Closing Reception: Saturday, June 13, from 5-9pm 

On View: May 9 – June 13
Morean Center for Clay
420 22nd St. South 

Artist Statement: 

“My time spent at the Morean Center for Clay, while valuable, has offered time to realize aspects of home that I didn’t expect to miss. Leaving Indiana has given me the chance to reflect on what matters most. There is a certain kindness that is instilled in the Midwest. There are quiet customs we commit to that form strong communities. One of these habits that holds a place in my heart is the Midwest goodbye. When any sort of gathering or shared meal comes to an end, a goodbye is never enough. Friends and families involuntarily start new topics of conversation in an attempt to hang onto more time spent together.

While I’ve enjoyed Florida, it has been an adjustment. I may be far from the Midwest, but I have met many kind individuals who have made me feel right at home during my time adapting. This exhibition showcases the artwork that came from the two years I spent with a newfound community as an artist in residence, plus, the additional time I had working as the technician. This added opportunity offered the chance to start new topics and hang around a little longer; to say goodbye the Midwestern way. This work is shown with sincere gratitude for the space I was given, the things I have learned, and the people that have pushed me further. This community has my deepest thanks.

Here’s to another reason to gather together and talk a little longer before saying goodbye.”

About Erica Bleu:

Erica Bleu grew up in Indiana with a playful relationship to clay. She maintained this mindset, however, in a more refined manner as she continued her studies. Now, she practices making elegant and precise ceramic forms that tie back to her initial fears found in nature, turned into her current interests. She communicates her thoughts on growth through vulnerability depicted by the beauty found in spiders and other insects. She graduated from Ball State University in the spring of 2023 with a BFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in ceramics. She is constantly working to communicate her concepts and develop her technique at the Morean Center for Clay.