On Table: Functional Ceramics
Ends August 25
Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, 1108 Jackson St
Pick: The ceramics on display at Anderson O’Brien can employ the faculties of sight, touch and use. Ceramics give the viewer a concrete way to see that mankind’s greatest creations often appear simple and small. It’s hard to avoid the debate of form over function or function over form when ceramics are in the mix. For example, should its looks outdo how well the cup “works?” In this show, artists like Clay Cunningham have created teacups that work flawlessly but also appear with swirls and decorations. The same could be said for Robert Johnson’s work with latte cups, which are striking degrees of silver and gold. It seems the artists have merged aesthetic with function and perhaps made the argument moot