Bay Arts Alliance 'Fired Up' to unveil 3 pottery exhibitions at Center for the Arts galleries

Ebonee Burrell, The News Herald
·4 min read

PANAMA CITY — Bay Arts Alliance will unveil new exhibits in three galleries this summer from the work of local artists.

The main gallery will feature the "Fired Up" exhibition that includes pottery from nine local artists: Pavel Amromin, Mary Kay Griffith, Jillian Heusohn, Tammy Marinuzzi, Kelly McLendon, Jaweria Rizvi, Cynthia Smith, Nolan Windholtz and Mandy Yourick.

On July 2, ceramic artist Nolan Windholtz will help kick off the exhibitions with the first Raku Encounters exhibit displayed at the Center for the Arts. Raku is ancient Japanese hand-modeled pottery that is usually fired at a low temperature and rapidly cooled to create a unique finish to wares.

Summer activities: School's out! What next? These 8 summer camps are here to help

Sounds of summer: Panama City Beach concert series returns and the lineup is impressive

Bay Arts Alliance officials announced "Fired Up," an exhibition of pottery pieces, will be on display at the Center for the Arts this summer. Ceramic artist Nolan Windholtz will help kick off the exhibitions with a Raku Encounters exhibit in the main gallery.
Bay Arts Alliance officials announced "Fired Up," an exhibition of pottery pieces, will be on display at the Center for the Arts this summer. Ceramic artist Nolan Windholtz will help kick off the exhibitions with a Raku Encounters exhibit in the main gallery.

Visitors will have the option to select a piece of Windholtz pre-thrown pottery to decorate using a raku glaze, and once the pieces are glazed, they will be fired on site.

"Instant excitement is what I felt when I first had the idea of creating a ceramics exhibit. Mainly because it's a medium that resonates within me," said Tori Haudenschild, education and events manager of Bay Arts Alliance. "I knew right off, we would want to include specific elements that would provide an educational aspect to the show. This way, someone that hasn't been exposed to pottery will be able to come in and understand the process from beginning to end."

For the exhibition, each artist will present two pieces created based on the prompts of raw and joy. Visitors can see how versatile clay can be and the prompts provide an even platform for the viewer to interpret. Each artist also will include additional works to showcase their styles.

"Fired Up" will be on display at the Center for the Arts this summer.
"Fired Up" will be on display at the Center for the Arts this summer.

Bay Arts Alliance invites the community to join the opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. July 1 at the Center for the Arts, 19 E. Fourth St. Admission is free, with complimentary wine and light refreshments provided.

"When Tori approached me with the idea of 'Fired Up,' she was bubbling with so much passion, I thought it best to just stay out of her way and let her do her thing," said Jayson Kretzer, executive director of Bay Arts Alliance. "I'm glad I did because she has put together a fantastic show that really highlights the high levels of talent we have here in our ceramics community."

Joining the summer exhibitions, pottery works from local artists Wade Rubin and Stella Reinstatler will occupy two additional galleries.

Wade Rubin's 'Orange Jelly Packets'

A Panama City Beach native, Rubin's "Orange Jelly Packets" exhibition will be displayed in the Miller Gallery. Though he has previously shown individual pieces at the Center for the Arts, this will be his first solo exhibition.

Rubin started working with clay in high school and was encouraged by his art teacher along with instructors who pushed him to follow his passion and explore ceramics. Rubin also had the opportunity to enroll in a study abroad program that allowed him to travel to Greece.

"Everyday life inspires a lot of my work," Rubin said. "Where the sidewalk meets the grass, painted lines in a parking lot, things that we typically pass without noticing. This collection is about feeling and seeing the spaces we live in."

In the Center for the Arts' Cafe Gallery, studio artist Stella Reinstatler will display her show, "Panamá to Panama."
In the Center for the Arts' Cafe Gallery, studio artist Stella Reinstatler will display her show, "Panamá to Panama."

Stella Reinstatler's 'Panamá to Panama'

In the Cafe Gallery, studio artist Reinstatler will display her show, "Panamá to Panama." She credits her inspiration with ceramics from her Gulf Coast State College instructor in 2000, where her love for pottery began.

"In my first solo show, I wanted to be able to bring art from our namesake city, Panama City, Panamá, to Panama City, Florida," Reinstatler said. "Visiting my family in Panamá opened up a world of color and vibrance which speaks to my heart, and I'm very excited to share this world with the community."

The exhibits will be displayed in the three galleries from July 1 to Aug. 27. The Center for the Arts is open and free to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

For more information about the summer exhibitions, visit pccenterforthearts.com.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay Arts Alliance to unveil three new summer exhibits on July 2