April 1, 2023 - January 21, 2024 (Jones/Belk Gallery at Mint Museum Randolph)
This spring's New Acquisitions show at the Mint Museum Randolph highlights a wide variety of specialties within our collection. Read below to learn about a few of the new artworks from each curatorial department and find links to more information.
Decorative Arts Department
Hyalyn Porcelain
Donated by Stephen C. Compton, these pieces make up a large portion of the recent acquisitions. Hyalyn Porcelain was founded by H. Leslie Moody and Frances Johnson Moody and operated from 1945 to 1973. Leslie Moody was determined to create a factory with stunning design and mid-range prices as opposed to a small studio. Hyalyn was located in Hickory, North Carolina because the region provided large quantities of raw materials, such as kaolin, flint, and feldspar. The word 'hyalyn' came from hyaline, which referred to something translucent or glassy.
While North Carolina is known for its rich pottery tradition, the Moodys differentiated their work by stating, "all porcelain is pottery, but pottery is not porcelain." Porcelain's slight transparency and durability gave it a competitive edge on the market. The new acquisitions reveal the wide range of wares that Hyalyn produced, such as candleholders, lamp bases, ashtrays, vases, and even sculptural pieces like owls!
Three pieces are Wedgwood pottery from 1759. These include a pair of wine and water ewers, a "Storming of the Bastille" medal, and an "Arrival of Louis XVI" medal.
Japanese ceramics have been dated back to the Jomon Period around 10,000 years ago, but covered kilns were not used until 300-538 CE. Several pottery towns with distinct styles were developed, such as Arita and Kutani. Early Japanese pottery was typically functional, including vessels for food storage or cooking. It is also important to note that Japanese pottery is heavily inspired by practices and styles of Korea and China.
In the early 20th century, Sōetsu Yanagi, a Japanese philosopher, coined the term 'Mingei', which translates to "folk craft". Mingei represents a desire for artists to focus on creating handmade pieces as opposed to highly industrialized processes. After World War II, Japanese potters became interested in the form and style of their works instead of creating solely utilitarian items.
While many of the pieces acquired by the Mint and shown in this exhibition are traditional forms (such as a tea bowl or vase), each artist is noted for innovation within the craft. For example, Yasuhisa Kohyama was instrumental is reviving the ‘anagama’ kiln, which hadn't been used since the Middle Ages. This tunnel-like kiln is often build into a hillside and requires a constant addition of wood. Ash from the firing process attaches to the pottery inside, which creates a natural glaze.
This categorization of the remaining artists may seem to generalize; however, these works contain a multitude of diverse and important social themes. For example, Terri Greeves's bead-worked shoes and Marissa Saneholtz's metal-worked jewelry both toe the line between "traditional" contemporary art and the craft of adornment.
