New Port Chester Art Exhibit Seeks To 'Reestablish Human Connections'

To explore the symbiotic relationship between humans and the natural world, artist Jonathon McMillan turns to pottery and sculpture.

On July 8, McMillan will premiere his solo exhibition, dubbed "Convergence," at the Clay Art Center.

McMillan was one of two artists in residency at the center for the past year, and his debut is a culmination of the art he's created during that span.

The collection features ceramics and mixed media, including functional pottery. Leigh Taylor Mickelson, who serves as the center's program director, says McMillan's work uses "nature as a metaphor."

McMillan's creative process includes working with both pottery and sculpture.  While the processes are different, McMillan says they work to complement one another. He relates this methodology to the working dualities he finds within himself and the world around him.

McMillan says sculpture allows him to explore several different processes, and he works to implement the ideas of symbiosis, conflict, and coexistence, which are important to the pieces of this exhibition. The intended result, the artist says, is to underscore the complexity of any inter-dependant relationship.  

The clay-maker also strives for individuality in his pieces. To use an example from this collection, he prefers to create a functional pot that is also unique rather than a piece that resembles one of the mass-produced objects that characterize modern culture.

By returning to hand-made objects, with their quirks and imperfections, McMillan wants to "reestablish human connections in our disconnected world."

As with most artists, McMillan's objective in this collection is to engage viewers through interpretation when they see his pieces. His hope is to "encourage dialogue by raising questions instead of providing answers."

McMillan's "Convergence" will debut with a reception from 6 to 8 pm on July 8, and visitors to the Clay Art Center can view the collection through Aug. 14.