11-Jun-2005
Trustees are currently in Europe determining interest in a second international exhibit. Our current proposal is to circulate the existing pieces from the private collection that Richard produced in Finland in 1960, while a guest artist at Arabia (OY Wärtsilä-Arabia ceramics manufacturing firm, at that time). Along with his pieces would be those, also from the collection by his Finnish colleague, Kylliki Salmenhaara.
As a companion to this modest, but strong and elegant exhibit we hope to produce a portfolio of photographs of both potters ceramics.
The first Richard Fairbanks exhibit to the Arabia Museum was highly successful with major recognition given by the press. Leading art critic Leena Maunula wrote in the Helsingen Sanomat: "Washington state born and bred artist and teacher Fairbanks was not of Finish heritage, but his art was. His year in Finland was the turning point that is demonstrated from that time on. Works with vigorous forms and tried and true techniques feel and look very familiar."
May 7, 1994, excerpted)
Following that important recognition, in 1996, at the time of the "Networks in Ceramics '96" international conference, Arabia Director Marjut Kumela, with the help of Chief Curator Marianne Aav, had arranged a group of Fairbanks ceramics in a permanent museum display case–a rare honor for an an American potter.
Equally successful,in 1995, Sanda, Japan hosted a larger exhibit of Richard's ceramics and the paintings of Dixie Parker-Fairbanks.
Now, with the establishment of the Foundation and growing interest in the ceramics and paintings we are actively involved with plans for both exhibits and new publications.
