WILD CLAY
Curated by John Reinking and Marg Diaz
On view: Mar 21 – Apr 18
Opening: Sat, Mar 21 | 3-5pm
Exhibition statement:
“Wild clay” refers to clay that is not commercially available, but instead has been personally sourced from the earth. It must be discovered, dug, used in its raw state – or sometimes, refined – and then tested. Unlike commercially processed clay, wild clay enables the maker to tap into the unique characteristics of a specific place — its colors, textures, and material properties — revealing the distinct identity of the local landscape.
Clay is intrinsically linked to anthropology: we understand much about societies of the past through their use of clay. Local “wild” clay offers discovery of local history, ecology, geology, science, and a contemporary view of art. In most cases local wild clay is infused with such color and character incomparable to commercial clay.
Working with wild clay fosters a deeper connection to the long lineage of makers who, for thousands of years, shaped and reshaped their worlds through this material. It offers a way to step outside the relentless cycle of consumerism and mass production, reminding us that art and ecology are intertwined and fostering awareness of our materials, where they come from, and our impact on the land.
About the curators:
John Reinking
John Reinking is a New Jersey based ceramic artist whose work focuses on harvesting local materials to create functional and sculptural ceramic work. Reinking embraces clay in its rawest sense — from locally dug earth to refined stoneware — and fires in his woodkiln. His pieces bear the mark of fire, ash, and flame, transforming simple forms into vessels of permanence and ritual. Reinking’s art is rooted in honesty and process: vessels that carry the story of local earth and fire.
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Marg Diaz
Marg Diaz is a ceramic artist who blends her chemistry background with playful curiosity. She experiments with wild clay, studying its absorption and firing behavior while embracing its unpredictability. Her vessels celebrate both material exploration and the childlike delight that first drew her to clay.
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