Artistic ceramics go on display in Brownsville

The Historic Alonso Building in Brownsville is the venue for a collection of new ceramics pieces by Julian Rodriguez, with more than 100 pieces on display beginning Saturday, Aug. 6.
 “Fired Up” is about the ceramics as well as Rodriguez’ intense motivation to produce these beautiful and functional objects. The ceramic works on display are not only exquisitely crafted examples of the potter’s art, but many of them embody the conceptual merger of East-West, according to a press release. Locked into a love of Japanese and Chinese ceramic technical tradition, Rodriguez has combined this knowledge with his familiar, local way of life.
“My ceramics are a marriage of Japanese and Chinese cultures to the Hispanic culture,” Rodriguez said. “Asian ceramic technique with Valley function - local flavor through function. I like to make things that will be used by the Hispanic culture like tortilla servers, tortilla warmers, and mocajetes.”
This exhibit features exotic Asian glazes such as celadon and Shira gracing South Texas-inspired tableware. Rodriguez has pushed the envelope with high temperature firings reaching 2,380 degrees, producing durable and unique objects. Overall, this exhibit consists of functional ceramic works geared toward the pragmatist who appreciates beauty. There are tamale platters, jars, tall vases, many small bowls, and mugs. About 12 luxurious platters boasting diameters between 16 and 24 four inches demonstrate this ceramist’s skill and artistic imagination.
Typical of his vases is a tall vase with a traditional Shira glaze. This glaze type was first developed in Japan around 1600. Shira glazes are often combined with ash for a grey spotted effect. On this vase, we see an orange glaze around the center of the piece, beneath a sprinkling of local Mesquite ash, creating a cultural synthesis within the glaze technique.