Emerging Fox with Daffodils. Taylor Robenalt, artist
No Rain, No Flowers, a solo exhibition of work by ceramic artist Taylor Robenalt, is on view at Grovewood Gallery from Saturday, October 10, through Thursday, December 31. An opening reception will be held October 10, from 2–5 p.m., with Robenalt
in attendance.
The exhibition grew from a period of profound change in Robenalt’s life, including a difficult birth experience with her son, a divorce and the process of recovering from both. Those experiences found their way into a practice that has long drawn on autobiography and emotion.
“My work has always been self-reflective and grabbing narratives from my personal life and putting symbolic flora, fauna and figures into the work to reflect emotions,” says the artist. “The current work is the reflection on the turbulence and joyful moments in life. Without the rain you can’t have flowers.”
Robenalt works primarily with porcelain and B-Mix stoneware, building complex sculptures that are fired three times to achieve their finished appearance. Her practice is deliberate and relatively small in scale; she typically creates 20 to 30 pieces each year.
“Art has always been a vital process in my existence because, to be frank, I’m pretty weird without making art,” she says. “It gives me extreme comfort and purpose.”
Robenalt is a full-time professor at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, and a single mother, so much of her studio practice happens early in the morning or late at night while her son is asleep.
“Becoming a mother has completely changed everything, which I think most mothers can identify with,” Robenalt says. “Becoming a single parent has incredible ups and downs, and has made me more brave about being transparent and vulnerable in my work.”
The limitations on her studio time have also created more space for reflection.
“When I am not making art, I am thinking about it, which has helped me develop and critique my work in my mind while I am taking a break from the studio,” Robenalt says.
In No Rain, No Flowers, Robenault uses imagery of closed eyes to symbolize her movement towards a peaceful era of life, while still recognizing the balance of shadow and light in the world.
“My general goal with my work is to have quietly disturbing yet beautiful pieces,” she says. “I think people’s initial reaction to my work at first is that it holds a pretty appearance, but with further investigation yields more complexity.”
Grovewood Village is located at 111 Grovewood Road, adjacent to and below the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free parking is available onsite. To learn more, visit Grovewood.com or call 828.253.7651.
