Fresno Art Museum

June Schwarcz

When:  Fri., Sept. 12 – Sun., Nov. 2, 2008
Where: Fig Garden Village Gallery
Council of 100 luncheon: Sat., Sept. 13, 11:30 am – Advance reservations only
A Conversation with June Schwarcz: Sat., Sept. 13, 2:00 pm

I do not know how you draw the line between fine art and craft, or between the utilitarian and the non-utilitarian …. 
I want to be an artist  …. I intend to walk where I choose and not care which country I’m in.
                                        -  June Schwarcz

Enamellist June Schwarcz, Council of 100’s Distinguished Woman Artist for 2008, has been recognized for the innovative vessels she has designed and created. Known for her groundbreaking expressionistic approach, the vessels are often enriched by kiln-fired enamels or by fire scale, a unique stain that may appear on copper resulting from high heat. The Museum is proud to present a dazzling collection of works, including the recent evolution of vessels of absolute pure form executed in transparent black mesh, by the 90 year-old Sausalito artist. The exhibition also presents a wide selection of earlier vessels representing the culmination of work accomplished over the past thirty-five years.

Having studied industrial design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, Schwarcz first worked as a designer, and later, by chance, joined friends to learn enamel techniques at the Denver Art Museum. Like Peter Voulkos in ceramics, she is recognized for her abstract expressionism, unique forms, and groundbreaking innovation. Well-versed in traditional metal-smithing and etching, Schwarcz manipulates paper sketches into maquettes that are transferred to copper foil and then electroplated – a technique learned from Jimmy Pope at the Stanford Linear Accelerator. By creating unusually fluid forms enhanced by the dynamic interplay of interior and exterior, June Schwarcz has developed an expressive language that is uniquely her own.

The vessels for this exhibition have been selected primarily from the unparalleled collection assembled by Forrest L. Merrill. Complemented by the artist’s personal collection, the exhibition showcases eighty-eight vessels spanning the wide range of creative expression by an internationally recognized force. Because collector Forrest L. Merrill has acquired multiple examples of June Schwarcz’ vessels, the exhibition presents an amazing overview of an unrivaled, confounding and inspired body of work giving a clear sense of the rich range and depth of her unique perspective. As a fearless visionary, June Schwarcz’ oeuvre is one that has been unlimited by the demanding requirements of craft and a creative vision that has been undimmed by age.

Current Exhibits List

• Phil Bowers
• Mark Rodriguez