Ceramics, Photos on Display at Juniper Tree
By ALLEGRA Berrian

The Juniper Tree, W605 First, brings together the work of Spokane ceramist Henry “skip”Lyman and Jane Wenger, photographer from Chicago, in their June showing. The two artists both attended Alfred University in New York, where each received a bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1966.

After graduation, Lyman worked as an architect’s apprentice for awhile, then continued his fine arts training at the University of Montana where he recieved his MFA in 1970. He was engaged as a resident craftsman by the Arna, Mont., until 1972 when he came to Fort Wright College in Spokane to teach ceramics. His exhibition record includes one-man and group shows in Montana, Washington, California, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC. He was recently invited to show a piece at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts’ special exhibition titled ” Baroque ’74,” in New York City.

Male Nudes Featured

His work at the Juniper Tree is functional and decorative, consisting mainly of teapots, cups, pots, and candle sticks. He has developed a characteristically ornate style using delicate coils

Though this is perhaps all one exception, the figure is shown at The Juniper. The work brings together different formal elements and tends to draw out a sensitivity toward materials, with an eye toward generalization…

The two artists, both from Chicago, continued their work at the University of Montana, where they received their MFA in 1970. One focuses on formal compositional elements, while the other abstracts figures through wide-angle lenses to distort feet and legs, for example. The models pose in nature, sometimes appearing as organic landscape elements…

Their works are refined and traditional, dealing mainly with an established crafts idiom. One of the artists has developed original formulas for clay bodies and glazes, adding visual excitement through subtle blends of colors. The work is sometimes viewed as a balance between objectivity and subjectivity…