Anomalies of Note

Perched deceptively at the entrance to the Brand Library gallery is a large ceramic vessel, Ricky Maldonado’s “Terra Lun,” an imposing and traditional piece. But this is just the beginning, and not necessarily an indication of what’s to come.

Certainly, the myriad variations on ceramic medium are accounted for in this sprawling exhibition, spreading out on the walls, floors and on tables set up in the capacious Skylight Gallery. It is the 27th annual ceramic show, culled from 500 entrants nationally, and juried by ceramic artist Phil Cornelius.

There’s no lack of solid craftsmanship and fine examples of this underrated medium, but the pieces that tend to leap out of the pack are the anomalies. Tetsuji Aono’s “One of Them (4,2)” represents kitsch central in the show, with its Jeff Koons-like ironic grin. The ceramic elf lawn jockey, punctuated with holes, stands at the center of lemon-colored, fuzzy toilet-lid covers.

A suggestion of abstracted landscape creeps into the muted forms in Charles T. Ballard’s relief piece, while William Shinn’s “Fenestrated Form” looks like a wind-swept, gothic cityscape. Elaine Fuess’ “Unwinding” is an enticing curio, a house-like structure seemingly fashioned from tightly wound wire, and Juan Granados’ ceramic concoctions look like a cross between internal organs and kitchen appliances.

Other highlights: James Keville’s “Funerary Urn: Urban Dung Beetle, #5,” John Aaron’s Van Gogh tableau; John Aebi’s minimalist torso; Janet Neuwalder’s mock-archeological bone garden; and Millicent Young’s kiln-like setting on the gallery floor. The ceramic medium, in its infinite variety, runneth over.

* “Brand XXVII, Works of Ceramics, 27th Annual Juried Exhibition,” through Jan. 3 at Brand Library Art Gallery, 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale. Hours: 1-9 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday; 1-6 p.m., Wednesday; 1-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday; (818) 548-2051.