PETER SHIRE Bad Taste Takes a Holiday DECEMBER 5, 2000 — JANUARY 6, 2001 The S K Josefsberg Studio is pleased to present an exquisite array of new ceramic teapots by internationally acclaimed artist, designer, ceramist, sociological phenomena & bon vivant Peter Shire, on view at the gallery from December 5 to January 6. The exhibition will include new ceramics that incorporate more paintery styles and motifs; teapots adorned with paintings. Peter Shire's teapots challenge the way we think about the nature of teapots, with regards to traditional form and decorative attributes. Commenting on his most recent creations, Peter Shire believes these latest works "[address] our spiritual relationship to materialism, and the visceral underpinnings of the dreamlife of objects." Shire's artistic fame came with his fanciful ceramic teapots—some functional, some not. It was these non-percolating wonders that caught the eye of legendary Italian designer Ettore Sottsass, who, in turn, befriended and subsequently invited Shire to join the founding members contributing to the internationally successful design group known as the MEMPHIS/Milano collection. Works by Peter Shire are included in such major museum collections as: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA Museum of Modern Art, Lodz, Poland The Renwick Gallery, The Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. San Francisco Museum of Art, San Francisco, CA Seattle Museum of Modern Art, Seattle, WA Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Great Britain Deemed by The Oregonian's Visual Arts Editor Randy Gragg as "one of the West Coast's most gifted artists and designers," Shire's work proves to delight any audience with his colorful charisma and palette. There will be a reception for the Artist at the gallery Wednesday December 6, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. First Thursday reception Thursday November 7, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.