For the next month, the Crossman Gallery will be upholding a 42-year tradition at UW-Whitewater.

The Ceramics Exhibition is featuring 17 artists from around the country, including a Whitewater resident.

The exhibit is titled, “Utility in Contemporary Ceramics” which features tea sets, bowls, cups, plates, jars and vases.

Curator of the exhibit and Associate Professor Jared Janovec said he chose this theme because it was something the exhibition has not highlighted in the past.

“This year’s theme was also decided upon based on the urge to reveal the vitality of contemporary utilitarianism of ceramics, in all of its varied types of clay, glaze and other surface qualities, type of function, etc.,” Janovec said.

When picking a theme, Janovec said sometimes he chooses a theme first and other times he chooses the artists first. With this exhibit, he chose the theme then began the search for the artists.

One artist he knew he wanted to feature was Whitewater resident Rick Hintze.

Hintze has been involved in pottery for the past 30 years. He has experience with various types of pottery including using the potter’s wheel and the coil method.

Hintze said, to him, pottery is about rhythm and movement and he likes the fact that certain pieces can be used in daily life.

In the exhibition, Hintze has three vessels that use a wood ash and clay slip. Before the slip was applied, Hintze stained the pieces with iron oxide which gives the pieces a rusty color.

The other artists are located from coast-to-coast and have a wide age range.

The exhibit will be on display now through Feb. 18 at the Crossman Gallery in the Center of the Arts.

Janovec and Gallery Director Michael Flanagan will host a discussion at noon Feb. 2 at the Crossman Gallery. Their presentation will include basic terminology, an overview of the exhibit and a question/answer session.

Janovec said he hopes students and community members will come to the exhibit to get a sense of what contemporary, utilitarian ceramics looks like.

“The work in the show should help to remind people that people are still making quality, useable objects by hand in this digital age,” Janovec said. “It is a reminder to support, or at least learn to appreciate, that which is made by hand to serve a purpose and to tell a little bit of a story what it means to be human.”