Art + Design Blog

Works by Western Kentucky University student Cecilia Morris entitled, "Somebody Has to Feed Them"

MO-KY Mud 2 Opens for a Collaborative Celebration of Ceramics

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Take two! The second half of a ceramics exchange fills Carolla Arts Exhibition Center for MO-KY Mud 2: A Collaborative Exhibition of Contemporary Ceramics. The exhibition highlights ceramic work by undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members of Western Kentucky University and Missouri State University. MO-KY Mud 2 is on view now through October 7 and will be open for First Friday Art Walk October 7 from 6–9 p.m.

Missouri State MFA student Joy Okokon installing her work in the gallery

Missouri State ceramics professors Keith Ekstam and Kevin Hughes collaborated with faculty members at Western Kentucky University to form the concept for this exchange. Part 1 of the exhibition was held in fall of 2019 at Fine Arts Center Gallery on the Western Kentucky University campus in Bowling Green, KY. Missouri State students and faculty visited Bowling Green to deliver artwork and host workshops on train-style kiln and raku firings. Missouri State’s Art + Design Department originally planned to host the second half of the exchange in fall 2020, but Covid-19 resulted in a change of plans.

In a case of “better late than never” students and faculty from Western Kentucky University can finally take part in a shared exhibition and workshop experience at Missouri State. A variety of traditional and contemporary ceramic works ranging from wall installations to functional, pedestal-based works celebrate what both ceramics programs have to offer. Artwork by the following faculty and students is featured in MO-KY Mud 2:

Missouri State University

Professor Keith Ekstam, Associate Professor Kevin W. Hughes, Thomas Bernard, alumna Ashton Chowning, Andy Corbett, Joe Duggar, Chrissy Hanula, Joy Okokon, Teddy Osei, and Kassidy Watts

Western Kentucky University

Retired Professor Brent Oglesbee, Instructor Greg Strange, Ashlyn Crawford, Olivia Dick, Meghan Hodges, Cecilia Morris, Amanda Pennington, Jessie Strange, and Brittany Wiseman

Missouri State ceramics professor Kevin Hughes’ work, “Bottle Study”

Western Kentucky University students and faculty will visit the Brick City ceramics studio on October 7 for a workshop, demonstration, and kiln firings.

Carolla Arts Exhibition Center is located at 326 N. Boonville Ave, Springfield, Missouri. Gallery hours are Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Call 417-837-2330 for additional details.

Taylor Ladd is a graduate assistant for the Department of Art + Design. She is working towards her master’s degree in writing at Missouri State University with professional interests in writing about art, culture, and food.