"Teapot with Hat" by Ester Ikeda

The new exhibit “Small Shapes, Big Impressions: The 2004 International Cone Box Show” opens today at Spiva Center for the Arts, 222 W. Third St.

Visitors to the exhibit will see the “best of the best,” 182 miniature works in clay.

“The Cone Box Show is a major biennial competition for clay artists worldwide. Every two years more than 600 entries arrive at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., for judging, and each one of them fits inside a 6 inch by 3 inch by 3 inch box,” Jo Mueller, Spiva director, explained in a news release.

The boxes originally contained pyrometric “cones” used to measure the temperature inside a kiln during the firing process that hardens ceramics. Orton, an Ohio company, makes the cones.

“It’s a huge challenge to take what you do and create it in miniature,” Mueller said. “Very few artists regularly work on that scale, and when they’re successful, the pieces are extraordinary. It should be a fun and fascinating look at contemporary ceramics, all on a tiny scale!”

“Small Shapes, Big Impressions” is the latest Spiva exhibit to be sponsored by a local corporation. Carthage based Leggett and Platt, Inc., chose the Cone Box Show from a number of offerings in the Center’s new corporate sponsorship program.

A companion exhibit also opens today in Spiva’s second floor Regional Gallery. “Southern Mud” features ceramics by Tara Dawley, John Good and Sam Lewis with collaborative work by Jorge Leyva and Jed Schlegel. The five clay artists are Missouri Southern State University alumni and participated in the ceramics program run by retired Art Professor Jon Fowler.

Spiva members and guests will preview the exhibits between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. today at an opening hosted by Leggett and Platt, Inc., and the Village Pastry Shoppe.

Both exhibits run through Sunday, Nov. 28.

The center’s galleries and gift shop are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is by donation.

George A. Spiva Center for the Arts
222 W. 3rd Street
Joplin, Mo 64801
Tel: 417-623-0183
Fax: 417-623-3805
www.spivaarts.org

Jo Mueller, Director