Contemporary Fine Arts features clay creations

Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery in La Jolla will offer a month-long exhibit of artists working in clay and ceramics titled “From The Earth” in the El Patio Building on Ivanhoe Avenue on Nov. 4.

The works of Kelley Lowe, who recently retired after teaching 35 years at The Bishop’s School where he was chair of the Visual Arts Department, along with Marcela Panasiti, Jane Burton and John Conrad will be introduced at a public reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the gallery at 7946 Ivanhoe Ave.

“They all work in clay and yet their work is so different from one another,” said Lisa Jacobsen, who owns the gallery with her husband Jonathan Gal. “People think of clay and ceramics as something you find at a craft show, but it’s a wonderful, beautiful medium for fine art and this show is really an example of it. It takes ceramics to a whole new level.”

Featured artists and their works include:

• Argentine-born Marcela Panasiti, who creates primitive two- and three-dimensional adobe clay creations inspired by Arizona landscapes;

• Jane Burton who creates large-scaled 4- to 20-foot tall hand-built ceramic sculptures;

• international lecturer John Conrad who has a passion for his white stonewear and porcelain functional and sculptural creations, and

• Kelley Lowe who creates “paintings on stonewear” intended for displays on walls, easels or as featured centerpieces.

Contemporary Fine Arts, celebrating its 20th anniversary next year, strives to present a unique mix of mediums from current international and emerging artists.

“We carry wood, bronze, stainless steel, ceramic, copper, glass and long lists of oil and acrylic paintings,” said Jacobsen. “It’s a really wide range of contemporary art.”

Jacobsen said her gallery works closely with clients. “We’re very hands-on. We go to clients’ homes and help them integrate their new art into their existing collection.”

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except for Fridays and Saturdays when hours are extended until 10 p.m.

Call (858) 551-2010 or visit www.contemporaryfineartsgallery.com.