Paula Greif's Coveted Ceramics Pop-Up at Shaker Outpost in Chatham

July 17–September 20 | Opening reception Saturday, July 18, 6–8pm | Chatham, NY

The Shaker Museum (under reconstruction in Chatham) opens the next iteration of its Shaker Outpost at 4 Depot Square on July 17 with "Baskets & Buckets," a pop-up exhibition of new ceramics by Paula Greif, who lives and works in a 10-foot-wide studio and home on Warren Street in Hudson. Greif drew from the museum's collection of Shaker baskets and buckets to make the pieces on view here, weaving together the famous Shaker ascetic aesthetic and her own practice.

Greif came to ceramics circuitously. She trained as a graphic designer, spent years as art director at Rolling Stone, Mademoiselle, Barneys, and the Avedon Studio, then moved into directing music videos—her first was for The Smiths' "How Soon Is Now" in the 1980s, shot on Super 8. She later directed commercials and eventually took a pottery class with the modest goal of remaking every utensil in her kitchen from clay.

That project turned into a full-time practice. She works in stoneware, porcelain, and terracotta using a range of techniques and makes pieces in small batches of 10 or 12 at a time, few of which make it more than moments on online sale before selling out. Her visual touchstones include Lucie Rie, Beatrice Wood, the Japanese artist Rosanjin-Kitaoji, Mexican folk pottery, and American stoneware bottles.

The Shaker Outpost itself is an ongoing collaboration between Shaker Museum and artist Maira Kalman, who curates a General Store alongside the exhibition—a small shop stocked with books, textiles, handcrafted items, small design objects, accessories, and work by local artisans, with proceeds benefiting the museum. The setup draws explicitly on the historical tradition of Shaker communities selling goods to the outside world through their own stores, which they called selling to "the world."

The opening reception on July 18 from 6 to 8pm is free with RSVP. Gallery hours are Friday and Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm.

Shaker Outpost, 4 Depot Square, Chatham, NY. RSVP for the opening reception at shakermuseum.us.