Three Mt. Airy artists are bringing their distinctive ceramic visions to The Carolyn and Howard Alber Gallery at Allens Lane Art Center in "Unearthed," a compelling exhibition that showcases the figural works of June Terrell, Gail Lloyd and Meri Adelman.  

Curated by Martha Knox, the exhibition runs from Jan. 11 through Feb. 8, with an opening reception on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. A curator and artist talk will precede the reception from 5 to 6 p.m.

Though each artist brings unique perspectives to their ceramic work, Knox notes, they share a common thread in using the medium for storytelling, expression and exploration, reflecting both their individual journeys and their connections within the community.

Meri Adelman, who trained as a fine art painter, brings a fascinating perspective to her ceramic work. The Massachusetts native served as the Robert L. McNeil Curator of Education at Woodmere Art Museum from 1992 to 2005, until a brain tumor forced her departure. Drawing since age 11, Adelman worked exclusively in black and white until after her benign tumor was removed. Though formally trained as a painter, she has spent the last decade immersed in ceramics, creating dreamlike figures and vessels.

"I am not crazy for color; it feels too artificial," Adelman explained recently. "Therefore, I am attracted to the natural color of the clay, which fortunately ranges from whites and yellow to reds and black. Sometimes I like adding small amounts of colored glaze to enliven and decorate some portion of the figure." She adds that her decades of figure drawing provide "a mental archive... It's like being on one side of a mountain, and then you walk around to the other side, and there's something else going on. Sculpture provides a way to be in at least two places at once."

June Terrell, a self-taught artist with deep community roots, creates powerful portraits in terracotta, deliberately leaving the natural clay exposed to capture raw emotion and authenticity. Her connection to the area runs deep – she now lives just eight blocks from where she grew up on East Allens Lane and once served as a junior camp counselor at Allens Lane Art Center Summer Camp.

"I was exposed to art by my parents," Terrell shared, "and I always kept a little clay around the home as an adult. Working with clay came easy to me, but making the mud stand up is hard... I would describe my work as focused. A meditation of construction/media limitations and possibilities." Her work has been featured throughout the community, appearing in venues along Germantown Avenue including Mt. Airy Art Garage, Foliage, Stapeleys, and several others.

Gail Lloyd brings a rich background in both fine arts and film to her ceramic work. A graduate of the University of the Arts (then Philadelphia College of the Arts), she also studied at Fleisher Art Memorial and Temple University's School of Theater, Film and Media Arts. Her 25-year career in independent film took her around the world, but she has remained rooted in Mt. Airy since 1998, sharing her home with her wife, Angela.

Lloyd's artistic journey began with architecture and art studies in high school, leading to early career work in engineering departments. Her sculptures have found homes in prestigious venues, including The Colored Girls Museum's permanent collection. In 2024, she earned selection for Woodmere's 82nd Juried Show, "What Is Belonging?"

Curator Martha Knox emphasizes that "'Unearthed' celebrates how these artists, despite diverse backgrounds, reach similar artistic destinations through shared experiences and mutual inspiration. This exhibition encourages reflection on the human experience, highlighting the connections between identity, memory and storytelling."

This exhibition is part of The RMMB Curatorial Fellowship program at Allens Lane Art Center that was created to honor the life and memory of Rebeccah Milena Maia Blum, an international curator who grew up spending her summers at the Center's Summer Art Camp.

For more information, visit allenslane.org. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com