Presents

“PORCELAIN & PAPER”

Featuring the Art of

Jim DeGeorge and Linda Stewart

June 6, 2009 – July 11, 2009

Opening Reception, Saturday, June 13^th, 6-8 pm

A dual exhibit at Arts at Canal Place, titled Porcelain and Paper, will feature the unique pottery of Jim DeGeorge and Linda Stewart’s 2-D paper creations. 

DeGeorge’s love of porcelain begins with the purity of its color, continues with the silky feel between his fingers as he shapes the clay, and then diminishes with its tendency to distort or crack when fired.  This show debuts some of Jim’s new ideas.  Wine cups and beer glasses show off their brilliant blue and green glazes while the pure white interior glaze allows the clarity of the liquid to show through.  They are designed for comfort in the hand and against the lip.

Earring vases are another new item.  Rings around the edges allow the earrings to be displayed on the dresser.  They are beautiful standing alone or filled with fresh cut flowers.  The show will also feature an assortment of never-before-seen pieces.

DeGeorge’s studio “Potterwood,” was founded in 2004.  His work can be seen and purchased at Arts at Canal Place and in his studio on Scenic Lane in Ridgeley, WV, as well as at the Connoisseur shop, Rocky Gap and select out-of-state shops.

Linda Stewart has played and worked with paper for years but only recently began to create works of art for sale.  Starting with cardstock, scrapbooking, and specialty papers, Linda manipulates the papers, using traditional tools and techniques to achieve the desired shapes and composition for her 2-D pieces.  The framed compositions are usually three-quarters inch in depth.  Some of the techniques used are stenciling, stamping, scoring, and dry and wet embossing.  Works often include Origami and Kirigami, used in traditional and non-traditional ways.   Important design elements are color, texture and shape.

Linda sometimes “pre-visualizes” the design and sometimes allows the design to emerge through the process of working with the paper.  Themes in her work include music, flowers, leaves, and Japanese designs, along with the combination of organic and geometric shapes. A recent theme has been “Inchies Plus,” featuring squares that are a little more than one inch by one inch. These pieces are a take-off of the artist trading cards and the inchies blocks that quilters trade. 

Linda’s work is on exhibit at the Arts at Canal Place and the Rocky Gap Resort and Hotel.  Her work was recently featured on the cover of Allegany College of Maryland’s “Expressions” Magazine.  She was recently awarded an Excellence in Painting Award from Allegany College of Maryland and the Academic Excellence Talent in the Arts Scholarship from Frostburg State University.

Arts at Canal Place is a program of the Allegany Arts Council, is an artist run cooperative showing the work of over 30 local area artists.

   The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and during summer months until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.  To learn more

about the Arts at Canal Place Gallery or for information about becoming a member artist – visit

 www.artsatcanalplace.com or call 301-777-8199.  The Gallery is located at 10 Howard Street, Cumberland, MD

 in the Shops at Canal Place Heritage Area.  Free parking is available in the lot off Howard Street