The Kenai Art Center opened its July shows this weekend, with the front gallery filled by the clay artistry of the Kenai Potter’s Guild and in the back gallery a solo show by new center Board President Sandra Lewis.

The Kenai Potter’s Guild puts on an annual “Clay on Display” exhibition each year, showcasing the varied ceramic works of Kenai Peninsula potters. Potters said last year that their medium can be different from other arts in that each piece is tactile — many of the items are made to be used.

Daisy Jeffords, guild secretary, said that this year’s theme is “tea party,” and many of the pieces featured are teapots or cups, alongside a wide range of other work. The show is fun, she said, because its artists are as varied as the work featured. Some have been creating ceramic art for decades, others were taking classes in the last year — all are presented side by side.

Pottery appeals, Jeffords said, because of its duality. Teapots are something as likely to see use in a home as they are to be displayed as fine art.

Each piece in the show is “something special that’s beautiful — a piece of art — but it also serves a function.”

For more information about the guild, search for “Kenai Potters Guild AK” on Facebook.

Lewis’ show, “Memories of Japan,” is a collection of “images from her time in Japan,” according to information on the center’s website.

Both shows will open with a First Friday reception on Friday, running 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with live music and refreshments.

Both shows will be available during gallery hours, Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., until July 27.

In addition to this month’s shows, the Kenai Art Center is seeking art by tattoo artists for its August show.

The show will feature fine art by Alaska tattoo artists and open on Aug. 2. An online post by the center says they’re seeking sketches, drawings or prints of work by local tattoo artists, with submissions opening this weekend on July 6. Submissions will be accepted until July 27.

Charlotte Coots, executive director at the center, said in December that the show is intended to showcase and celebrate the work of tattoo artists — “the fine art that they never get to show.”

For more information about the Kenai Art Center, including upcoming exhibitions and programming, find “Kenai Art Center” on Facebook or visit kenaiartcenter.org.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Ceramic art by Bryan Olds, part of the Kenai Potter’s Guild’s “Clay on Display,” is seen at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ceramic art, part of the Kenai Potter’s Guild’s “Clay on Display,” is seen at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The Kenai Potter’s Guild’s annual exhibition, “Clay on Display,” is seen at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)