August 16-November 17, 2004
Reception: August 19, 2004 5-8pm

Presented by the Oakland Museum of California Professional Services division
Professional Services Exhibition Archive

Trent Burkett, Erratic Collection with Finial, 2003, 79" x 18" x 15", ceramic, aluminum

The Oakland Museum of California is pleased to present Elements of the Garden, sculptures by Trent Burkett. Elements of the Garden features ceramic and wood mixed media sculpture reminiscent of gardens and garden tools.

In speaking about gardens, Burkett says “they represent nature in a way that humans can relate to it; their constructed spaces offer an ideal of nature. The defined space of gardens joins landscapes of the real and the contrived.” Burkett has created his own elements of the garden in this exhibit, using ladders, rakes, bench forms and even boulders. As one enters the space, a large (over 12 feet high) ladder confronts the viewer. Hand-crafted by the artist, it immediately draws your attention to the
rituals and labor involved in gardening, as do the hand-crafted rakes. Although they reference functional tools, these are clearly not to be used. The rakes are positioned on forms that look like altars of some kind, honoring their use and function.

Benches and Stupas are other key elements in the exhibit. The benches can be seen in varying scale and material. They invite us to sit and ponder the garden implements before us. The Stupa is linked to temple architecture and ritual. He has created his own ceramic Stupas. As Burkett states, “Stupa forms are sites for ritual exercise. Gardens and Stupas serve the same purpose; they are constructed spaces that bring us closer to a greater understanding of the uncontrollable—the real world.”

Trent Burkett, Erratic Grouping, 2003, 18" x 5' x 9', ceramic

The other key element in the exhibition is boulders. These are hand-made by the artist and mimic natural rock formations. He refers to them as “erratics” to reference the natural phenomenon of glacial deposited boulders placed in an erratic way by strong geologic forces. His boulders are wood-fired ceramic and a metaphor of the natural geologic process. As with their natural counterparts, the finish on wood fired ceramics is random and dependent on the placement of the piece and the heat in the kiln. The media, being primarily wood and ceramic, is significant to Burkett. He calls them primal materials-- basic materials found in nature and used for centuries for both utilitarian and ritual objects.

Trent Burkett, Finial, 2003, 12" x 18", ceramic

Burkett currently lives and works in Stockton. He received his M.F.A. from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He is assistant professor of sculpture and ceramics at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. He has exhibited his work in the following California cities: Guallala, Santa Barbara, Stockton, San Francisco, Sacramento and Sutter Creek. Burkett has exhibited in Minneapolis, MN; Chester Springs, PA; and Columbus, OH. He has been invited as a guest lecturer at the San Joaquin Potter’s Guild, the University of Wisconsin in Stout and the University of Wisconsin in River Falls. Burkett is represented by Trax Gallery (Berkeley) and the Stewart Kummer Gallery (Guallala).

Trent Burkett, Elements of the Garden, is presented by the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) in partnership with Shorenstein Realty Services. The exhibition is part of a changing exhibition series at the Sculpture Court and represents an ongoing collaboration between the museum and Shorenstein to showcase contemporary artists.

Organized by the Professional Services division of the Oakland Museum of California.