EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION
In his 38th year at the University of North Texas, Regents Professor of Art Elmer Taylor shares in this exhibition four decades of pottery and other elements that tell the story of form. The show concentrates on selected ceramic pieces from 2010-2012 that meet Taylor’s exacting standards in melding the inherent qualities of clay and glaze with the craftsman’s skill. Historical pieces chronicle influences on and references for Taylor’s decades-long practice, including collected pottery, 1940s-era handmade Japanese furniture, photographs, and memorabilia. For Taylor, from the neon in his hometown city of Los Angeles, to his experience pheasant hunting in Nebraska and his love of writing with a fountain pen, his pots need to reflect who he is and what he has experienced. Early, during his apprenticeship in England with Master Potter Michael Leach, Taylor learned to set a standard to meet each day in the studio—a practice he has imparted to thousands of students at UNT and continues to demonstrate today.