This item will be available during the Gala's live auction only on May 21. To purchase tickets, click here.

Two Pair, 2022
ARTIST(S): The Clay Collaboration
White slip on stoneware
27 × 18 × 16 inches

"Clay Collaboration" began as a conversation about what new forms might be created if a group of artists worked together collaboratively. The goal was to make something together, that, created alone, would not exist. The possibilities were exciting! Raising money for good causes was also on their minds.

The collaborators included ceramists Patrick McDermott, Robert Milnes, John Ransmeier, Michael Sherrill, and Kathy Triplett, and painters, printmakers and illustrators, Betty Clark, Kevin Hogan, and Robert Zimmerman.

Milnes and Triplett provided the cone 6 clay, Ransmeier offered the use of his studio and kilns, Sherrill brought some Mud Tools. Each artist made parts in their own studio, then brought them together to collaborate on the finished artwork. About four days of collaborative construction ("what if" thinking, experiments, construction and revision) were followed by kiln firings and final finishing of the pieces. Zimmerman created the website: www.claycollab.buglogic.com, and Steve Mann took photos of the finished sculptures.

"It felt like a gamble throughout, hence the poker hand titles, all winners. We determined that the five resulting pieces should be sold individually to benefit social services and cultural institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

We are honored to offer "Two Pair," to the Asheville Art Museum Gala, with all proceeds to benefit the museum. Money raised from the sale of one sculpture has been donated to MANNA Food Bank, another will benefit the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, and one will be auctioned to benefit Open Doors of Asheville. The last sculpture has not yet been spoken for!

The artists feel that the collaboration was a success and hope that you are excited by the artwork that was created." Robert Milnes

(Note: The sculpture is in two parts primarily to make moving it around easy. The slab at the base of the piece is in a separate box. When it is permanently installed, that slab could be attached with epoxy.)