Duane Reed Gallery is excited to showcase the intriguing ceramic vessels of Kansas City based artist Joey Watson.

Watson’s work focuses on recontextualizing objects we encounter in everyday life through the process of abstracting their appearance, creating an aura of mystery, and elevating it to a status of greater importance and reverence. His cup and straw sets, which the pop-up exhibition will focus on, are not without a healthy sense of humor; both the colors and shapes utilized are playful and approachable, jovial and eccentric. Like a ritual artifact from an ancient culture Joey’s work “is oriented around the concept of ceremonial procedure and its associated paraphernalia.” Joey says about his work: “I’m interested in the forces that ritual objects imply and the sequence of operations necessary to activate them. The work that I make is intended to be utilitarian, but within specialized circumstances. Through this intention I invite the percipients into choreographed scenarios that I hope entice a kind of transformative participation.”

Join Duane Reed Gallery for an opening reception for the artist from 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 20, or stop by the gallery to see the show before it closes June 4. See www.duanereedgallery.com for gallery hours.