Public Program Also Includes Interior Decorator Panel and Expert Talks with Mario Buatta,

Alexa Hampton, Kitty Hawks and David Scott

The fifteenth edition of New York Ceramics Fair promises not only a dazzling array of traditional and contemporary treasures to entice the eye, but also thought-provoking lectures, panel discussions with top interior designers, and an exhibition called The Bacchanalistas: Passions + Pleasures, curated by Leslie Ferrin, the contemporary ceramics specialist.

The Bacchanalistas: Passions + Pleasures will present an overview of contemporary ceramics by living artists whose art draws inspiration from ceramic history.  Themes of passion, eroticism, sexuality, abundance and excess of food and wine will be shown through figural sculpture, animated painted vessels and still life from the 16th century through today. To convey her theme, Ms. Ferrin invited the participating dealers at the New York Ceramics Fair to submit historic objects to juxtapose with the contemporary artists.

“Bacchanalia, the Roman festival of Bacchus, the Greco-Roman god of wine, freedom, intoxication and ecstasy were attended by a secret society and became legendary,” says Ms. Ferrin.  “Ancient ceramic objects were in use during these parties and then later created to commemorate such events.  Today a generation of artists is inspired by those objects and create their own for celebratory experiences.  Decorative arts and fine art worlds collide with references to feast, sexuality and over the top pleasures.  While not exactly a mystery cult, our contemporary art scene appears to some to operate today as the Bacchanalia did during Roman times, wild parties and excess in the name of pleasure and culture.”

The fair has designated Friday as their Designer Day featuring Alexa Hampton, Kitty Hawks, and David Scott on a panel called Porcelain Perfect: How Top Decorators Accessorize with Ceramics, in cooperation with the New York School of Interior Design, and moderated by Judith Gura, noted author and member NYSID.  Mario Buatta, the highly acclaimed interior designer, will entertain his audience with If You Can’t Hide It, Decorate It, followed by a book-signing of his best-seller  “Mario Buatta: 50 Years of American Style and Decoration,” published by Rizzoli.

The schedule is as follows:

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22nd
12 Noon  Tortoise Shell Ware Made in This Town: A Re-examination of the Benjamin Leigh and John Allman Partnership in Boston, with Angelika Kuettner, Associate Registrar for Imaging and Assistant Curator of Ceramics, Colonial Williamsburg

2pm  English and Continental Glassware in Early America with Leslie B. Grigsby, Winterthur's Curator of Ceramics and Glass.

4pm   Perfected in New York City:  Jean-Pierre Colné and the Origins of Mechanized Glass Cutting with Ian Simmonds, antiques dealer and researcher.

FRIDAY JANUARY 24th
12 Noon   Porcelain Perfect: How Top Decorators Accessorize with Ceramics
Prominent interior decorators Alexa Hampton, David Scott and Kitty Hawks will discuss the importance of ceramics in decorating. Sponsored in co-operation with The New York School of Interior Design, the discussion will be moderated by Judith Gura, author and NYSID faculty member.

2pm  If You Can't Hide It, Decorate It
Mario Buatta,  the internationally acclaimed interior designer. Mr. Buatta will sign copies of his new book, Mario Buatta: Fifty Years of American Style and Decoration.

SATURDAY JANUARY 25th
12 Noon   Making Pottery Tell Its Own Story:  Royal Worcester’s Vases with Scenes of Chinese Porcelain Production, with Ron Fuchs II, Curator of the Reeves Collections at Washington and Lee University.
 
2pm   Angels and Demons: The Pleasures of Pottery and Porcelain with Robert Hunter, the editor of Ceramics in America. 

4pm  The Bacchanalistas:  Passions + Pleasures, with Leslie Ferrin, Director, Ferrin Contemporary.

Coinciding with the exhibition, Ms. Ferrin’s lecture will present an overview of contemporary ceramics by living artists whose art practice draws inspiration from ceramic history.  Themes of passion, eroticism, sexuality, abundance and excess of food and wine will be shown through figural sculpture, animated painted vessels and still life. 

All the lectures are free with show admission, and are sponsored by the Chipstone Foundation.

The New York Ceramics Fair, which takes place in the Grand Ballroom of the Bohemian National Hall, 321 East 73rd Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues), opens with a private preview on Tuesday evening, from 5-8:30 PM. Tickets are $90 each.  The show opens to the public on Wednesday, January 22 and runs through Sunday, January 26. Hours are 11 AM-7 PM and on Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM. Ticket price with catalogue is $20 per person, and can be used throughout the duration of the fair.

The New York Ceramics Fair is produced by Meg Wendy/MCG Events LLC and Liz Lees/Caskey Lees Inc.

In addition to the New York CeramicsFair, Caskey-Lees currently produces the San Francisco Tribal & Textile Arts Show in San Francisco.