BRANDON — The Brandon Artists Guild (the BAG) is open for business and featuring a new exhibit by ceramic artist-member Dasha Kalisz. “A Space Within,” runs from Aug. 28-Oct. 9.  The exhibit opens with a free reception to meet the artist on Friday, Sept. 4, from 5-8 p.m. COVID protocols will be followed. Gallery hours are Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Other hours by chance.
Native Vermonter Kalisz finds the emotional center of her pieces by combining wheel-thrown forms with traditional and nontraditional surface methods. Her “Lung” series breathes new life into ceramic sculpture in a style that is whimsical, clinical and topical.
Kalisz began her investigation of the function and dysfunction of the lungs a year ago when her father passed away from a chronic lung disease. The journey led her to more sculptural forms, often assembling them with found objects.  
“My sculptures explore the spaces between human biology and mechanical mechanisms,” Kalisz explained. 
Kalisz’s process is to throw traditional forms on the potter’s wheel and then construct them into sculptures.  Traditional vases and bottles will also be on display.  
“I want the viewer to see how these shapes could be transformed into sculpture, so I kept some as functional pottery,” Kalisz said.
Kalisz earned her MFA from Maine College of Art this year. She graduated from Burlington College with a BA focusing in ceramics and art history. Kalisz has traveled extensively in North America and Europe and is a member of the Brandon Artists Guild and has juried into The Clay Studio National 2020 in Philadelphia, the Paper and Clay Show at Utah State University, and has participated in the Emotional Value Auction in Topsham, Maine. She is a public-school arts educator dedicated to cultivating creativity.
To learn more visit BrandonArtistsGuild.org.