Barbe Ennis Brings an Earthly Complement to Vintage Posters
By Joan S. Peck
If you love an intriguing collaboration between artists, you won’t want to miss out on what the delightful Savidan Gallery is offering through February 2023. International Pottery Artist Barbe Ennis’ work accompanies her mother-in-law Suzanne Abramo’s fabulous vintage poster collection on display at the Gallery. Ennis says, “Her chic style and love of art and objects have always been a huge inspiration.”
The simplicity of Ennis’s work expresses itself in how it correlates to the poster in fascinating ways. “I was drawn to shapes, colors, and textures found in many of the posters and tried to mimic some of those visuals.”
Her love of clay has been with her from an early age. “I consider clay a gift to me from Mother Nature. Even as a child, I have always enjoyed playing in the dirt. I am a hand builder; most of my work is coiled and pinched. The clay usually takes the lead, and I follow along, not quite sure of where I will end up. I mostly work with sculpture clay and porcelain. My pieces tend to be very organic and raw, without much color. I rely more on shape and texture.”
What inspires her?
“Nature and travel are my biggest inspirations.” Barbe Ennis lives on beautiful Cape Ann in Massachusetts, where she says, “the light is incredible, and there are so many places to explore.”
Ennis recently took a trip to Africa, where she was introduced to the coil-building technique, which is so much different from hand-building. “I sat down with a community of women from Rwanda, and we coiled and decorated a bowl together. It was a wonderful experience and a way to connect with a group of women without having an actual conversation. I continue exploring coiling and have been working on larger sculptural pieces lately. I try to start a piece with intention, but the clay sometimes takes me in a different direction, and I go with it. Life has a way of doing that.” Smile.
What excites you about your work?
“I love working with clay because it feels natural and organic. You can mold and color it, but you can’t totally control it. The clay has a way of taking you in different directions, and it is wonderful to see where you end up. It’s like a walk in the woods.”
Why not go to the Gallery and see for yourself what Barbe Ennis’ work expresses? You’ll be glad you did because it’s a fascinating show.
Visit: Savidan Gallery
1310 S 3rd St Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Gallery hours: Monday – Friday, 9 AM- 5 PM
Saturday by Appointment Only. To schedule an appointment, please call Louise Rogers: (702) 339-7190