Ancient Relics by Sarah Coppola
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The Durham Art Guild presents Ancient Relics by Sarah Coppola (of Indigo Arts). Please join us at the DAG Gallery at Golden Belt for the opening on Friday, August 21st from 6-9pm during the Durham Third Friday Artwalk.
If you're not able to make it to the opening, the show will be up August 14 - September 13, 2026. Please check it out when you can!
Artist Statement
My work explores the quiet dialogue between earth, fire, and the prehistoric and innate human drive to make art. Each pit-fired ceramic piece emerges from the ground transformed, carrying the unpredictable marks of flame, ash, and smoke - echoes of ancient artifacts unearthed after centuries. I am inspired by the beauty of the natural world - breathtaking rocks and weathered wood - as well as archaeology and the traces of human hands left on the natural world; worn shards and ancient relics that once served both functional and spiritual roles. By combining ceramic forms with driftwood and fused glass, I aim to create modern relics that feel discovered rather than made, bridging the space between past and present.
Rooted in the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, my process embraces imperfection and chance. The smoke patterns, cracks, and variations in texture reflect nature’s hand as much as my own. My work celebrates the beauty found in what is weathered, incomplete, and enduring. Each piece stands as both artifact and offering - a meditation on what remains when nature, fire, and the human hand collaborate.
If you're not able to make it to the opening, the show will be up August 14 - September 13, 2026. Please check it out when you can!
Artist Statement
My work explores the quiet dialogue between earth, fire, and the prehistoric and innate human drive to make art. Each pit-fired ceramic piece emerges from the ground transformed, carrying the unpredictable marks of flame, ash, and smoke - echoes of ancient artifacts unearthed after centuries. I am inspired by the beauty of the natural world - breathtaking rocks and weathered wood - as well as archaeology and the traces of human hands left on the natural world; worn shards and ancient relics that once served both functional and spiritual roles. By combining ceramic forms with driftwood and fused glass, I aim to create modern relics that feel discovered rather than made, bridging the space between past and present.
Rooted in the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, my process embraces imperfection and chance. The smoke patterns, cracks, and variations in texture reflect nature’s hand as much as my own. My work celebrates the beauty found in what is weathered, incomplete, and enduring. Each piece stands as both artifact and offering - a meditation on what remains when nature, fire, and the human hand collaborate.
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Where is it happening?
DAG Gallery - Mill No 1 at Golden Belt, 800 Taylor St, Durham, NC 27701, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherIndigo Arts
