Billy Ray Mangham

Twenty-Two Ways of Clay
A National Ceramics Invitational
Curated by Gary C. Hatcher
October 26th, 2001-January 8th, 2002
The Meadows Gallery
Cowan Fine & Performing Arts Center
The University of Texas at Tyler
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Billy Ray Mangham - Artist Statement

I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN CLAY FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS NOW. EACH DAY BRINGS NEW PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES, AND EACH DAY WORKING WITH CLAY BRINGS EXCITEMENT AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF MANKIND AS I DO MY LITTLE PART TO PATCH TOGETHER A CIVILIZATION WITH MATERIALS FROM THE EARTH. I HAVE BEEN MAKING A LIVING SOLELY WITH MY WORK SINCE 1989. I HAVE SPECIALIZED IN RAKU FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS BUT AS OF APRIL 2001 HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH SODA FIRING. MOST OF MY WORK IS PUT TOGETHER WITH NAILS OR PINS FASHIONED FROM NICHROME WIRE. MY WORK IS ENTIRELY SCULPTURAL AND THE CURRENT SERIES USES THE BOAT AS A STARTING POINT FOR SCULPTURAL EXPLORATION. "WORK HARD AND HAVE FUN" HAS BEEN MY MOTTO FROM THE GET GO, THOSE TWO WAYS OF BEING GUIDE ME AND NEITHER IS WORTH ANYTHING WITHOUT THE OTHER.