CLAREMONT, Calif. (November 11, 2013) — The annual Scripps College Ceramic — the longest-running exhibition of contemporary ceramics in the United States — will celebrate its 70th year with its opening on Jan. 25. Traditionally an “artist’s choice” event, this year’s exhibition – which continues through April 6 – will bring together a large number of past curators from the show’s long history to celebrate art in clay. The Jan. 25 opening reception will begin with a lecture at 4 p.m. in the Scripps College Humanities Auditorium given by Peter Held, curator of ceramics at the Ceramics Research Center at Arizona State University. Held’s talk will be followed by live music and refreshments at the Gallery from 7 to 9 p.m. These events are free and open to the public.

The show has encouraged ceramic development over the decades and has offered a place for new artists and trends to gain a foothold. For example, in 1995, Cai Guo Qiang, now a highly respected international artist, first exhibited his work in the United States at the Ceramic Annual. In addition to supporting ceramic artists, it has always been the annual’s goal to expand public appreciation of contemporary ceramics and inspire excitement for the material of clay in new generations.

In recognition of the artists who have always organized this exhibition, this exhibition will present approximately 60 works by artist curators from throughout the history of the event. This group includes past Scripps professors of ceramics from 1945 to 1995: William Manker, Richard Petterson, Paul Soldner, and Nobuho Nagasawa. It also includes guest curators such as: Kathleen Royster, Adrian Saxe, Wayne Higby and many other notable ceramic artists. For a full list and more information on the exhibition, please visit “Upcoming Exhibitions” on the Gallery website at rcwg.scrippscollege.edu.

Scripps College was founded in 1926 by Ellen Browning Scripps, a pioneering philanthropist and influential figure in the worlds of education, publishing, and women’s rights. Today, Scripps is a nationally top-ranked liberal arts college and women’s college with approximately 950 students, and is a member of The Claremont Colleges in southern California. The mission of Scripps College is to educate women to develop their intellects and talents through active participation in a community of scholars, so that as graduates they may contribute to society through public and private lives of leadership, service, integrity, and creativity.