The Midwest Museum of American Art is pleased to present a new spotlight exhibit, Michiana Master’s Series featuring the artwork of Dick Lehman. This Goshen-based ceramic artist, and potter, has received international recognition for his unique and experimental work, as well as his production ware over the past 40 years.
Experimentation is central to his work. The magic and mystery of which has become a distinguishable trait of his ceramics. However, Lehman admits that “a closer look will reveal that all my work over the years has had Japanese ceramics as a base from which to move forward…and shares at least a remote reference to, or inspiration from Japanese ceramics and art.”
This exhibit features over 50 stunning examples of his work. The majority of which were created this year and modeled after a Japanese glazing technique called Oni. According to the artist, Oni in Japanese translates to “devil, demon, rustic, extra, excessive, and over the top.” Lehman uses this Japanese term to describe his approach to glazing, sometimes adding as many as ten layers of different glazes to a single pot before being fired. When fired this, complex layering produces an effect where the glazes move, flow, peel, fold, and slide. This process results in the creation of a unique one-of-a-kind piece that is visually exciting. Also featured in this exhibit are raku and wood-fired ceramics, all of which will be on display through July 25.
Lehman is an outstanding award-winning artist in the Elkhart Juried Regional. Throughout the 42-year history of this event, Lehman has received 15 purchase awards during his 31 years of participation.
The Michiana Master’s Series seeks to acknowledge those individuals who have accomplished high honors in their field. Using the Elkhart Juried Regional as a starting point, the Michiana Master’s Series will annually feature standout, award-winning artists who have consistently proven themselves and their work to be of high caliber.
Admission to the Midwest Museum of American Art is $10 per adult visitor, $6 ages 8-12, $8 ages 13-18, $8 for college students with ID. The Midwest Museum of American Art is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. & Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.