Everyone collects, as collecting is a part of living. Collecting art is an intimate experience that begins a lifelong relationship between artist and collector—it is personal and constant. Some collect to possess, others enjoy the pursuit of new works above possession. But it seems all collectors have one thing in common—the desire to surround themselves with objects for aesthetic contemplation.
The works on view here are but several highlights of the ceramics collection of Annette Cravens, and are typical of her desires and tastes. Over the years she has amassed an impressive collection of ceramic objects, purchasing mature as well as transitional works by some of the most noted figures in ceramics from the past 100 years. But names have little to do with her desire to acquire work. Instead, Annette's specific eye has put together an amazingly cohesive collection of work, some of which are simply gorgeous while other pieces are more challenging. Annette sees each piece as a learning experience and will often purchase work she does not necessarily understand (or like) or is challenged by in the hopes of the piece revealing itself over time. Simply put, she collets work to further her own knowledge of art.
Her4 commitment is to the vessel rather than sculptural ceramics. The vessels she prefers are not functional, though function does not prevent her from purchasing a desired object (and surely function does not prevent the aesthetic contemplation of an objects.) Annette is more concerned with form than function—vessels over pots.
Annette is passionate about her collection. She did not set up a separate storage facility for the large collection, as some collectors do. Rather she chose to live with the work, regularly changing placement in order to see pieces in relation to others, like or unlike it, allowing her to continually look and uncover new meaning.
When asked about any piece in the collection, Annette's eyes light up as she passionately, and frankly, talks of the work and the artist who created it.
Annette has but one request of you, the viewer: "I would like people to look better, to look closely and discover the meaning of the work." It has been a pleasure working with Annette and the Burchfield-Penney Art Center on this exhibition of such powerful and important ceramics.
Enjoy! — Bryan Hopkins, Co-Curator of the Exhibition
Annette Cravens' ceramics collection is a treasure trove of modern ceramics. The exhibition, Selections from the Annette Cravens Modern Ceramics Collection, is a sampling of the collection hinting at the variety. In all, the collection consists of over 240 objects by artists from Europe, Japan, the United States, Canada, and South America. It includes internationally celebrated artists: Hans Coper, Lucie Rie, Bodil Manz, Roseline Delisle, Ruth Duckworth, Dorothy Feibleman, Bente Hansen, Poh Chap Yeap, Toshiko Takaezu, Angela Verdon, Elsa Rady, David Shaner, Hamada Shoji, Kohyama Yasuhisa. Moreover, it also includes work by notable Western New York artists including Wayne Higby, Sue Katz, and Frans Wildenhain.
The scope of this collection speaks to the meaning and potential of this gift for Buffalo State College and the Burchfield-Penney Art Center. It will function both as a body for research, strengthening the exceptional learning experience already provided by the college and as examples giving context to Western New York ceramics in exhibitions at the Burchfield-Penney. — Scott Propeack, Co-Curator of the Exhibition and Collection and Traveling Exhibition Manager, Burchfield-Penney Art Center