Be Easy ceramics by Katie Swartz August 31st- September 23rd gallery hours Thurs- Sun: 12-4 & by appt. Opening Final Friday, August 31st with a reception from 6-11 pm is Be Easy, an exhibition of new ceramic work by local artist & my dear friend Katie Swartz. Many of you are probably familiar with Katie's work in one way or another, this is her second solo show at 1305 Gallery, and she has participated in our annual Holiday Show, Yuletide, for every one of the last 7 years since the gallery opened. Katie's ceramic pieces in this exhibition feature two-dimensional narratives on three-dimensional surfaces. The characters she references in these pieces come directly from her sketchbooks and are reminiscent in their aesthetic to the stuffed animals Swartz is famous for. However, sometimes these characters can take on more serious, dramatic, or even frightening roles on the ceramic pieces in Be Easy. Stories of heartache, compromise, triumph, and trial are ever present in the collective body of work, though often portrayed as one feeling at a time through one endearing character at a time. It is wonderful to see how Katie has advanced and developed as a ceramic artist over the years I have known her, and her craft now seems effortless and natural. It is truly a pleasure to host another exhibition her work, and just the right thing to get the gallery back up on its toes. Hope to see everyone at the opening this Final Friday or during regular gallery hours!