Adam Silverman: Clay and Space at Laguna Art Museum

California artist literally makes art from California.

In his first solo museum exhibit, LA based artist Adam Silverman intrigues us with his collection of experimental pottery. Known for his unique mix of texture, glaze and color, Silverman shows us a rustic, yet futuristic collection of pottery as part of Laguna Art Museum’s Art and Nature feature.

Many of the pots in the exhibit were fired right here in Laguna Beach. Not only that, but the clay used to form the pots was harvested right here in Laguna Canyon Silverman is known for his site-specific and primitive form of firing. He uses as many locally forged materials as possible in the making of his work. Once the pots are formed from the clay, he then fires them in the fire pits at Aliso County Beach. He layers each pot in the pits with wood chips from the Sawdust Art Festival, driftwood and seaweed from the beach, and wood from the canyon, all as fuel for fire. He also collects 10 gallons of seawater to make salt, which is also added to the fire. The results make for a truly unique look to each and every pot.

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The presentation of the fired pots also follows this unique streak of Silverman. He has a background in architecture, which is immediately apparent as you see his discerning detail in the displaying of his work. He had a mason build a display that is reminiscent of a kiln, but one that you can walk into and get up close and personal with his work. The curved u-shaped dual displays pull the viewer in while also giving them a peek into the contrasting collection of vivid blue pots beyond the Laguna pots.

His second collection of pots conjures up futuristic ideas with their striking blue color and shimmering glaze that appears to glow under the lights. And yet, the shape and texture of the pots reminded one of prehistoric dinosaur eggs. Again, Silverman creates this dichotomy of mixing opposing ideas to work into one awe-inspiring look of the convergence between art and nature.

His final exhibit mixes three mediums – a pot, a video, and an ambient soundtrack. Collaborating with Lucas Michael, Silverman created a display of a white pot with a video of the same pot rotating, and projected onto itself. In the background, the sounds of the pot being made plays on a continued loop. The piece is lunar-like, while also giving the allusion that the pot is submerged in water. Again, combining the idea of art and nature inexplicably linked.

Clay and Space is one of the most minimalistic and yet, awe-producing exhibits to come to Laguna Art Museum. It stays with you and reminds you that art is forever linked and inspired by the beauty and complexity of nature.