Centennial Art Center Presents a New Gallery Exhibit

Centennial Art Center showcases the painting collaboration of Lisa Haddad and Eva Sochorova and the pit-fired ceramics of Ryan Ghaffari. The exhibit opens with an artists reception 5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 16, 2023. The abstract, mixed-media paintings on display--the cumulation of several years of intensive work by Lisa Haddad and Eva Sochorova--are fresh and full of depth. The artists have combined layers of black, gray, and white with geometric and organic forms, letters, and mark making to create dynamic paintings with intriguing passages and movement. Ryan Ghaffari’s pit-fired ceramic vessels are both a continuance of and complement to the paintings in this exhibit. His large, beautifully formed vessels resonate with deep carbon black, soft natural colors, and flowing shapes that are formed by burning organic materials in the pit-fire process.

Eva Sochorova and Lisa Haddad began painting on the same canvas several years ago in what they thought would be a short-lived investigation into monochrome and text. As they continued this exploration, they started adding areas of subtle colors bringing additional warmth and depth to these paintings. They worked closely together in their Nashville studios (except during the Covid lockdown when they persevered via Zoom, FaceTime, and backyard meets). Each collaboration tells a story about the challenges and discoveries of this artistic confluence and celebrates its own personality - a unique creation of two painters on a single surface.

Born in Prague and raised in East Germany, Eva Sochorova received her art degree from Central Washington State University. She studied at the San Francisco Art Institute with Wally Hedrick and at the Art Students’ League in New York with Larry Poons and Kikuo Saito. She has taught art at Watkins Art Institute and in Metro Nashville Public Schools; she is co-founder of the Nashville Collage Collective.

Lisa Haddad lives in the Nashville area where she paints, organizes the Nashville Collage Collective, and photographs the Nightscapes of the city. Originally from New York City, Lisa is a graduate of the University of California where she studied Aquatic Biology and spent her free time in the photography darkroom. Her abstract and mixed-media paintings have been exhibited on three coasts of the US, as well as Italy and New Zealand. Her work often references imagery from her travel sketchbooks and incorporates materials collected from the streets.

In addition to Eva and Lisa’s mixed-media paintings, clay artist, Ryan Ghaffari, is exhibiting pit-fired, ceramic vessels; these vessels display beautiful organic patterns of color and deep carbon black with a soft sheen. Sometimes Ryan adds texture to his forms to create more depth and interest. In a ceramic pit fire, natural additives such as dried banana peels, avocado shells, coffee grounds, and citrus peels are layered along with the wood to produce soft, natural colors of peach, blue, and black. Wire wrapped around pieces before they are put in the pit can produce carbon markings of fine lines and patterns which add to the allure of these beautiful works of art. Ryan is enthusiastic about this ancient firing technique. He says, “I find the unpredictability and rawness of the process to be both challenging and exhilarating. The flames, smoke, and ashes of the fire create unique surface patterns and textures on each piece. The pit firing process allows every creation to truly be one-of-a-kind.”

Ryan is the proprietor of Clay in the Woods, a pottery studio located about 30 minutes from Nashville in Goodlettsville, TN. The mission of Pottery in the Woods is to inspire, educate, and nurture the creative growth of local clay artists by providing a collaborative space that encourages community among makers.

This fresh, exciting exhibit of collaborative mixed-media paintings by Eva Sochorova and Lisa Haddad and pit-fired vessels by Ryan Ghaffari will be on display June 16-July 20, 2023. All Gallery enthusiasts are invited to the artists reception on Friday, June 16, 5:00-7:30 p.m.

Follow on Facebook and Instagram @metroparksvisualarts for the latest information about Metro Parks Visual Arts programs, classes, and the gallery at Centennial Art Center. For more information, call Centennial Art Center at 615-862-8442 or write to [email protected].