But consistent with his philosophy as a juror, most of the artists are seen in depth, and that's a difference from previous years, too. As it turns out, women have played a large and prominent role in American studio ceramics, a field, unlike painting, that has long been open to women and in which women have played key roles. Higby's selections also reveal his taste for clay that's been handled in gestural and expressionistic ways. He reveals a taste for traditional vessels and for sculptures based on vessel forms. His preferences in glazing are equally conservative, with subtle, Oriental-inspired shades of green, cream and brown predominating.
Oriental accents constitute a major theme, although there are a handful of other styles as well.
The show begins in the Metsopoulos gallery, just off the homey entrance to Foothills. It has been glazed a ginger brown with a white interior. The surfaces have been heavily figured with raised lines. Nearby are figural vessels by Sumi von Dassow that refer to American Indian ceramics. These serve as a perfect setup for another show going on at Foothills, The Miracle of Mata Ortiz .