Covered vase 1980

Curator: Welcome! We're standing before Glenn C. Nelson's "Covered Vase" crafted in 1980. This ceramic piece calls to mind decorative arts, sitting now within the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: I’m immediately struck by the regularity and the restraint of the color palette. The horizontal stripes in varying shades of beige, blues, and blacks almost resemble contour lines on a topographic map. It is simple and soothing. Curator: The application of modernist aesthetics is interesting in its creation of functional forms, challenging conventional pottery with abstract line work and exploring different styles popular in the United States. Considering art institutions, Nelson was also a faculty member, impacting the lives of future ceramics artists. Editor: Absolutely. This reminds me of dialogues around minimalist approaches during this time, the embrace of simple geometries. It rejects overly ornamented pieces from earlier periods. I see a deliberate move away from established artistic hierarchies by merging art and craft. Curator: Right, as craft became a valid area of study, the social function of pottery evolved in the twentieth century and pottery became less connected with its cultural identity. Nelson takes up this functional piece but with modern materials. Editor: There's also something almost subversive in its plainness. Are the horizontal bands playing with the flattening of form, a deliberate attempt to resist functionality even while conforming to it? Curator: Possibly. These ceramics allowed the artist a canvas to engage in dialogue through decoration. It mirrors debates during that time, even engaging conversations around high and low art. Editor: This certainly broadens the dialogue—highlighting identity through simple repetitive form in what otherwise may be considered domestic craft. Nelson's piece gives us new awareness and fresh eyes toward everyday artifacts. Curator: Precisely, let’s proceed through the exhibit; there’s still much to consider about decorative arts and their shifting cultural place.