Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts | Jeff Margolin and Fred Yokel

Previous Exhibition

Jeff Margolin and Fred Yokel

Beato Gallery
September 15 - October 28, 2018

The Opening Reception was held Saturday, September 15, 2018 / 2 - 5 pm

Jeff Margolin and Fred Yokel both explore the potential of carving clay in their distinctive bodies of ceramic work. Their approaches are different, but the two long-time friends are joining together to present an exhibition and workshop at the Center.

Jeff Margolin

Jeff Margolin began working with clay over thirty-five years ago, at studios around West Los Angeles. It was during his studies in political theory at UC Berkeley that it became clear to him that clay had chosen him more than he had chosen clay. His realization that the only life he could justify was as a ceramic artist was as surprising as it was certain. He immediately reoriented his approach from functional to sculptural and began to present his work seriously. He has been gradually refining and evolving his work ever since.

Margolin's clay sculptures convey a strong personal style that reveals an engaging and sensual aesthetic, often containing subtle philosophical statements. His pieces are dynamic in nature and their sense of flow and movement is inspired by artists such as Dali and Giger. There is a unique merging of textured and polished, transparent and opaque, rounded and sharp, which makes for a destabilizing artistic message. The sculptures are prominent in their space, while constantly altering it. His forms, carvings, and finish combine to leave his inimitable signature.

Jeff Margolin
Sculptural Vessel Form (Seaweed)
Carved and burnished clay
11" h x 8.5" w x 3" d | $220.

Jeff Margolin
Sculptural Vessel Form (Machinery)
Carved and burnished clay
12" h x 14" w x 3" d | $350.

Jeff Margolin - Sculptural Vessel Form (People)
Jeff Margolin | Sculptural Vessel Form (People)
Carved and burnished clay | 8.5" h x 11.5" w x 2.5" d | $320.

Jeff Margolin
Lidded Vessel
Carved and burnished clay
8" h x 8.5" w x 3" d | $320.

Jeff Margolin
Untitled Vessel with Carved Neck
Carved and burnished clay
16" h x 8" dia | $325.

Jeff Margolin - Sculptural Vessel Form (Ruins)
Jeff Margolin | Sculptural Vessel Form (Ruins)
Carved and burnished clay | 6.5" h x 9.5" dia | $250.

Jeff Margolin
Untitled Vessel
Carved and burnished clay
16" h x 8" dia | $400.

Jeff Margolin
Tall Vessel with Gold Neck
Carved and burnished clay
21" h x 7.5" dia | $400.

Jeff Margolin - Arrowhead
Jeff Margolin | Arrowhead

Jeff Margolin | Ceiling Pattern

Jeff Margolin | Dancing Hands Arch

Fred Yokel

Fred Yokel began working with clay as a sophomore in high school. He found it a wonderful means of expressing his three-dimensional ideas and exploring texture, color and shape. He is inspired by many things in nature such as rock formations, tree bark and underwater plants and animals. These provide the starting point to build upon with color, texture and form. His current explorations involve studying the basic human form and extracting a frozen moment of a particular scene, analyzing the moment and trying to reduce that moment to a single frame of action. He concentrates heavily on the movement and stance of the figure, rather than the facial expression, constantly trying to figure out which position to tilt a hand or an elbow or a bent knee to express a particular movement or maybe even a particular emotion.

"There is an endless supply of ideas found in the human condition, so I have plenty of information to work with," Yokel says. "I find inspiration in watching people on the street and in everyday situations that we all go through. Then there is my own twisted mind, that allows me to make up scenes, spoofs and humorous vignettes that go behind the figures. Finally, I enjoy coming up with titles that throw a bit of humor into the equation. I'm a strong advocate of 'laughter is the best medicine,' so I'm pleased when I hear someone laughing at one of my pieces."