Greg Vineyard

A life-long artist in various media, and a believer that all creativity is a spiritual process, Greg Vineyard became addicted to clay a decade ago after deciding to apply his art-direction sketching style to tiles. The tiles led to the widely-collected “Meditation/Keepsake Bowls”, and a chance to talk about how their colors, shapes and textures provide a focal point for meditation and reflection on HGTV’s Carol Duvall Show. The often out-of-round bowls embrace the “wabi-sabi” concept, a calling to appreciate the inherent beauty in all things, including those that upon first impression one might consider to be imperfect.

Preferring to let functionality be a serendipitous event in deference to ideation and concept, Greg admits it’s also good that many of the bowls are functional – in addition to their original intent as conduits to meditation, they also provide a connected experience as holders of keepsakes, as decorative accents in one’s environment, as well as thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts.

In addition to the Bowls, one of Greg’s many current areas of focus includes conceptual works inspired by personal and societal quirks and neuroses, communication and chronology topics, synchronistic events and by his appreciation of process and raw materials. His “Communication Animals” series combines figurines and topical word tiles in various ways, and he sees many of his works as “sketches”, leading eventually to larger groupings suitable for flexible installations. Under the name “Salon du Vineyard”, Greg has presented several themed shows over the years, focusing on concepts such as the wholeness of broken work, viewer-interactive communication groupings and how to assemble one’s own “meditation station” out of a variety of randomly-associated materials.

A relocation to the Asheville area in 2008 led him to join Highwater Clay’s Odyssey Studios & Gallery, a broad mix of ceramic artists working amidst the River District Artists’ 100-plus membership. Both institutions provide that critical connectivity and community – and sense of fun and joy – that he feels all creatives need in order to balance out the introspective periods. He is pleased to show a piece from his 2007 “Housebound” series in Odyssey Studios & Gallery’s current members exhibit, “favorites”, in the Odyssey Gallery through March 6, and hopes you’ll come to the artists’ reception on Friday, February 13 from 5:00 – 7:30 pm. He also really appreciates the daily open studio, with visitors coming and going throughout the day, as he feels connectivity with art appreciators and collectors is part of what keeps an artist focused. And Greg whole-heartedly supports buying local.

In addition to bowls, tiles and conceptual work, Greg Vineyard is also an illustrator, designer, greeting card artist, amateur photographer, writer, and mixed-media and assemblage artist who promotes the thought that artistic activities aid the journey toward balance, peace, light, spiritual centeredness and love.

greg vineyard  828 707 1641  vineface@earthlink.net

www.vineyardcreative.byregion.net
www.gregvineyardceramics.etsy.com
www.riverdistrictartists.com

Photo Credits
Hands holding bowl and smiling holding bowl: Bob Pazden Photography, Asheville

Black and White photo: Martin Cox Photography

Greg at work in the studio: Jillian Wolf

Shows and Such:

Local Gallery Selection, peer-jury, Odyssey Studios & Gallery, Asheville, NC, January 23, 2009 – March 6, 2009, Artists Reception February 13, 2009, 5:00 – 7:30 pm.

Local Gallery Selection, Riverside Studios, Asheville, NC, November - December, 2008. Two tea bowls and one custom tile.

"Meditation Station, Reflections Past And Future", Studio City, CA, 2008. Featuring ceramic assemblages for the purposes of reflection and introspection, with a workshop table to create one's own meditation station experience. The final salon/show/sale in California before moving to North Carolina.

Local Juried Selection, Pharmaka gallery annual fundraiser, Los Angeles, December, 2007. “Discord”, raku.

One tea bowl in the Sam & Alfreda Maloof Foundation collection, Alta Loma, CA, 2007.

"Housebound: The Art Of Self-Restriction", displaying how we stop ourselves from forward growth, Studio City, 2007

"Ceramicommunication!", featuring concepts on interpersonal communication, Studio City, 2006.

HGTV - The Carol Duvall Show:(original air date: Oct 07, 2005; various re-run dates, and to air in the future on DIY channel).

"Oh, Broken Me", focusing on how even when "broken", we are whole souls, LA, 2004.

"Ceramics: Please Touch", focusing on the concept of "wabi-sabi", LA, 2003.

National Juried Selection, Teacup Show, Charlie Cummings Studio, 2002. “Two-greens teacup”, stoneware.

National Juried Selection, "From Earth To Fire: 20th Century Tiles", Minnesota Crafts Council, 2002. “Magnolia Inset”, stoneware.

"Two Artists", Ceramics and Paintings by Greg Vineyard & Kit Farrington, with specific spiritual and aesthetic pairings of the works, LA, 2002.

Assorted group activity, membership, shows and sales, 1999 - 2008, including Xiem Clay Center in Pasadena, CA, the American Ceramic Society - Southern CA Chapter Editor (2002-2003), Glendale College, Burbank Creative Arts Center, Burbank Fine Arts Federation, Roger Barclay Center, Monrovia Adult School.

National Competition Finalist and Selection, Under One Roof Holiday Card Project, 1996, San Francisco. Illustration.