The Online Reflector

The Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center Art Gallery recently unveiled its newest exhibit in the second semester. University of Indianapolis alumnus Jim Kemp showcased pottery and photographs in his exhibit “30 Years of Jim Kemp.”

Art and Design Professor Dee Schaad, a former professor of Kemp’s, said that members of the department decided to showcase his art after they realized that it had been omitted from an alumni exhibit they had held a couple of years ago.

“We asked Jim if he would be willing to do a retrospect [exhibit],” Schaad said.  “He’s got 30 years of art activity in the city of Indianapolis.”

After being approached by the Art & Design department at UIndy, Kemp decided to display this exhibit because he wanted to show photographs that documented pottery he had made throughout his career.

“Don Miller has taken pictures of my work on a fairly routine basis for the past 30 years,” Kemp said in his artist statement.  “My business requires good images and Don has done a beautiful job for me.”

Kemp has been making pottery for almost 40 years. His work has been displayed in several exhibits such as the Indiana Ceramics Invitational, Mid States Crafts Exhibit and Functional Ceramics Retrospective. He has also won several awards including Best in Show in the Broad Ripple Art Fair. Schaad said he is proud of Kemp’s success.

“You don’t often get people who are highly successful in the areas that they choose,” Schaad said.

Sophomore psychology major Caitlynn Canady said that she had never been to a pottery exhibit but she enjoyed walking around the gallery and seeing Kemp’s unique artwork.

“My favorite piece was ‘The Porcelain Teapot,’” she said. “I also enjoyed the photos [of his artwork] because I like to take pictures too.”

Schaad said that Kemp’s exhibit at UIndy shows how his pottery has evolved from when he was a student to what he does now.

According to Kemp’s artist’s statement, he has always decorated his pottery pieces.

“I have used variations of dots and rectangles to decorate, from the brushstrokes I used to use, to the stamping and carving that I now employ,” Kemp said in the statement. “The thing I like most about clay is that it can be formed into anything. “

“30 Years of Jim Kemp” will be on display until Feb. 10.  Canady said she recommends that students attend.

“I think it’s awesome that they are displaying a UIndy graduate’s work,” Canady said.  “It ‘s been one of my favorites so far.”