Jill Smith and John Clement - March 6 - 30

The exhibit during March at the Gallery at the Park in Richland features two wonderful artists — Jill Smith and John Clement. Like February’s art installation, this exhibit is a mix of three-dimensional and two-dimensional works, with Jill Smith providing clay works and John Clement showing photography. Stop by the gallery sometime this month to see intricate hand-sculptured totems coupled with beautiful photographs of nature.

Jill Smith has a long history of working with clay. She studied ceramics at the University of Puget Sound and later received a master’s degree in fine arts from Whitworth. In 1972, she established her own professional pottery studio, Clay Fox Pottery. Smith’s current work explores high fire stoneware and raku — two distinct techniques for firing pottery.

For the Gallery at the Park exhibition, Smith displays pieces called “Future Fossils,” which resemble rock walls, and totems. Inspired by the natural world, she uses the fluidity of clay and earth pigments to create lasting works of art. If you’re interested in taking pottery classes from Jill, check out clayfoxclayschool.com.

John Clement has been in the photography business for about 40 years, and during that time his work has received more than 60 regional, national and international awards and been accepted into numerous galleries and art shows, including the Washington State University Museum of Art. Clement also has 17 murals on display in CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks and Sounders.

Clement’s photography and Smith’s clay works complement each other because both bodies of work are based around nature. For Clement, photography is a way of sharing God’s creation with others. Using proceeds from his work, he supports a number of Eastern Washington-based nonprofit organizations such as Young Life Ministries, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Walla Walla Hospital Foundation and many others. Visit his website, johnclementgallery.com.

The exhibit will be in the Gallery at the Park from March 6 to March 30. The artist reception will be held on March 9 from 6 to 8 p.m.