"Flowers from Earth and Sand" opens at the Ackland

Even though the smattering of students at Sunday’s opening of “Flowers from Earth and Sand” at the Ackland Art Museum seemed mostly drawn to the free food, there was still plenty of delicious art to take in at the Ackland’s newest exhibit.

See my review of the exhibit on page four of Wednesday’s Daily Tar Heel.

“Flowers,” a thoughtful and comprehensive look at ceramic and glass in the late 19th and early 20th century, bills itself as a decorative exploration of the influential Art Nouveau movement.

During her prepared remarks at the opening, museum director Emily Kass credited the inspiration for the show to art collectors Herb and Eunice Shatzman, who maintain a considerable collection of Art Nouveau ceramics.

“Both Herb and Eunice agreed that their collection needed to be shared with the community,” Kass said. The ceramic elements of the collection are on loan from the Shatzmans, while the glassware is a mix of museum-owned pieces.

“These separate collections really complement each other well,” Kass said. “It’s high style for everyday use.”

The Shatzmans were on hand at the gallery opening to talk about their collection and the role they had in the development of the exhibit.

“Whatever we collect, we want to give away,” Herb Shatzman said. The couple regularly lends and donates their sizable collection of Chinese and Art Nouveau ceramics to their alma matters — Cornell University for Eunice Shatzman and UNC for Herb.

“We like to give art to universities so that the public can enjoy it,” Eunice Shatzman said.

The exhibit spans across a broad range of styles, countries and studios.

“All the pieces reflect the Art Nouveau ideal,” Kass said. “It was truly a revolutionary period of art.”

Art collector and Ackland regular Rick Pardew of Winston-Salem was effusive on Sunday as he munched on some snacks.

“These ceramic and glass pieces are the ultimate in calculated flamboyance,” Pardew said. “Work from this period is pure eye candy for me.”

Kass agreed.

“It’s timeless,” she said. “Very fresh, contemporary work, even though it is more than 100 years old.”

“Flowers from Earth and Sand: Art Glass and Ceramics, 1880-1950” is on display at the Ackland until Dec. 12. Admission is free. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.