Valerie’s Gallery at 26 State Street in Newburyport will host a special in-store event featuring fine art photographer Joan Kocak and potter Erin Moran, on Saturday, November 5th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The public is invited to meet the artists, see their latest work on display, and enjoy light refreshments at the fourth and final Newburyport ArtWalk this year.
Joan Kocak is a former graphic designer enchanted with all forms of photography – analog, digital, toy cameras, alternative process, Polaroid, and even her dad’s old Ikoflex. The Carlisle, MA, resident infuses her images with a deep connection to the land and water of the area. Her fine art prints are exhibited in galleries in throughout New England, as well as the Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, CO, and have been published in numerous photography magazines.
Portsmouth, NH-based Erin Moran makes her vibrant, colorful pottery using her hands (not wheel thrown). All of her cups and bowls are done by hand building – either by pinching a ball of clay into a cup or bowl or pounding out a slab of clay for plates. With this process, her finger prints are left on each piece and leave a wonderfully tactile surface. Because of this process, no two pieces are ever the same. Erin is intrigued by both surrealism and folk art and her work is a blend of the two. The vibrant pottery brings a smile to everyone who sees (and feels) it.
“It’s always a treat to have the people who create these beautiful items on hand to discuss their craft,” said Valerie Stainton, owner of Valerie’s Gallery. “Visitors and customers get a chance to learn about Erin and Joan’s inspirations and process, which adds to unique character of their work and makes the pieces even more special.”