PLACE: Reflections by Copus and Amberg

Mars Hill University’s Weizenblatt Gallery will showcase the work of two Madison County artists in September and October. Rob Amberg is a photographer who has been chronicling the people and places in Madison County for almost 50 years. Josh Copus is a ceramicist whose unique style of pottery is rooted in the same county. The two have joined together for this compelling show.

Rob’s photography is a deep exploration of life in his rural area of the North Carolina mountains. His works demand that the viewer slow down in contemplation and think about the places and people he has chosen to present. Rob has been awarded both a Guggenheim Fellowship and an NEA Grant. His work is in the collection of the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and The Ogden Museum of Art in Los Angeles.

Josh’s ceramic studio practice distills the experiences of life and infuses them into clay. It is built on a place-based philosophy that emphasizes the use of local materials to connect the place, the experiences surrounding them, and the people of those communities.

The exhibition will open on Wednesday, September 21. There will be a reception on Wednesday, September 28, from 6-8 pm. The show will run through Thursday, October 13.

Weizenblatt Gallery is on the main floor of the Moore Fine Arts Building. Hours are 10-4 Monday through Friday, closed weekends and holidays. Admission, as always, is free.