David Pinto shows 'New Growth' at Mutual Gallery

Robyn Miller, Gleaner Writer

Trelawny native and potter David Pinto is on the cusp of something new.

'New Growth' is the name of his upcoming exhibition set to take place at Kingston's Mutual Gallery and Art Centre on Oxford Road this Thursday at 7 p.m.

Pinto, last week, gave a peek into the dreamy world of contemporary ceramic culture which the works embody.

"I have been cultivating 'New Growth' in the hills of Trelawny and am excited to share where that journey has taken me," said the artist, who recently published a book on sculpting.

His two groups of sculptures will reflect "a personal journey of fertility, blending the sensuality of human and plant forms", and a smaller collection titled 'Soul Serving', which are massive three-legged vessels.

Pinto's tall, human-like sculptural forms are cleverly woven into his dreamy world while his pottery shapes combine imagery from the human form and plant reproduction such as seed pods to form life-sized sensual art objects.

Massive, sensually shaped wooden tree branches have been hewn to echo, commune with and virtually form part of the ceramic pieces they support.

Several pieces from Pinto's 'New Growth' collection have been selected to be part of the Bi-Annual Exhibition this year at the National Gallery of Jamaica.

With a career spanning some 20 years, Pinto has had numerous exhibitions and taught ceramics both locally and abroad. He has also served on the board of the National Gallery of Jamaica, offered his expertise as a visiting examiner at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, and is the founder of the ceramics department at the now-defunct Cultural Arts Centre in Montego Bay.

Pinto hosts international workshops and local classes at his studio, working with leaders in his field and sharing information locally. School visits are an important part of his workshop programme geared at spreading appreciation of art, clay, and firing.

The exhibition launch is open to the general public and is sponsored by National Commercial Bank, Carreras Group, Ideal Portfolio Services, RBC Royal Bank, SuperPlus, Island Mist, JN General Insurance, BCIC, KOOL 97 FM, and Wray and Nephew.

A mere two days after his launch, Pinto will host an open house at his studio/gallery at Good Hope in the beautiful hills of Trelawny.

He will also showcase his functional work at the annual Potters' Fair at the Forestry Department on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew on December 15 and 16.

For information on the Mutual Gallery exhibit, contact Gilou Bauer at 929-4302; or email mutualgallery@cwjamaica.com.