Fall Lecture Series Continues Yearlong Exploration of Ceramics History & Techniques

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Sep 02, 2015, 08:30 ET

NEWPORT, R.I., Sept. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Newport Restoration Foundation continues its exploration of the history and techniques of ceramics presented in this year's exhibit, Fired and Inspired: Ceramics at Rough Point. The exhibit includes historic pieces collected by Doris Duke alongside contemporary artists' work installed throughout the Rough Point mansion.

The lecture series begins with a look at the expanded and improved European ceramics installation at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Allison Newsome, guest curator of Fired and Inspired, will provide insight into the process of developing the exhibition of contemporary ceramics at Rough Point. Another session will explore the more than 6,000-piece collection, spanning seven centuries, at the RISD Museum. The final lecture, held in partnership with the Newport Historical Society, looks at a contemporary printmaker's approach to applying engraved images to pottery. See the full schedule below:

Old Friends, New Directions: European Ceramics at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Thomas Michie
Russell B. and Andree Beauchamp Stearns Senior Curator of Decorative Arts and Sculpture, Art of Europe, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Thursday, September 17, 5:30-7:30pm
$10 general
This talk explores how recent gallery renovations have created exciting opportunities for expanded and improved displays of the museum's renowned collection of European ceramics, including 16th-, 17th-, and 18th-century faience and porcelain.

Fired and Inspired: A Curatorial Examination
Allison Newsome
Artist and Curator, Warren, RI
Thursday, September 24, 5:30-7:30pm
$10 general
Guest curator Allison Newsome will reveal the process behind curating Rough Point's 2015 ceramics exhibit, Fired and Inspired. She will also discuss her body of work, which includes a recent commission for Newport's Audrain Automobile Museum and a 500 gallon stainless steel cistern sculpture for the Bristol Garden Club.

From Maiolica to Modern: Ceramics at the RISD Museum
Elizabeth Williams
David and Peggy Rockefeller Curator of Decorative Arts and Design, RISD Museum
Thursday, October 1, 5:30-7:30pm
$10 general
Comprising more than 6,000 pieces, the ceramics collection of RISD's Decorative Arts and Design department spans seven centuries and circles the globe. This talk will survey the museum's extensive holdings, its active collecting practice, and work with contemporary ceramics artists.

In conjunction with the Newport Historical Society
Printed Pictures on Clay: Historic and Contemporary Transferware
Andrew Raftery
Professor, Printmaking, Rhode Island School of Design
Wednesday, October 14, 5:30-7:30pm
Newport Historical Society, 82 Touro Street
$10 general, $5 Newport Historical Society members
Andrew Raftery will discuss historic ceramic transferware in the collections of the NRF and the Newport Historical Society from an engraver's point of view and talk specifically about his own recent series: "The Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates."

The first three lectures will be held at Rough Point, 680 Bellevue Avenue, Newport; the final lecture will be held at the Newport Historical Society's headquarters at 82 Touro Street, Newport. Registration is available at NewportRestoration.org/Learning_Programs. For more information, contact Kelsey Mullen, Coordinator for Academic Programs & Special Projects, at 401-846-4152 ext. 113 or [email protected].

About this Exhibition
The history of ceramics can be traced from ancient times to modern day, in cultures around the world. What began as a primarily functional medium has evolved into a versatile and celebrated art form. Fired & Inspired: Ceramics at Rough Point puts a spotlight on the diverse ceramics collected by Doris Duke, while drawing connections between historic and contemporary work in clay.

The Newport Restoration Foundation has commissioned seven artists to respond to Rough Point's collections, history, and setting, providing a fresh new context for experiencing the house and its stunning grounds. Fired & Inspired: Ceramics at Rough Point is on exhibit at Rough Point through November 8, 2015. Guided house tours, which last approximately 75 minutes and include the exhibit, cost $25.Children 12 and younger are admitted for free. The galleries will be open before and after each of the lectures held at Rough Point. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.NewportRestoration.org or call (401) 847-8344.

About the Newport Restoration Foundation and Rough Point
The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) is a non-profit institution founded in 1968 by Doris Duke to preserve, maintain, and interpret Aquidneck Island's 18^th- and 19^th-century architectural heritage. Doris Duke's Rough Point mansion, owned by NRF since 1999, is home to a large collection of European paintings, textiles, decorative arts, and Asian ceramics, with notable works by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Renoir, and Tiffany along with 16^th-century Fleming tapestries and Louis XVI furniture. Each year, a different themed exhibition is presented in its two formal galleries.

CONTACT:
Jeanine Kober
401.849.7300 ext. 114
[email protected]

Alexa Furtado
401.849.7300 ext. 117
[email protected]

SOURCE Newport Restoration Foundation