Keith Gordon, Ceramic Artist
I first learned about clay from my mother Mildred Gordon, a professional potter in Maryland. While in my teens, I helped in her studio, building wheels, building, loading and firing kilns and mixing glazes. I began learning to throw on the wheel while in college in 1971. For two years I was class assistant at the Baltimore Museum of Art for two years to Olin Russum, a wonderful teacher, sculptor and master potter. Since then, I've taken ceramics and sculpting classes at Fairmont State College, Westchester Art Workshop, Belle Levine Art Center, Garrison Art Center, as well as workshops at Clay Art Center, Rockland Art Center, Kissimmee River Pottery, Touchstone Crafts Center, Peters Valley Craft School and Sugar Maples Art Center.
My work is a mix of functional stoneware (oxidation and reduction), figurative and abstract sculpture (stoneware and raku) and tiles. I strive to emphasize the plastic and three-dimensional potential of clay and often draw on the organic forms found in nature and fantasy when building my sculptures. I enjoy making things for daily use as well as enhancements to one’s home. A few examples include a tile hallway floor, ceramic sinks, chimney caps, and house numbers.
As my studio is in my home, I have unlimited access to work on small and large projects while the clay changes from soft to leather-hard to bone dry. I fire my oxidation work in electric kilns and use propane kilns for reduction and raku firings. My current focus is making translucent sculptures out of thin porcelain lighted from within to glow in multiple shades and colors.
In 2017 I set up the Ceramics Studio at the newly created Cedar Lane Arts Center for the Ossining Recreation & Parks Department. Since then I have taught adult clay classes and managed the studio (recruiting new teachers, firing all of the ceramic works, mixing glazes, processing clay, ordering supplies, etc.). I have also taught adult clay classes at Pelham Art Center, New Castle Art Center and Five-Star Premier Assisted Living. I am an officer of the Hudson River Potters and Ossining Arts Council.
My work has been exhibited at various juried shows including the New Rochelle Art Association 2019 and 2020 and 2021 shows where I won two prizes in both the 104th and 105th Annual shows and two prizes in the 2021 Dermot Gale Show, the Blue Door Gallery, and Bethany Arts Community. Two of my sculptures were selected (in 2018 and 2020) by playwrights as the inspiration for one-act plays produced by the Westchester Collaborative Theater in conjunction with the Ossining Arts Council.
In 2022 I joined with 9 artists in a variety of media to open Croton River Artisans LLC, a cooperative art gallery in Croton-On-Hudson, NY. Visit us at 9 Old Post Rd. South in Croton and follow us on Social. www.CrotonRiverArtisans.com
My work is a mix of functional stoneware (oxidation and reduction), figurative and abstract sculpture (stoneware and raku) and tiles. I strive to emphasize the plastic and three-dimensional potential of clay and often draw on the organic forms found in nature and fantasy when building my sculptures. I enjoy making things for daily use as well as enhancements to one’s home. A few examples include a tile hallway floor, ceramic sinks, chimney caps, and house numbers.
As my studio is in my home, I have unlimited access to work on small and large projects while the clay changes from soft to leather-hard to bone dry. I fire my oxidation work in electric kilns and use propane kilns for reduction and raku firings. My current focus is making translucent sculptures out of thin porcelain lighted from within to glow in multiple shades and colors.
In 2017 I set up the Ceramics Studio at the newly created Cedar Lane Arts Center for the Ossining Recreation & Parks Department. Since then I have taught adult clay classes and managed the studio (recruiting new teachers, firing all of the ceramic works, mixing glazes, processing clay, ordering supplies, etc.). I have also taught adult clay classes at Pelham Art Center, New Castle Art Center and Five-Star Premier Assisted Living. I am an officer of the Hudson River Potters and Ossining Arts Council.
My work has been exhibited at various juried shows including the New Rochelle Art Association 2019 and 2020 and 2021 shows where I won two prizes in both the 104th and 105th Annual shows and two prizes in the 2021 Dermot Gale Show, the Blue Door Gallery, and Bethany Arts Community. Two of my sculptures were selected (in 2018 and 2020) by playwrights as the inspiration for one-act plays produced by the Westchester Collaborative Theater in conjunction with the Ossining Arts Council.
In 2022 I joined with 9 artists in a variety of media to open Croton River Artisans LLC, a cooperative art gallery in Croton-On-Hudson, NY. Visit us at 9 Old Post Rd. South in Croton and follow us on Social. www.CrotonRiverArtisans.com
2024 Clay Classes for Adults
I will teach an all level class at Cedar Lane Arts Center, 235 Cedar Lane, Ossining on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-12:30.
My Intermediate Wheel Throwing classes are on Wednesday evenings from 6:15-9:15 .
More information and registration at:
https://register.communitypass.net/reg/cat_program_list.cfm?season_id=18796
My Intermediate Wheel Throwing classes are on Wednesday evenings from 6:15-9:15 .
More information and registration at:
https://register.communitypass.net/reg/cat_program_list.cfm?season_id=18796
This crystaline service platter won first price in the New Rochelle Art Association's 106th Annual Show and Abstract No. 2 won third prize in Sculpture. They are on exhibit at the New Rochelle Library in October.
"Burden Bearer" was accepted in the 2021 Junteenth exhibition displayed at
New Rochelle City Hall. To see the wonderful virtual exhibit go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pdDcF_eF6s
New Rochelle City Hall. To see the wonderful virtual exhibit go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pdDcF_eF6s
"Dancer In Flight" and "Coral Reef" won first & third prizes in sculpture in the 2021 Dermot Gale juried show of the New Rochelle Art Assoc. show.
"Not Wood" won first prize (Fine Crafts) and "After The Ice Caps Melt" won Third Prize (Sculpture) in the 105th New Rochelle Art Association juried art show in September 2020. "After ..." also won 2nd Place in sculpture in the Croton100.org Earth Day Art Contest https://www.dropbox.com/sh/edh7jwgjxa9a9ie/AACrKN_GYQcEL33-w0nbEk76a?dl=0&preview=Adult+Sculpture+A+K+Gordon_After+the+Ice+Caps+melt.jpg#
These pots each won a prize in Fine Crafts at the 2019 New Rochelle Art Assoc. juried show.
These sculptural pieces inspired 2 WCT Plays.
The Westchester Collaborative Theater is a theater company dedicated to nurturing new work for the stage. Member playwrights, actors, and directors participate in a Lab process where, several times a month, new plays are read and critiqued. In alternate years, WCT playwrights select art from the Ossining Arts Council annual Member Show as inspiration for original one-act plays. My sculptures have twice been chosen and the resulting dramas were a wonderful experience allowing me to learn how other artists respond to my work.
When the Arts Center was opened, the Town commissioned me to make this tile sign in the building entry. Brian Sheridan created the design and the Ossining Parks Crew repurposed wood from an old fishing pier from the pond to complete the project.