Located in a “transitional neighborhood” in Denver, once occupied with light industries, automobile salvage yards, and abandoned buildings, is a unique collection of artists and galleries. Among them is Plinth Gallery, an intimate exhibition venue for contemporary ceramic art. In 2006, Jonathan Kaplan, a well anthologized and noted ceramic artist, serendipitously discovered this location in Denver and established Plinth Gallery, his own studio and home in a vacant 2 story warehouse. After an extensive four-year renovation, this “adaptive-reuse” project transformed a once bland rectangular building into a live-work space. Plinth Gallery was honored with a Denver Mayor's Design Award and is now a recognized architectural landmark in Denver’s fast-growing River North Art District.
The vision for Plinth Gallery is not only to showcase fine contemporary ceramics. The gallery also provides a location for education in the ceramic arts with extensive outreach to public, private schools and community colleges. Through workshops with visiting ceramic artists, excursions to the gallery by art classes, Plinth Gallery has been a gathering place that provides an educational forum for the introduction of contemporary ceramic arts to our community.
The Gallery is an intimate and ever-changing exhibition space for contemporary ceramics. Whether sculptural or functional, the gallery provides exhibition opportunities for both emerging ceramic talent as well as established career clay artists. The many styles of clay expression demonstrate a broad diversity of interpretation. We schedule one-person exhibitions and represent many ceramic artists both national and international. Plinth Gallery offers a unique venue with a very well curated collection for those interested in fine, contemporary, and collectible ceramics.
In architecture, a plinth is the base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. Gottfried Semper's The Four Elements of Architecture (1851) posited that the plinth, the hearth, the roof, and the wall make up all of architectural theory. According to Semper, the plinth exists to negotiate between a structure and the ground. Semper's theory has been very influential in the subsequent development of architecture.ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from Latin plinthus, from Greek plinthos ‘tile, brick, squared stone.’ The Latin form was in early use in English.
Plinth Gallery conceptualizes that very definition of a platform or base, referring to one of the essential procedures in making ceramics, “centering.” This is an elemental core process which provides the base, platform, or cylinder upon which form develops. Those artists selected for exhibitions at Plinth Gallery successfully exploit that core idea of the “negotiation between structure and ground” by the artful manipulation of material organized in both traditional and abstract ways. While idea of the vessel is defined by containment, it is precisely the content that gives the work meaning and inviting of dialog.
Plinth Gallery not only is an exhibition venue for fine ceramics, but also to create space for individuals seeking to nourish and nurture their creative spirit. Our workshop program is designed to bring ceramics artists to the Denver area to help participants to further their knowledge and skill base. Plinth Gallery opens its doors to anyone looking to immerse themselves in an intimate exhibition experience of contemporary ceramic art. We are proud of having created a dynamic and ever-changing space for creativity, where the talents of both emerging and established ceramic artists are put on full display.
We actively coordinate with both public and private schools, as well as local community colleges, to give students another avenue to further understand the craft. The gallery takes its role seriously in the task of introducing contemporary ceramic arts to the community..
Visit us at 3520 Brighton Blvd in the RiNo Art District. Do take note of our gallery hours. You may also call us at 303-295-0717 to set an appointment for your gallery visit, or if you have any questions about the exhibits and workshops available.
Plinth Gallery is located at 3520 Brighton Blvd, in Denver’s River North District (RiNo). We welcome visitors every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can also set an appointment with us if you would like to secure your access to our gallery. There is no charge to visit the galery.
We are certainly looking forward to having you visit us at Plinth Gallery. See you soon!