to experiment with multiple sprayings of different glazes, even mixing matte and glossy glazes.”
Examples of Gregoire’s work are on display along with some visual samples and explanations of the different clay bodies and the glazes she works with. She says, “For me, glazing is not just a pretty coating you put on pottery; it’s a tradition that stretches back centuries. To add our own modern twists on ancient techniques is a way of continuing the never-ending conversation we’ve always had with clay.”
An open reception for Gregoire will be held on December 9th, from 5pm to 8pm, at Gallery Moab. 
We welcome Jess Hough as our newest member artist! She creates delicately detailed intaglio prints inspired by our desert landscape using a homemade printing press she built from reclaimed materials. As the 2023 Community Artist in Parks she demonstrated her printmaking process on site for visitors to our southeast Utah national parks.
Join us at the gallery and mingle with artists and art lovers at Art Walk, Saturday, November 11, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Open Sunday & Monday 11 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Call 435-220-0891 and we will gladly open by appointment.
One of the artists is always on hand to answer your questions or help you find that perfect gift or memento of your canyon country vacation.
We look forward to your visit!
Gallery Moab LCA • 59 South Main Street #1, Moab, Utah 84532 • 435-355-0024
gallerymoab.com
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