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Nancy Loorem AdamsInfluenced by her gardens and beaches Loorem Adams created a series of ceramic wall sculptures evoking the contemplative spirit of these places.
Tidal Series The Tidal Series evokes memories of the joyful, welcome solitude of walking the beach. Looking at rocks collected by nature's forces, their geological compositions and randomly created variations of surface patinas all evoke the passage of time and the wonder of creation. Reminiscent of flora washed over the surfaces drying in the weather, crustaceans anchored or sometimes the shadows of their passing imprints, the forms and glazed surfaces evoke these memories. How evocative and beautiful is the simply, complex wonder the natural environment expresses. "To me it expresses the ephemeral nature of our lives in its subtle language channeled to our human spirit—the joy of wonder. " To create these inklings, a practice of pouring layers of glazes, allowing surfaces to mix and move thus creating a sense of water rushing over rocks together with brushed on surfaces of glazes--some infused with crystals that develop patterns when melted in heat are used. Glazes flow over tiles impressed with beach rocks suggesting a hint of rocky surfaces, or over formed and fired rock constellations. With these glaze techniques both abstracted paintings to realistic expressions on the ceramic surfaces are achieved . The work is meant to be shown on walls as installations while the rock formations may also be presented on horizontal surfaces such as tables and hearths. Gathered Series Reaching back into the ages, the Gathered Series, evokes ancient collections of glowing ova --the life force, hand-built bottles perhaps created to hold perfumes, oils, or wine; and budding pods, held in roughhewn wrought iron baskets as if collected for display, transport, or household -- then through the passage of time and turbulence, lost to the ages. The baskets appear hand forged, broken, and old, while merely made of clay and underglaze. The precious contents shimmer with coppery raku glazes combined with the alchemy of fire and the denial of oxygen, or electric kiln fired oxidation crystallin glazes -- like gems, collected preciously to preserve. Wrought, precious, and found project subtle narratives of past lives and lost civilizations dredged up for new eyes, value for the hands that made and collected them. |
Bio
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Loorem Adams creates contemporary sculptural ceramics evoking the natural environment surrounding her in her home on Whidbey Island in Washington state. Her new ceramics works follow a long career developing sculptural contemporary basketry works using cane and wood veneers. Nancy was known for her specialization in random weave.
Loorem studied ceramic arts with master ceramic artists Ken Turner and Carol Gouthro as she embarked on her long desire to pursue the ceramic arts after having a successful career working in sculptural basketry. Nancy’s 45-year career spans art production, art education, and art advocacy with her full attention now given to making and exhibiting sculpture, curatorial projects, arts non-profit leadership and writing. Her works are exhibited in museums and galleries in both international and national exhibitions. She is published in numerous magazines and art catalogs. Recently Loorem Adams co-curated/ designed NWCraft24 and Currents 2020 with Larry Metcalf at Schack Art Center in Washington state; she was guest curator of an exhibition at the Bellevue Arts Museum, Ron Ho: A Jeweler's Tale, 2019, accompanied by a 32 page monograph of the same title which she authored; she curated the 2018 NOW Beauty and Paradox group show at Museo Gallery Whidbey Island, Washington, and co-curated Earth Elements, 2017 a group show at Matske Fine Art Gallery, Camano Island, Washington. Loorem Adams serves on the Board of Northwest Designer Craftsartists (NWDC), a five state juried fine craft art organization, as President in her third term. She is currently the NWDC Chair of NWCraft24 and previously, Currents 2020 National Craft Exhibition and Symposium. Loorem Adams served seven years on the Board of the Bellevue Art Museum— a museum dedicated to contemporary craft. As Board President and Liaison to the Capital Campaign she led the BAM Board to fulfill building the internationally recognized Steven Holl designed museum 1997-2000. After retiring from the public schools, Loorem Adams became Head of School at the Bellevue Arts Museum, and then went on to found Art’s Cool! a company offering after school art classes and summer art camps for elementary children. During her career in public education, Loorem Adams wove her interests in art and commitment to art education into the development of school-based art programs. She achieved the doctorate degree from the University of Washington in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in1993, Masters, 1983 and Bachelors, 1973 both degrees from the Western Washington University in Public School Administration, and Education. She has participated in numerous art classes, workshops and mentorships. Loorem Adams travels the world studying art movements, history, culture, and attending art exhibitions, galleries, artists’ studios and workshops. |
Exhibitions, Curatorial, Publications and Awards
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Northwest School Now Bainbridge Island Museum of Art July2 024
NWCraft24 Schack Art Center June 2024 Museo Gallery June, 2024 exhibition invited artist Vessels Speak Volumes, Gallery Mack Seattle, Washington December - January 2023 Fantasy Footwear: The She Reimagined, Clarke & Clarke Gallery Mercer Island 2022 Eat Desert First, Museo Gallery Whidbey Island 2021 Members Biennial Exhibition Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton Massachusetts 2020 February 8, 2020 - November 8, 2020 National Basketry Organization, Basketry Now: 10th Anniversary Exhibition, The Kentucky Museum Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky 2019 Excellence in Fibers Craft in America Gallery, Los Angeles, California 2019 Excellence in Fibers juried exhibition in print IV Fiber Art Now Winter 2018/2019 STEM+Art+Design Northwest Designer Craftsmen Create, Schack Art Center, Everett Washington 2019 Playlist Museo Gallery, Langley Washington Group Exhibition February 2019 Northwest Designer Craftsmen The Contemporary Art of Fine Craft, Washington State Convention Center 2018 Art at the Port, Anacortes Arts Festival juried exhibition 2018 Anacortes, Washington Great Basins Basketry Exhibition HGA Convergence Conference 2018 Reno Nevada Manga Artifact, Second Place: Made It, Honorable Mention "Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot" Fall 2018 Issue Front Cover Image Manga Artifact, and article Handweavers Guild of America, Inc. Whatcom County Musuem Gathered Together Group Show NW Basketry Guild 2018 Bellingham, Washington Nancy Loorem Adams One Woman Show Skagit Community College 2018 Mount Vernon, Washington All Things Considered 9 Basketry in the 21st Century exhibition and catalog National Basketry Organization International Show Tacoma Washington 2017 In Response to Baskets Art Stop Gallery Northwest Designer Craftsmen Juried Exhibition 2017 Tacoma Washington Interwoven, The Sculptural Basketry of Nancy Loorem Adams LaConner Fiber and Textile Museum LaConner Washington 2017 NOW Beauty and Paradox Exhibition Museo Gallery 2017 Curator and Artist, Langley, Washington Bellevue College Northwest Designer Craftsmen Juried Exhibition 2017 Bellevue, Washington Garden Show Museo Gallery April 2017 Langley, Washington Crafting Community Inaugural International Exhibition in Print, Surface Design Journal Winter 2016/2017 Karla Matzke Fine Art Gallery, Earth Elements Exhibition 2017 Co-Curator and Artist Vashon Art Center Northwest Designer Craftsmen Exhibition 2017 Museo Gallery Beach Party Exhibition February - March 2017 Fiber Fusion Juried Traveling Exhibition, Jurors' Award Winner, Schack Art Center Everett, March -April 2017; North Winds Gallery Port Townsend, WA February 2017,;Vala Art Center November - January 15th 2017; Allied Arts Richland WA June, 2016 Museo Gallery Gift Show November - December 2016 The Garden Show, Museo Gallery April, 2016 Mardi Gras Invitational Exhibition, Museo Gallery 2016 Langley, WA Beyond the Surface 2016 Juried Exhibition La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum, La Conner WA Craft Forms 2015 International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Craft, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA Entwined Invitational Exhibition Museo Gallery, 2015 Langley, WA Expressions Northwest 2015 Juried Exhibition Northwind Art Center Port Townsend, WA Whidbey Island Whidbey Island Center on the Art’s Group Show, 2015 Langley, WA The Grid Show, invitational Artist Exhibition Museo Gallery, 2015 Langley, WA Pop Art Exhibition Museo Gallery 2015 Langley, WA Schack Art Center 2014 Juried Exhibition, Everett, WA I Can’t Believe It’s Fiber Invitational Artist Exhibition Museo Gallery, 2014, Langley, WA Medieval Exhibition Museo Gallery 2014 Langley, WA Out of the Blue Juried Exhibition Northwest Quilt and Textile Museum 2014, LaConner, WA White on White Invitational Exhibition Museo Gallery 2013, Langley, WA Whidbey Island Center on the Arts Lobby Exhibit 2013, 2014, 2015, Langley, WA Dancing Surfaces Juried Exhibition, Surface Design Association of Washington Phinney Ridge 2014 Curatorial: NWCraft24 Northwest Designer Craftartists Group Exhibition with Larry Metcalf Currents 2020 National Craft Exhibition and Symposium, Schack Art Center with Larry Metcalf Ron Ho: A Jeweler's Tale Exhibition , Nancy Loorem Adams Curator, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, Washington 2019 NOW Beauty and Paradox Group Exhibition 2017 Museo Gallery Langley, Washington Curator and exhibiting artist Earth Elements Group Exhibition 2017 Karla Matzke Fine Art Gallery, Co-Curator and exhibiting artist Publications: National Basketry Organization, Basketry Now: 10th Anniversary Exhibition Catalog, The Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky 2019 Ron Ho: A Jeweler's Tale 32 Page Exhibition Monograph Nancy Loorem Adams Curator/Author 2019 Collaboration Bellevue Arts Museum & Northwest Designer Craftsmen Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot Fall 2018 Issue Front Cover Image Manga Artifact, and article Nation Basketry Organization Inaugural Exhibition In Print 2018 Basketry A Way of Life Whidbey Life Magazine Winter 2017-18 Crafting Community Surface Design Association Inaugural International Exhibition in Print Surface Design Journal Winter 2016/2017 Awards: Juror's Award for The Birth of the Grid, Fiber Fusion, 2016-2017 Juried Traveling Exhibition, Washington Great Basins Basketry Exhibition Handweaver's Guild of America Convergence Conference 2018 Reno NV Manga Artifact, Second Place: Made It, Honorable Mention |