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ForImmediateReleaseFebruary1,2018

Contact:AndreaRubinoAmericanMuseumofCeramicArt909.865.3146arubino@amoca.org

DiscoveringSaarCeramics

April7–September16,2018

Reception:Sunday,April8,2:00-5:00pm

(Pomona,CA)–TheAmericanMuseumofCeramicArt(AMOCA)ispleasedtoannounceDiscovering

SaarCeramicscuratedbyJoLauria,AMOCAAdjunctCurator.

Itisnotoftenthatacuratordiscoversanartistwhoseworkhoveredbelowthehorizonandremained

invisibletoarthistoryformorethanfiftyyears.ButsuchisthediscoveryofRichardSaarandSaar

Ceramics.TodaytheSaarnameissynonymouswithtwentiethandtwenty-firstcenturyart,giventhe

notorietyofAfrican-AmericanartistBetyeSaar,Richard’swifefrom1952–1970,anddaughters

LezleyandAlisonSaar,renownedsculptors.Richard’sartistictalentwasequallymasterfulbuthis

careerandcreativityareunsungandunderrecognized.

RichardWarnerSaar(1924–2004)wasraisedinCleveland,OhioandattendedEastTechnicalHigh

School(1939-1942).DuringhishighschoolyearsRichard’sartistictalentswerediscoveredandhewas

encouragedtostudypainting,drawing,andsculpture.ItwasinahighschoolartclassthatRichard

firstlearnedtocreateceramics.SaarcontinuedhisartstudiesatClevelandMuseumofArt(1942-

1943),buthiseducationwasinterruptedbyWorldWarII:promptedbythefightingoverseas,Richard

enlistedintheCoastGuardwhereheservedbothascoxswainandcombatartist.Afterhisdischarge,

RichardusedhisGIBilltoattendJepsonSchoolofArtinLosAngeles.TherehestudiedwithRico

LeBrunandwasclassmateswithMalcolmLeland.

RichardandhisbrotherWilliam(Bill)openedSaarCeramicsin1949,inLawndale,California,andsoon

thereafterrelocatedthestudiotoasmallQuonsethutinElSegundo.Ceramicistanddesigner

MalcolmLeland’sstudiowasatonepointintheneighboringQuonsethut.Richardcreatedthe

ceramicformsandhandpaintedthedesignsonthewares,whilehisbrotherBillranthebusinessand

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assistedintheproduction.Atitsheight,SaarCeramicsemployedeightindividualsincludingRichard

andBill.TheprofileandmarketrecognitionoftheSaarstudiowasonasteadyrise,butwiththe

additionalexpensesofhisfamily,Richardneededtoincreasehisincome.In1958,hewenttoworkas

anillustratorintheetymologydepartmentandasassistantpreparatorattheLosAngelesCounty

Museum,leavinghisbrothertooverseeproductionofthestudio.

WhenthebrothersopenedSaarCeramics,EuropeandJapanwerestrugglingtorebuildandrestart

theirfactoriesafterthedevastationofWWII,leavingthemarketfortablewareandhomeaccessories

wideopen.TheSaarseventuallyclosedthestudioin1962whentheycouldnolongercompetewith

therecoveredtablewareindustryinJapanandabroad.AfterhisinitialstintattheLosAngelesCounty

Museum,Richardtookajobasatechnicalillustratorforthedefensecontractor,Littonindustriesin

1960.HelaterapprenticedasanartconservatoratLosAnglesCountyMuseumofArtandeventually

openedanartconservationstudioinWestHollywood,whereheworkeduntilhisdeathin2004.In

additiontohisconservationpractice,Richardreturnedtoworkinginceramicsinthe1990’s,creating

uniquewheelthrownandhandbuiltpiecesthatoftenre-visitedthemotifsofhisearlierwork

GalleryHours

WednesdaythroughSunday,Noon–5:00pm

Admission:General$7,Student/Senior$5,Members&under12Free

ReceptiononApril8thisfreeandopentothepublic.

Location

AmericanMuseumofCeramicArt

399NorthGareyAvenue,Pomona,CA91767(909)865-3146www.amoca.org

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IMAGES

Image:RichardSaar,BarracudaTray

Image:RichardSaar,HorsewithTrappingsPlateDownloadableimagesareavailable:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eiukf8epnq38qqm/AAAUuUp2jIpkuBV2Se24ty2_a?dl=0

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