An exhibition featuring the works of Minnesota women ceramic artists, “Pulled from the Earth” opens today (Wednesday, October 15th) at the Northfield Arts Guild Gallery, 304 Division Street. Over 50 functional and sculptural pieces by 24 artists were juried into the show.

“In a state with such deeply-rooted and rich clay tradition, it seems appropriate to celebrate the talents of the many women who are creating ceramic art here”, says Colleen Riley, ceramic artist and curator of the exhibition. It represents a wide-ranging group of artists from all corners of the state working in a variety of styles. Many of the pieces are by familiar artists with national name recognition, and many are by women who have rarely shown their work regionally.

As in most states with large geographic areas, rural artists in Minnesota can experience isolation, says Riley. “I wanted to create an opportunity for us to meet more ceramic artists, show our work and see what’s being produced in our home state. My hope is that this will help us make long-lasting connections”.

The opening reception is Friday, October 17th from 6 to 9 p.m. “It’s inspiring to see the work of these artists shown together”, concludes Riley.

Also this weekend is “A Favorite Cup” at the Art-On-Water Gallery, 217 South Water Street, curated by Donovan Palmquist. It is an evolving exhibition of cups of all shapes and sizes. See how creative people can get with simple variations on a theme.

The show opens tomorrow, Thursday, October 16th, with the popular weekly ChARTdonnay experience, from 5 to 9 p.m..