Jonathan Kaplan
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Jonathan Kaplan newest work can be seen in the show “Modern Moche”. Glimpses of this work have been previously shown at the Foothills Art Center “Colorado Clay” exhibition, The Art Students League of Denver, as well as other exhibitions in Colorado, Nevada, Texas and California. Now, the entire collection, including new pieces and new glaze surfaces, will be on display at Plinth.
The Moche (pronounced “Mo’-chie”) culture flourished on the northwest coast of Peru between 100AD-800AD. Their style of pottery-making often used both animal and human forms on vessels and included a distinctive “stirrup spout”, serving as both handle and pouring spout. Moche ceramics became easily recognizable by this signature feature. Kaplan uses the stirrup spout in this current body of work appropriately called Nouveau, (or New) Moche.
Kaplan, who has mastered the ceramic slip cast process, duplicates items such as children’s toys, corrugated tubes or found objects, which he assembles into highly structured vertical sculptures. The distinctive stirrup spout provides both a cultural and historical perspective and the use of stylized animal forms imparts a subtle sense of humor to this body of work.
Jonathan Kaplan Exhibition December 2010 through January 2011