Drink This! The Workhouse International Ceramic Cup Show

“Did you touch the cups?” asks Joan Ulrich, one of the resident ceramic artists working Studio Building W-8.

Although normally one is told to keep their distance from fragile ceramic pieces on display in a gallery setting, you will find a different experience at the Workhouse International Ceramic Cup Show. “The signs do say ‘handle with care’ but we would like people to interact with them, to feel the weight of the cup in their hands,” added Pam Eisenmann, another ceramic artist working in W-8.

Drink This! the Workhouse International Ceramic Cup Show has over 70 different ways that the cup is interpreted by different artists from around the globe. Each piece has its own unique story to tell—they range in size, shape, color, technique, number and more, proving that even the simplest of objects can be brought to life through the hands of an artist. As one of the first projects that a potter learns to create, the cup is a simple, humble subject with endless possibilities.

There were over 400 submissions for the show from 5 countries, but only 70 works from 67 artists were selected for display. Some of the artists are masters of their craft while others are emerging artists looking for an opportunity to have their work be a part of a show.

Joan explains that the cup is the perfect “gateway drug.” “Even if you have been buying your cups from Ikea, you can walk in and start obsessing about what you like and what you don’t like about these things.” Pam and Joan explain that the subject of the cup helps break down a lot of barriers between those who create art and those who look at art. Since the cup is a very basic, intimate, household item--you don’t need an artistic background to appreciate or understand it. “Cup shows are fun,” says Pam, “You can spend a lot of time trying to figure out what the artist was trying to say or how the cup was made.”

Drink This! opened last Wednesday and had its opening reception during January’s 2nd Saturday Art Walk. You can stop by Studio Building W-8 and see it for yourself anytime on Monday or Tuesday from 11am-5pm, Wednesday through Saturday from 11am-7pm or Sunday from noon-5pm.  

THIS WEEK AT THE WORKHOUSE

• New Works: Workhouse Education Student and Teacher Exhibition, January 5-20 in the McGuireWoods Gallery.
• The Great Chair Challenge, January 5-20 in the McGuireWoods Gallery.
• Drink This! The Workhouse International Ceramic Cup Show, January 9-February 10 in Building W-8.
• Cool Cow Comedy Presents: Dan St. Germain in W-3 Theatre, January 18 at 8pm & 10pm.
• Ballroom Social Dance in the McGuireWoods Gallery, January 19, 7:30-10:30pm.
• Date Night: Chef’s Table in Vulcan Gallery, January 19, 8-10pm.
• Workhouse Associate Artists January 9-February 3, Vulcan Gallery.
• January exhibitions in all seven studio buildings, Vulcan Gallery.
• Workhouse Prison Museum in Building W-9.