Project Tag: Cristina Cordova

08
Aug
2024
Cristina Córdova in EL PUENTE

Cristina Córdova in EL PUENTE

EL PUENTE

John & Robyn Horn Gallery

At Penland School of Craft

Penland, NC

April 1 – June 7, 2025

Featuring work by Cristina Córdova

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

A metaphorical bridge, El Puente, exists between Puerto Rico and the US, which share a complex and often misunderstood political and cultural relationship. How do we express El Puente through the lens of Puerto Rican artists?

This exhibition centers on legacy and culture, focusing on multi-generational artists in dialogue with the US through their education, residencies, and career opportunities. Co-curator Cristina Córdova characterizes this phenomenon as a continuous loop of communal encounters and mutual influence, followed by a momentary respite in which the encounters are assimilated and transformed within the artistic community. This pattern has taken place over many years and generations, moving back and forth between two territories inextricably connected yet distinctly separate, sometimes with intention and at times unconsciously. What are the influences of this bridge on the insular art community in Puerto Rico and how do the experiences evolve in the vacuum of an underresourced arts community?

Through the lens of Puerto Rican artists who have cultivated long- and short-term connections with the US throughout their formative and professional trajectories, El Puente offers insights into how these connections shape and inform the artistic practices, perspectives, and creative trajectories of Puerto Rican artists and consequently feed into the broader landscape of contemporary American craft in an evolving and continuous dynamic.

Participating artists: Cristina Córdova, Ada del Pilar Ortiz, Luis Gabriel Sanabria, and Jaime Suárez

ABOUT CRISTINA CÓRDOVA

Puerto Rican, b. 1976, Boston, MA
lives and works in Penland, NC

Native to Puerto Rico, Cristina Córdova creates figurative compositions that explore the boundary between the materiality of an object and our involuntary dialogues with the self-referential. Images captured through the lens of a Latin American upbringing question socio-cultural notions of gender, race, beauty, and power.  Córdova has received numerous grants including the North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship Grant, a Virginia Groot Foundation Recognition Grant, several International Association of Art Critics of Puerto Rico awards, and a prestigious United States Artist Fellowship award in 2015.

Córdova has had solo exhibitions at the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, (Alfred, NY), and her work is included in the collections of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, (Washington, DC), Colección Acosta de San Juan Puerto Rico, (San Juan, PR), the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, (Charlotte, NC), and Museum of Contemporary Art, (San Juan, PR). In 1998, Córdova completed her BA at the University of Puerto Rico, and she received her MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2002. Córdova is represented by Ferrin Contemporary.

11
Jul
2024
CRISTINA CÓRDOVA: EVA XV

CRISTINA CÓRDOVA: EVA XV

EVA XV
2022

unglazed: finished with burnished earth pigments from the island of Puerto Rico mixed with casein, lime, and oxides
60 x 18 x 22″

Ferrin Contemporary, "Are We There Yet?", 2023, Exhibition Installation View with work by Chris Antemann, Cristina Córdova, Sergei Isupov, Crystal Morey, & Kurt Weiser, Photo by John Polak Photography

ARTWORK

EVA XV

RECENTLY ON VIEW

RECENTLY ON VIEW

Cristina Córdova, “EVA XV”, on view in the Spanish Colonial Gallery at the Figge Art Museum, Davenport, Iowa, 2024

2024 | Installation at the Figge Art Museum, Spanish Colonial Gallery
Davenport, IA

On view through 2024

Ferrin Contemporary “Our America/Whose America?” Anteroom Stair hall Installation at the Wickham House, Richmond, VA, 2024

OUR AMERICA/WHOSE AMERICA?

2024 | Group Exhibition in the Wickham House at the Valentine Museum | Richmond, VA

February 20, 2024 – April 21, 2024

Our America/Whose America? is a “call and response” exhibition between contemporary artists and historic ceramic objects.

View the exhibition page HERE

Ferrin Contemporary, "Are We There Yet?", 2023, Exhibition Installation View with work by Chris Antemann, Cristina Córdova, Sergei Isupov, Crystal Morey, & Kurt Weiser, Photo by John Polak Photography

Ferrin Contemporary, “Are We There Yet?”, 2023, Exhibition Installation View with work by Chris Antemann, Cristina Córdova, Sergei Isupov, Crystal Morey, & Kurt Weiser, Photo by John Polak Photography

ARE WE THERE YET?

2024 | Group Exhibition at Ferrin Contemporary | North Adams, MA

July 15 – September 2, 2023

ARE WE THERE YET? is a celebration of Ferrin Contemporary’s 40+ years as leaders in the field of modern and contemporary ceramics. What began in 1979 as a woman-owned cooperative studio and gallery in Northampton, MA has flourished across the years and the locations to become the international ceramic experts and material champions known as Ferrin Contemporary.

View the exhibition page HERE

Cristina Córdova, “EVA XV”, 2022, Installation in Figuring Space, at The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

FIGURING SPACE

2024 | Group Exhibition at The Clay Studio | Philadelphia, PA

January 12 – April 16, 2023

The group of powerful, full-scale representations of human figures will serve as a body of evidence to lay bare the issues that permeate American art and social culture. Each of the artists chosen uses the figure to usurp the painful history of bodies on display in American history. They assert their autonomy and subjectivity by presenting cultural critiques through lenses of their own choosing: race, gender, class, and anti-war ideas. Roberto Lugo, Kensuke Yamada, Cristina Córdova, Chris Rodgers, Sergei Isupov, Christina West, Tip Toland, Jonathan Christensen Caballero, George Rodriguez, Roxanne Swentzell, and Kyungmin Park are among the invited artists.

ABOUT THE WORK

ABOUT “EVA XV”

More on Cristina Córdova HERE

I have been sculpting my daughter since she was 9. This 15 year old version of Eva is unglazed and finished with burnished earth pigments from the island of Puerto Rico mixed with casein, lime, and oxides. They came specifically from two areas, one in Fajardo near the coast, where the rainforest is, and one from Orocovis in the mountainous center. Written on her back are the words “de monte y mar” ( “from mountain and sea” ) in gold, a phrase from the song Verde luz by El Topo (Antonio Cabal Vale), which became a symbol of national Puerto Rican pride and an anti-colonialist anthem.

In my practice, the image of Eva is the embodiment of change and possibility. It speaks to the inevitability of transience and the inherited threads of code that perpetuate both genes and identity. This piece seeks to perform both as a symbol and a relic by holding in its materiality a part of the Island that has thematically bound this whole series through the years, exploring the riches and vulnerabilities of this small Caribbean nation that is my home.

04
Jan
2023
Mastering Sculpture: The Figure in Clay

Mastering Sculpture: The Figure in Clay

Mastering Sculpture: The Figure in Clay Catalog by Cristina Córdova

Mastering Sculpture: The Figure in Clay

Explore the human form in-depth, from concept sketches and armatures to detailed instructions for constructing legs, torso, arms, hands, and head from clay.

In Mastering Sculpture: The Figure in Clay, renowned sculptor and instructor Cristina Córdova teaches everything you need to know to replicate the full human figure using clay.
Start by developing meaningful sketches and reference points.

Then learn how to make and use an armature to create hollow forms that are safe to fire in a kiln.

Using patterns and slabs, you can move on to develop a full human form, head to toe.
Work along with the author to create a form about two feet tall, or choose your own size: the patterns and instructions can work in a variety of scales.

Photographic demonstrations and diagrams cover the construction and articulation of feet and legs, the hip area and upper torso, arms, hands, neck, and head. Cristina includes supplementary tips and insights throughout to support the sculpting process and enhance naturalism. You’ll also find a brief section on general anatomical concepts and modeling strategies to facilitate accuracy and expression as all the components come together.

Whether you are a clay artist with limited experience in figurative sculpture or a figurative sculptor outside the world of ceramics looking for a straightforward fabrication strategy to create permanent compositions from clay, Mastering Sculpture: The Figure in Clay will expertly guide your way.

  • Publication Date: 2022, Quarry Books
  • Fully illustrated 192 pages
19
May
2022
2022 INTERNATIONAL CERAMIC ART FAIR (ICAF)

2022 INTERNATIONAL CERAMIC ART FAIR (ICAF)

2022 INTERNATIONAL CERAMIC ART FAIR

Gardiner Museum
Toronto, Ontario

June 9 – 19, 2022

Featuring work by Cristina Córdova, Sergei Isupov, Mara Superior, and Kukuli Velarde


Virtual Artist Talk with Cristina Córdova

June 17th, 1-2pm EST
see more details below

The International Ceramic Art Fair (ICAF) makes its highly anticipated return to the Gardiner Museum, featuring works by emerging and established ceramic artists from a wide range of backgrounds, and an exciting slate of online and in-person programming.

ICAF 2022 celebrates connections between body, identity, and land. Global mythologies have long connected the human body to the earth, from a Nubian deity fashioning humans from clay to scientific explorations of clay as the first carrier of life. The human body is symbolically if not literally connected to clay, helping us understand who we are as individuals, a society, and a species.

Contemporary ceramics has become one of the most dynamic areas of artistic practice in recent years. So it is with much excitement that we invite collectors and curators from around the world to join us for the International Ceramic Art Fair, which has grown to a 10-day celebration of contemporary art, gallery tours, artist talks, performances, and more. Join us in person and online to discover how some of the top galleries and artists are approaching the themes of body, figuration, and the land. We look forward to sharing the diversity, complexity, and accessibility of contemporary ceramics.
– Sequoia Miller, Chief Curator

This year’s Honorary Patron is internationally renowned Kenyan-born British studio potter, Magdalene Odundo.

READ THE PRESS RELEASE

International Ceramic Art Fair 2022, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada
International Ceramic Art Fair 2022, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada
ICAF 2022, Gardiner Museum, Installation View featuring Sergei Isupov
Cristina Cordova, “Desde mi Balcon”, ICAF 2022, Gardiner Museum Installation View
Kukuli Velarde, “A Mi Vida IV” and “A Mi Vida II”, ICAF 2022, Gardiner Museum Installation View
Mara Superior, “Mates for Life (A Swan’s Wedding)”, ICAF 2022, Gardiner Museum Installation View
Cristina Córdova, “Desde mi Balcón”, 2021, ceramic and metal, 33 x 14.5 x 10″ – side view
Kukuli Velarde, “A Mi Vida II”, 2017
Mara Superior, “Mates for Life (A Swan’s Wedding Day)” 2008, porcelain, glaze, wood, gold leaf, bone, ink, 23 x 16 x 10″.
Sergei Isupov, “Coffee and Milk”, Detail, 2020, porcelain, slip, glaze, 59.5 x 26 x 16″.

EVENTS

Virtual Artist Talk with Cristina Córdova

June 17th, 1-2pm EST

As part of the International Ceramic Art Fair, join featured artist Cristina Córdova for an online discussion about her work. Córdova creates figurative compositions that examine our shared humanity and question socio-cultural notions of gender, race, and beauty. Registration is free.

Register now

Full event schedule for ICAF 2022

Virtual Curator Talk with Maya Wilson-Sanchez

June 14th, 1-2pm EST

As part of the International Ceramic Art Fair, join Gardiner Museum Curatorial Resident Maya Wilson-Sanchez for a virtual conversation about the work of Kukuli Velarde, a Peruvian-American artist who specializes in painting and ceramic sculptures made out of clay and terracotta. Registration is free.

Register now

Full event schedule for ICAF 2022

FEATURED ARTISTS IN THE EXHIBITION

CRISTINA CÓRDOVA

MARA SUPERIOR

SERGEI ISUPOV

KUKULI VELARDE

09
Sep
2021
IN DIALOGUE: Cristina Córdova & Kukuli Velarde

IN DIALOGUE: Cristina Córdova & Kukuli Velarde

October 16 to December 30, 2021

Public Reception 4 to 5:30 pm
4:30 Conversation with artist, Kukuli Velarde

FERRIN CONTEMPORARY
1315 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams MA

Cristina Córdova, IN DIALOGUE installation view, 2021
In DIALOGUE: Cristina Córdova & Kukuli Velarde Exhibition, 2021
IN DIALOGUE: Cristina Córdova & Kukuli Velarde, installation view

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

North Adams,  MA

Ferrin Contemporary presents IN DIALOGUE: Cristina Córdova & Kukuli Velarde. The two artists share several overlapping identities as Latina sculptors working in the figural tradition. Each explores subjects drawn from both their cultural histories and their roles as mothers, daughters and parents of young women documenting their own and their subjects’ generational changes. This exhibition opens simultaneously with MASS MoCA’s Ceramics in The Expanded Field, curated by Senior Curator Susan Cross. 

The newest works in the exhibition were produced in 2021 during the pandemic when each artist could focus deeply on major works, uninterrupted by travel; to-date, Velarde’s painting and Cordova’s sculpture may be some of these artists most important and large-scale works.

October 16 – December 30, 2021

AT FERRIN CONTEMPORARY | North Adams, MA

ARTISTS

Cristina Córdova

Kukuli Velarde

Cristina Córdova

Kukuli Velarde

Exhibition catalog for IN DIALOGUE: Cristina Cordova & Kukuli Velarde at Ferrin Contemporary, Oct. 16 to Dec. 30, 2021. With luscious photos and detailed artist statements, this catalog gives depth and insight into the motivations behind the exhibition and the artworks therein.

  • October 16 to December 30, 2021 at Ferrin Contemporary, curated by Leslie Ferrin
  • Catalog features detailed artist statements
  • Published on 

EVENTS

October 16, 4:30pm: Conversation with artist Kukuli Velarde

PRESS

Berkshire Eagle
11.05.21 IN DIALOGUE: Latina artists use clay, female form to explore personal, generational, and cultural identity 

Rural Intelligence Recommends
10.16.21 Ferrin Contemporary: Cristina Córdova and Kukuli Velarde

Berkshire Eagle 
10.15.21 BE mentions Ferrin Contemporary in coverage of MASS MoCA’s CERAMICS IN THE EXPANDED FIELD exhibition

IN DIALOGUE | PRESS RELEASE | 9.21.21

20
Jun
2020
ABOUT FACE: Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture

ABOUT FACE: Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture

ABOUT FACE: Contemporary Ceramic Scultpure

Exhibiting in the US since 2019

ABOUT FACE: Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture explores the lineage and influence between the revolutionary first generation of artists working in the figural genre and contemporary artists. The exhibition, curated by Jennifer Jankauskus, will investigate how history and place inform the work of contemporary ceramists bringing approximately 44 objects by 30 emerging, mid-career, and master artists from around the nation who work within a narrative figurative clay tradition. Creating both sculptural and relief objects, from busts to full figures, the artists all highlight the human form as a way to explore issues relating to the body, to various cultural ties, and to ideas of the female/male gaze.

“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Cristina Cordova
“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Sergei Isupov
About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020

Images courtesy of Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Art Museum of South Texas, and Figge Art Museum

ABOUT FACE | TOUR SCHEDULE

INQUIRE ABOUT TOURING PROGRAM • HERE •

EXHIBITION INCLUDES WORK BY

Wesley Anderegg
Robert Arneson*
Chris Antemann*
Rudy Autio*
Russell Biles*
Cristina Córdova*
Jack Earl*
Edward Eberle*
Sean Erwin*
Viola Frey*
Alessandro Gallo*
David Gilhooly *
Gerit Grimm *
Sergei Isupov*
Doug Jeck*
Howard Kottler*
Michael Lucero *
Walter McConnell
Gerardo Monterrubio
Jim Neel
Virgil Ortiz
Andrew Raftery
Allan Rosenbaum
Akio Takimori *
Yoshio Taylor
Tip Toland
Jason Walker *
Kurt Weiser *
Beatrice Wood *
Sun Koo Yuh

*indicates artists with available works for sale through Ferrin Contemporary

FEATURED ARTISTS

Chris Antemann, ‘Land of Milk and Honey, 2009, Porcelain, decals, luster, 19 x 19 x 15″.
Russell Biles, “Rake” 2017, hand built porcelain, 9.5 x 9 x8″.
“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Cristina Cordova
Gerit Grimm, “The Sirens”, 2016, stoneware, 33 x 12 x 50″.
Sergei Isupov, Boxer, 2009, stoneware, stain and glaze, 26.5 x 24 x 17″
Kurt Weiser, “Random House (globe)” 2017, porcelain, glaze, china paint, metal, 30 x 14 x 14″.


Chris Antemann, ‘Land of Milk and Honey, 2009, Porcelain, decals, luster, 19 x 19 x 15″.
Russell Biles, “Child’s Play” 2016, hand built porcelain, 7 x 12 x5″
Russell Biles, “Gone Too” 2015, hand built porcelain, 6 x 7 x 17″.
Russell Biles, “Gone”, 2014, hand built porcelain, 14″ x 6 x 11″.
Russell Biles, “Rake” 2017, hand built porcelain, 9.5 x 9 x8″.
Cristina Córdova, “Cabeza III” 2018, ceramic, 13.5 x 9.5 x 4.75″
“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Cristina Cordova
Sean Erwin, “Red Skies at Dawn” 2010, Porcelain and Earthenware, Glaze, stainless steel, wood, monofilament, fabric, dimensions variable.
Sean Erwin, “As I Lay Dying” 2016, Polished Porcelain, Glaze, Bonze, LED Lights, Acrylic, Duratrans Film Transfer, 1.8 RPM GearMotor, 20 x 26 x 26″
Alessandro Gallo, “Cocktail for Two” 2016, stoneware, mixed media, 24 x 23 x 15″.
Alessandro Gallo, “Cocktail for Two” 2016, stoneware, mixed media, 24 x 23 x 15″.
Alessandro Gallo, “My Two Cents” 2017, stoneware, mixed media, 10 x 14 x 6″.
Gerit Grimm, “The Sirens”, 2016, stoneware, 33 x 12 x 50″.
Sergei Isupov, “Risen” detail, 2016, porcelain, slip, glaze, 8′.
Sergei Isupov, “Risen” 2016, stoneware, slip, glaze, 8′.
Sergei Isupov, “Risen” detail, 2016, porcelain, slip, glaze, 8′.
Sergei Isupov, Boxer, 2009, stoneware, stain and glaze, 26.5 x 24 x 17″
Sergei Isupov, “Farangis” 2012, porcelain, slip, glaze, 14 x 10 x 6″.
Sergei Isupov, “To Live in the Clouds” 2000, ceramic, 10 x 17 x 5.5″.
Sergei Isupov, “Under Pressure” 2006, porcelain, 15 x 13 x 6″.
Doug Jeck, “Jekyll” 2013, ceramic, steel, 22 x 13 x 10″.
Sergei Isupov, “Motivation” 2016, porcelain, slip, glaze, 11.5 x 4 x 13″.
Kurt Weiser, “Random House (globe)” 2017, porcelain, glaze, china paint, metal, 30 x 14 x 14″.

VIEW ADDITIONAL ARTWORKS
CLOSE

FEATURED FROM COLLECTIONS

“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Beatrice Wood
Beatrice Wood, “Not Married” 1965, clay, glaze, 16 x 17 x 13″.
David Gilhooly, “Chicago art critic forced to swallow a frog”, 1977, clay, 23.5 x 10 x 10.5″.
Viola Frey, “Untitled Platter”, 1982, earthenware, slip, glaze, 25″. photo: John Polak (Pennington)
Viola Frey, “Plate Full of Figurines (From the Bricolage Series), 1982, glaze, ceramic, 25 x 4”.
Rudy Autio, “Inside Looking Out” 1987–88, glaze, stoneware, 37 x 30 x 26″.
Rudy Autio, “Inside Looking Out” 1987–88, glaze, stoneware, 37 x 30 x 26″.
Jack Earl, “Another Bush, Another Stick of Wood” 1983, white earthenware, oil paint, 24.5 x 12 x 14.5″.
Michael Lucero, “Anthropomorphic Baby Form in Stroller (New World Series)” 1995, glaze, ceramic, carriage, 27 x 12 x 11″.
Michael Lucero, “Anthropomorphic Baby Form in Stroller (New World Series)” 1995, glaze, ceramic, carriage, 27 x 12 x 11″.

ABOUT FACE

 PAST PROGRAMMING

Curator Talk: Dr. Jennifer Jankauskas
Thursday, July 16
6:30 p.m. Virtual

Curator of Art at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and exhibition curator Dr. Jennifer Jankauskas, will discuss the artists and themes exhibited in About Face in a virtual presentation.

View Virtual Curator Talk • HERE •

Artist Panel

Thursday, August 20
6:30 p.m. talk

Local ceramic artists will give insight into the imagery and techniques used in the works featured in About Face.

FIGGE ART MUSEUM

Davenport, IA | June 20, 2020 – August 30 2020

About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020
About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020
About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020
About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020
About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020
About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020
About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020
About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020
About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020
About Face Installation at Figge Art Museum, 2020

ABOUT FACE

 PAST PROGRAMMING

ART MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS

Corpus Christi, TX | January 24 – April 29, 2020

About Face at Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi, TX January 24 – April 29, 2020
About Face at Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi, TX January 24 – April 29, 2020
About Face at Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi, TX January 24 – April 29, 2020

ABOUT FACE

 PAST PROGRAMMING

EXHIBITION CATALOG

Purchase the Catalog • HERE •

About Face is accompanied by a full-color catalogue with essays by exhibition curator, Jennifer Jankauskas, PhD, and Glenn Adamson, Senior Scholar at the Yale Center for British Art and will be on view in the fourth-floor gallery through August 30, 2020.

MONTGOMERY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

Montgomery, AL | February 2 – May 12, 2019

“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Cristina Cordova
“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Sergei Isupov
“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Sergei Isupov
“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Cristina Cordova
“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Sergei Isupov
“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Installation view
“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Installation view
“About Face”, Montgomery Museum of Art, 2019, Chris Antemann
18
Mar
2020
IDENTITY 4: Voices | Craft in America Center

IDENTITY 4: Voices | Craft in America Center

IDENTITY: 4 VOICES

Craft in America Center

Los Angeles, CA

In light of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the safety and well-being of our visitors, the Craft in America Center will be closed to the public until April 1st.

We are developing a virtual tour, so that the public can have a chance to view the inspiring works of these four visionary artists.

Craft in America Center is pleased to present an exhibition by four artists who explore issues of gender, race, culture, and place, offering true expressions of their experience in this world. Cristina Córdova, Wendy Maruyama, Cara Romero, and Diego Romero draw upon their heritages and identities as makers to translate their experiences into fine art. All four artists were featured in Craft in America episode’s most recent episode of our PBS Documentary Series, IDENTITY.

See more HERE

New York Times feature HERE

More on Cristina Córdova HERE

 

 

 

Cristina Córdova, ‘Cabeza V’ 2018, ceramic and photograph installation, 24.5 x 30.5 x 8″.

 

16
Jan
2018
CRISTINA CÓRDOVA: Del balcón

CRISTINA CÓRDOVA: Del balcón

CRISTINA CÓRDOVA: Del balcón

solo exhibition

Ferrin Contemporary
1315 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA
July 28–September 16, 2018

 

Preview Talk: Thursday, August 2, 7:00 pm

Cristina CórdovaDel balcón Installation View
Cristina Córdova, “Desde mi Balcón”, 2021, ceramic and metal, 33 x 14.5 x 10″
Cristina Córdova Del balcón Installation View

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

North Adams, MA —

Ferrin Contemporary presents Del balcón, a solo exhibition of new work by Cristina Córdova, featuring large and small figurative sculptures exploring the relationship between the human and geographic connections within her native Puerto Rican landscape.

Working directly from the human form, Córdova’s hand builds often life-size ceramic figures that gaze at, or through the viewer, asking them to consider what’s behind the eyes. A reference to landscape, both large and small, is introduced, creating tropical tableaux for the figure to reside within. Del balcón, comes on the heals of a large solo exhibition at the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum in Alfred, N.Y., in early 2018 where director Wayne Higby notes,

“Cristina’s figurative work has established her as one of the preeminent ceramic artists of her generation. Her work renders the figure as a mysterious, sensual force of compelling urgency. Her masterful use of the ceramic medium empowers her work with a mesmerizing, at times uncanny presence.”

CRISTINA CÓRDOVA: Del balcón

Cristina CórdovaDel balcón Installation View
Cristina Córdova Del balcón Installation View
Cristina Córdova, “Ñeque” 2016, clay, charcoal, mixed media, acid-free cardboard, 82 x 60″.
Cristina Córdova, “Del balcón” 2018 – installation at Ferrin Contemporary
Cristina Córdova Del balcón Installation View
Cristina Córdova Del balcón Installation View
Cristina Córdova Del balcón Installation View
Cristina Córdova, “Del balcón III” 2018, ceramic and steel, 33 x 28 x 13″
Cristina Córdova, “Del balcón II” 2018, ceramic and steel, 32 x 20.5 x 13″
Cristina Córdova, “Cabeza VII” 2018, ceramic, 15 x 8.5 x 5.5″.
Cristina Córdova, “Cabeza III” 2018, ceramic, 13.5 x 9.5 x 4.75″
Cristina Córdova, “Cabeza VI” 2018, ceramic, 13 x 12.5 x 5″.
Cristina Córdova, “Cabeza IV” 2018, ceramic, 17 x 11 x 5.5″
Cristina Córdova, “Cabeza V” 2018, ceramic, framed photography, 24.5 x 30.5 x 8″.
Cristina Córdova, “Cabeza V” 2018, ceramic, framed photography, 24.5 x 30.5 x 8″.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Cristina Córdova, portrait
Cristina Córdova, portrait
Cristina Córdova, “Del balcón III” 2018, ceramic and steel, 33 x 28 x 13″
Cristina Córdova, “Del balcón II” 2018, ceramic and steel, 32 x 20.5 x 13″
Cristina Córdova, “Cabeza V” 2018, ceramic, framed photography, 24.5 x 30.5 x 8″.
Cristina Córdova: Jungla installation. photo: Brian Oglesbee
Cristina Córdova: Jungla installation. photo: Brian Oglesbee
10
Dec
2017
Cristina Córdova: JUNGLA

Cristina Córdova: JUNGLA

CRISTINA CÓRDOVA:
JUNGLA
Alfred Ceramic Art Museum
Alfred, NY
February 2–July 16, 2018
Opening Reception: February 2, 2018, 6–9 pm
    Artist talk: 4:30 pm
Click to view more work by Cristina Córdova.

 

“At its most basic level Jungla refers to a region of dense, intractable wilderness that sustains an ongoing evolutionary dance governed by uncivilized forces. This tropical landscape of my youth is a beacon to an identity, tying me back to a specific geography and the sediment of generations. It’s unrelenting influence speaks of luscious yet ominous constructs that echo the socio-political conditions in the Caribbean. It’s unruly mystery seeps out of its confines to also serve as metaphor for a creative process anchored in that liminal space between chaos and balance. A practice that gathers significance amidst the subconscious forces that underpin reality and the firm directives of the ego. Through image and form, Jungla explores the relationship between these human and geographic connections.” — Cristina Córdova

Cristina Córdova: Jungla installation. photo: Brian Oglesbee
Cristina Córdova, “Del balcón” 2017, ceramic, steel, 28 x 25 x 12″.
Cristina Córdova, “Jungla” 2017, photographic polyptych, ceramic, resin, metal, paper, glass, plastic, wood, 78 x 18″.
Cristina Córdova, “Jungla” 2017, photographic polyptych, ceramic, resin, metal, paper, glass, plastic, wood, 78 x 18″.
Cristina Córdova, “Jungla” 2017, photographic polyptych, ceramic, resin, metal, paper, glass, plastic, wood, 78 x 18″. photo: Brian Oglesbee
Cristina Córdova, “Dame Flores” 2017, ceramic, steel, photographic images of native Puerto Rican flora in magnetic frames on steel, sculpture 57″ high, background 99 x 102″.
Cristina Córdova, “Dame Flores” 2017, ceramic, steel, photographic images of native Puerto Rican flora in magnetic frames on steel, sculpture 57″ high, background 99 x 102″. photo: Brian Oglesbee
Cristina Córdova: Jungla installation. photo: Brian Oglesbee
Cristina Córdova: Jungla installation. photo: Brian Oglesbee
Cristina Córdova: Jungla installation. photo: Brian Oglesbee
Cristina Córdova, “La persistencia del verdor” 2016, ceramic, resin, metal, 69 x 24 x 19″. Harvey Barrison, “Mount Britton, El Yunge National Forest, Puerto Rica” 2014, paper, glass, plastic, wood, 100 x 144″.
Cristina Córdova, “La persistencia del verdor” 2016, ceramic, resin, metal, 69 x 24 x 19″. Harvey Barrison, “Mount Britton, El Yunge National Forest, Puerto Rica” 2014, paper, glass, plastic, wood, 100 x 144″.
Cristina Córdova, “La persistencia del verdor” 2016, ceramic, resin, metal, 69 x 24 x 19″. Harvey Barrison, “Mount Britton, El Yunge National Forest, Puerto Rica” 2014, paper, glass, plastic, wood, 100 x 144″.
08
Oct
2017
THE WOMEN

THE WOMEN

THE WOMEN

Oct 28, 2017 – Apr 21, 2018

Ferrin Contemporary
1315 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA

Click here for details.

Works on view include recent pieces by women whose primary medium is clay and selected works from private and artist archives by female potters and sculptors.

The Women provides Ferrin Contemporary an opportunity to highlight the range of work by women artists affiliated with the gallery program who are known for their work in ceramics.

Director Leslie Ferrin, a life long advocate for women in ceramics reflects on this moment, “It is gratifying to witness the attention to gender issues taking place throughout society.  These same forces are fueling the interest in examining and bringing recognition to the overlooked contributions of women to postwar visual arts. Many of our collectors who brought a female perspective to building their collections are contributing to the public dialog by acquiring new works and making gifts to institutions. Museums are responding by offering exhibition opportunities, site specific commissions and adding to permanent collections to fill in gaps. It is an exciting time to see these changes taking place and being able to participate in the process.”

Ceramic Art and Figural Sculpture

Robin Best
Christie Brown
Caroline Cheng
Cristina Córdova
Claire Curneen
Ruth Duckworth
Viola Frey
Giselle Hicks
Coille McLaughlin Hooven
Crystal Morey
Kadri Pärnamets
Elsa Rady
Caroline Slotte
Mara Superior
Toshiko Takaezu
Susan Thayer
Patti Warashina
Beatrice Wood
Elizabeth (Betty) Woodman

Studio Pottery and Design*
Works by
Laura Andreson
Dorothy Hafner
Karen Karnes
Jenny Mendez
Linda Sikora
*available in Ferrin Contemporary square shop

Robin Best, “The Knight of the Lions,” 2016, porcelain with on-glaze Xin Cai, 14.125 x 7.875 x 10.25″.
Christie Brown, “Ghost Portrait” 2015, ceramic, 19 x 10 x 9″.
Caroline Cheng, “Prosperity V” 2007, porcelain, fabric, 71 x 71″.
Claire Curneen, “Mary Magdalene” 2013, porcelain, gold lustre, 22.5″.
Viola Frey, “Untitled Platter”, 1982, earthenware, slip, glaze, 25″. photo: John Polak (Pennington)
Dorothy Hafner, “Teapot, Sugar, Creamer” 1988, porcelain, underglaze.
Coille Hooven, “Second Skin” 1986, stoneware, 14.75 x 6.5 x 5.5″.
Crystal Morey, “New Symbiosis: Pronghorn” 2017, porcelain, 10.5 x 6 x 4.5″.
Kadri Pärnamets, “Question of Honor — Lucretia, after Lucas Cranach the Elder, porcelain, slip, glaze, 11 x 10.5 x 5”. photo: John Polak
Elsa Rady, “Four Zig Wings”, private collection
Mara Superior, “Mother Nature Says, ‘Wake Up'” 2010, porcelain, glaze, wood, pearls, gold leaf, 17 x 22 x 2″.
Susan Thayer, “Return” 2016, teapot: porcelain, china paint, glazebase: lowfire stoneware, slip, 16 x 9 x 5″.
Patti Warashina, “Beating the Housewife Blues” 1977, white earthenware, glaze, 24 x 16 x 13.75″.
Beatrice Wood, “Not Married” 1965, clay, glaze, 16 x 17 x 13″.
Betty Woodman, “Planter” ceramic, glaze, 27 x 5.5 x 8.5″.
“The Women” at Ferrin Contemporary in North Adams, MA. Work by Beatrice Wood pictured.
“The Women” at Ferrin Contemporary in North Adams, MA. Work by Kadri Pärnamets pictured.
“The Women” at Ferrin Contemporary in North Adams, MA. Work by Mara Superior pictured.
“The Women” at Ferrin Contemporary in North Adams, MA. Work by Mara Superior pictured.
“The Women” at Ferrin Contemporary in North Adams, MA. Work by Robin Best pictured.
“The Women” at Ferrin Contemporary in North Adams, MA. Work by Cristina Córdova pictured.
“The Women” at Ferrin Contemporary in North Adams, MA. Work by Kadri Pärnamets pictured.
“The Women” at Ferrin Contemporary in North Adams, MA. Work by Caroline Slotte and Claire Curneen pictured.

RELATED NEWS, PUBLICATIONS + EVENTS

The Women

The Women

Ferrin Contemporary presents selected works by women artists whose primary medium is clay. On view in the gallery and online, we introduce new works by emerging and established artists along with masterworks available from private collections and artist archives.

READ MORE

STUDIO POTTER: WOMEN IN CERAMICS

Winter/Spring 2017
Women in Ceramics Vol. 45 No. 1

In this issue: nine essays remembering the life of Karen Karnes, a deep investigation of the legacy of women in wood-firing, several narratives about artists’ personal journeys in clay, essays on the lives of California artist Ruth Rippon and Swedish artist Hertha Hillfon, a dynamic discussion of contemporary motherhood, international perspectives from Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and India, a look at fourth-wave feminism, and more.

Click for info on Studio Potter.

Click to request complimentary issue online.

“Ruth Rippon, Her Story”
by Nancy M. Servis

Rippon’s artistic production is extensive and leaves an indelible mark on the artistic landscape of Northern California. … The breadth of her work mirrors the artist herself: technically accomplished, experimental, conceptually grounded, and quietly emotive.

Click here for more.

Artist Salon – Nancy M. Servis
Wednesday, November 8
at 6–8:30 pm

Project Art
54 Main St, Cummington, Massachusetts 01026

Join visiting scholar, Nancy M. Servis, from Sacramento, California, for an image-illustrated presentation ‘State of Clay: Bay Area Ceramics,’ followed by a potluck at Project Art.

From pottery to sculptural expression, Servis unveils the dynamic variety of ceramics found in Northern California. Long recognized as a vital and populous state with extensive clay deposits, California has been the home of refined vessel-makers and artistic rule-breakers for over 75 years, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Her lecture contextualizes clay’s extensive use that includes stylistic architecture in Oakland, impassioned potters like Antonio Prieto and Marguerite Wildenhain from the 1950s, and unabashed practitioners like Peter Voulkos and Robert Arneson. They along with select others like Viola Frey, Ruth Rippon, and Ron Nagle laid Nancy Servis’ groundwork for what exists today – a population of fine artist-makers whose work coexists with those who embrace sculpture or even defy ceramic tradition.

Nancy is a recognized art historian, gallerist, and author. She has served as curator, educator and arts administrator in the greater San Francisco Bay Area for over twenty years.

Click for facebook page.