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ForImmediateReleaseFebruary1,2018
Contact:AndreaRubinoAmericanMuseumofCeramicArt909.865.3146arubino@amoca.org
DiscoveringSaarCeramics
April7–September16,2018
Reception:Sunday,April8,2:00-5:00pm
(Pomona,CA)–TheAmericanMuseumofCeramicArt(AMOCA)ispleasedtoannounceDiscovering
SaarCeramicscuratedbyJoLauria,AMOCAAdjunctCurator.
Itisnotoftenthatacuratordiscoversanartistwhoseworkhoveredbelowthehorizonandremained
invisibletoarthistoryformorethanfiftyyears.ButsuchisthediscoveryofRichardSaarandSaar
Ceramics.TodaytheSaarnameissynonymouswithtwentiethandtwenty-firstcenturyart,giventhe
notorietyofAfrican-AmericanartistBetyeSaar,Richard’swifefrom1952–1970,anddaughters
LezleyandAlisonSaar,renownedsculptors.Richard’sartistictalentwasequallymasterfulbuthis
careerandcreativityareunsungandunderrecognized.
RichardWarnerSaar(1924–2004)wasraisedinCleveland,OhioandattendedEastTechnicalHigh
School(1939-1942).DuringhishighschoolyearsRichard’sartistictalentswerediscoveredandhewas
encouragedtostudypainting,drawing,andsculpture.ItwasinahighschoolartclassthatRichard
firstlearnedtocreateceramics.SaarcontinuedhisartstudiesatClevelandMuseumofArt(1942-
1943),buthiseducationwasinterruptedbyWorldWarII:promptedbythefightingoverseas,Richard
enlistedintheCoastGuardwhereheservedbothascoxswainandcombatartist.Afterhisdischarge,
RichardusedhisGIBilltoattendJepsonSchoolofArtinLosAngeles.TherehestudiedwithRico
LeBrunandwasclassmateswithMalcolmLeland.
RichardandhisbrotherWilliam(Bill)openedSaarCeramicsin1949,inLawndale,California,andsoon
thereafterrelocatedthestudiotoasmallQuonsethutinElSegundo.Ceramicistanddesigner
MalcolmLeland’sstudiowasatonepointintheneighboringQuonsethut.Richardcreatedthe
ceramicformsandhandpaintedthedesignsonthewares,whilehisbrotherBillranthebusinessand
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assistedintheproduction.Atitsheight,SaarCeramicsemployedeightindividualsincludingRichard
andBill.TheprofileandmarketrecognitionoftheSaarstudiowasonasteadyrise,butwiththe
additionalexpensesofhisfamily,Richardneededtoincreasehisincome.In1958,hewenttoworkas
anillustratorintheetymologydepartmentandasassistantpreparatorattheLosAngelesCounty
Museum,leavinghisbrothertooverseeproductionofthestudio.
WhenthebrothersopenedSaarCeramics,EuropeandJapanwerestrugglingtorebuildandrestart
theirfactoriesafterthedevastationofWWII,leavingthemarketfortablewareandhomeaccessories
wideopen.TheSaarseventuallyclosedthestudioin1962whentheycouldnolongercompetewith
therecoveredtablewareindustryinJapanandabroad.AfterhisinitialstintattheLosAngelesCounty
Museum,Richardtookajobasatechnicalillustratorforthedefensecontractor,Littonindustriesin
1960.HelaterapprenticedasanartconservatoratLosAnglesCountyMuseumofArtandeventually
openedanartconservationstudioinWestHollywood,whereheworkeduntilhisdeathin2004.In
additiontohisconservationpractice,Richardreturnedtoworkinginceramicsinthe1990’s,creating
uniquewheelthrownandhandbuiltpiecesthatoftenre-visitedthemotifsofhisearlierwork
GalleryHours
WednesdaythroughSunday,Noon–5:00pm
Admission:General$7,Student/Senior$5,Members&under12Free
ReceptiononApril8thisfreeandopentothepublic.
Location
AmericanMuseumofCeramicArt
399NorthGareyAvenue,Pomona,CA91767(909)865-3146www.amoca.org
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IMAGES
Image:RichardSaar,BarracudaTray
Image:RichardSaar,HorsewithTrappingsPlateDownloadableimagesareavailable:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eiukf8epnq38qqm/AAAUuUp2jIpkuBV2Se24ty2_a?dl=0
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