The Ceramic Exposition and Art Exhibition: Art + Culture will take place on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Jones Coffee Roasters (1006 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030), from 3 PM to 7 PM. This year, the exposition coincides with the citywide Fall South Pasadena Arts Crawl, featuring a variety of artists both in inside the cafe and in the patio garden. While the Arts Crawl runs from 1 PM to 8 PM, the exposition will take place from 3 PM to 7 PM. The cafe will be open during its regular hours, from 7 AM to 5 PM, with the outdoor patio remaining open for guests to view the booths until 7 PM. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, as artist booths tend to sell out quickly! See you there!
S7CAG is proud to announce the launch of the 1st annual Ceramic Exposition and Art Exhibition: Art + Culture, an event that brings a diverse range of artistry together in one location. While this inaugural exposition spotlights ceramic art by local ceramists, the event aspires to evolve into an annual celebration of various artistic styles that influence cultures worldwide. This is a modest beginning to what could grow into a much larger exposition, exploring the vast spectrum of art styles and genres that shape different aspects of culture.
In this first art exposition, we showcase handcrafted works by ceramicists, alongside crochet, visual art—including Impressionistic cityscapes, landscapes, portraits, and abstract pieces—photography, and carefully curated vintage fashion.
A Brief History of Ceramics
Ceramics have played a significant role in cultures worldwide, both functionally and artistically, for thousands of years. Their use is deeply embedded in daily life, religion, trade, and artistic expression across various civilizations. From essential tools for survival to objects of artistic value and trade, ceramics have shaped cultural identities and economies throughout history.
Given the historical significance and global influence of ceramics, it is fitting to spotlight ceramic artwork crafted by local ceramicists at the inaugural Ceramic Exposition and Art Exhibition: Art + Culture by S7CAG.
Inside the Jones Coffee Roasters cafe
(7AM to 5PM)
S7CAG is pleased to announce the ongoing art exhibition within the Jones Coffee Roasters cafe in South Pasadena, presenting artwork by local artists Zebulon Sola, Theresa Kennedy, Anna Léger-Hawks, and David Slegers.
All the artists presented below are listed in alphabetical order.
Anna Léger-Hawks
Anna took her first art class when she was 10 years old and has been in love with creating artwork ever since. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Studio Arts from California State University, Los Angeles, and has taught art at substance abuse facilities for the past 10 years. Being in recovery herself for almost 14 years, her artwork has become a healthy outlet for her and others as they recover from substance abuse and maintain sobriety.
Her current body of artwork is inspired by music, movement, and graffiti. She has truly enjoyed creating this series, as it serves as a fun, meditative, and relaxing creative outlet. Her hope is for the viewer to find abstract imagery within the art, which is why she uses the word "pareidolia" in all of her titles. The current series of abstract works is created with acrylic paint and metallic markers on stretched canvases, often described as stained glass window-style paintings. In addition to exhibiting her artwork within the cafe, Léger-Hawks will also be hosting a booth in the patio garden.
For more information, follow Anna Léger-Hawks on Instagram
David Slegers
Born in Chino in 1987, David Slegers grew up surrounded by cows and open spaces. Now based in Pasadena, he has spent countless hours walking through Los Angeles, capturing his discoveries on camera and exploring the nature of the space itself. Inspired by these experiences, David creates art that reflects humanity’s struggle to find meaning and relief in a world both adverse and absurd, often of our own making. Recently, he has become captivated by the idea of the city as an entity with its own aura and influence, which he seeks to document and express through various mediums.
David’s current exhibition at Jones Coffee Roasters features selected works from two series: Recollections and Canids. In Recollections, using a variety of media—including collage, ink, pencil, and gouache—David focuses on intricate details, creating small, meticulously crafted works on paper that deconstruct the world and examine our relationship with it. His fascination with architecture, infrastructure, and urban decay, along with a lifetime of doodling, sketching, and exploring, has steadily shaped this body of work.
In Canids, David explores his favorite animal, the coyote—a much-maligned yet misunderstood species. Coyotes thrive on the boundary between wilderness and civilization, perhaps more successfully than any other creature. Yet, for this very reason, they are often despised rather than celebrated. Having grown up on a farm and now living in the city, David deeply relates to this wily creature. As a tribute to his fascination with this often-disparaged canid, David has created these acrylic portraits.
To view the full collection of available artwork by David Slegers, visit his online gallery here on the S7CAG website, or follow him on Instagram.
Elisa Quiñonez Ceramics
Elisa works with stoneware clay, primarily focusing on creating functional ware for the table, kitchen, and flower arrangements. Her pieces are reduction fired in a gas kiln. She is also the Studio Technician for the Ceramics program at East Los Angeles College.
Theresa Kennedy
Theresa Kennedy, based in Pasadena, California, creates Impressionism-influenced artwork ranging from abstract compositions to evocative landscapes. With a background in photography, Kennedy emphasizes composition and medium manipulation throughout her creative process. Her works often feature layered textures, inviting viewers to uncover hidden depths through visual storytelling. A recurring theme in her art, which she calls "dark discovery," draws parallels between her cold wax paintings and photography, encouraging a deeper exploration of the image.
To view the full collection of available artwork by Theresa Kennedy, visit her online gallery here on the S7CAG website, or follow her on Instagram.
Zebulon Sola
Zebulon, a second-generation Angeleno born in 1990, has lived his entire life in Los Angeles, fostering a deep attachment to the city. With a love-it-or-hate-it attitude toward his hometown, Zebulon captures its complexities through photography, focusing on the often-overlooked patterns in nature and daily life. Influenced by photographers like Jonas Rask, Roman Fox, and Ernst Haas, Zebulon draws inspiration from their moody, high-contrast cityscapes, blending reality with artistic expression.
Zebulon's latest collection, For the Love of a City, offers his unique perspective on Los Angeles. Through street photography, he captures subtle patterns and overlooked moments, uncovering a deeper truth about the city. He views the residents as the city's true essence, defining it through their resilience and pride. As Zebulon himself states, "We have, in a way, pledged a marriage to this city, and dare not let it go. Whatever state we are in... we are unwilling to say goodbye." This series celebrates both the hidden beauty of the city and the strength of those who call it home.
To view the full collection of available artwork by Zebulon Sola, visit his online gallery, or follow Zebulon Sola on Instagram.
The Exposition Throughout the Patio Garden
(3PM to 7PM)
The patio garden at Jones Coffee Roasters is host to several artists and vendors from in and around South Pasadena, with a focus on exhibiting a variety of styles of ceramic art; from functional pieces to more artistic expressions. This area of the exhibition is the focal point of the evening, spotlighting ceramicists while also featuring visual art, crochet, and fashion.
The various artists and vendors presented below are listed in alphabetical order.
BEANZMART
BEANZMART creates unique and whimsical handbuilt ceramics that serve as both functional and non-functional sculptures. From mugs shaped like heads to jars resembling girls and creatures riding horses, her work aims to bring joy into people's homes. BEANZ channels her inner child while creating, always striving to craft pieces that bring her the most joy. This playful intent is felt by others, as her work, often displayed at galleries and markets, consistently elicits smiles, laughter, and comments about the happiness and inspiration it brings—exactly what she hopes to achieve.
For more information, follow BEANZMART on Instagram or visit her website.
Hendmade Ceramics by Joseph Henderer
Joseph Henderer, also known as Hendmade Ceramics, is a Los Angeles-based ceramicist and educator whose vessels tell stories through purpose-driven forms, aesthetic appeal, and culturally-rooted narratives. He supplies custom, functional, and decorative pieces that are meticulously handmade. Using clay, Joseph molds meaningful elements of life into permanent objects meant to be used and touched. His designs stem from experiences or cultural concepts that have resonated with him during his travels. He works with porcelain, stoneware, and earthenware, depending on the aesthetic and functional needs of his creations. Selected pieces are fired in cone 10 reduction, cone 5 oxidation, and atmospheric (pit fire) environments.
Hendmade Ceramics will be exhibiting two collections: the Guarde Series (Vases) and the Moitié-Moitié Series ("Half and Half" Coffee Sets). The Guarde Series draws inspiration from the Proto-Indo-European root wer- meaning "to watch; keep; guard; notice; heed." These vases combine the classic urn and the human form to embody a sense of vigilant constancy, perpetual attention, dutiful warding, and protection from external forces. The forms oscillate between animate personifications of human figures and inanimate architectural arcades of Roman antiquity. Much like the way the Proto-Indo-European root evolved to mean both "look at" and "guard" in modern languages, these vessels simultaneously captivate the eye while seeming to conceal or protect something from it.
The Moitié-Moitié Series, meaning "Half and Half," is a collection of coffee sets inspired by the Swiss tradition of moitié-moitié, intended for enjoying espresso and pastries with a companion. This series highlights the balance between complementary cultures, languages, and perspectives, reflecting the idea of harmony through shared experiences.
For more information, follow Hendmade Ceramics on Instagram or visit his website.
Mimi Pottery
Mira Lanz, also known as Mini Pottery, is a Los Angeles native and has been a ceramicist for six years. She graduated with a degree in Fine Art from ArtCenter College of Design, where she explored various mediums, including sound and video, installation, illustration, and ultimately sculpture and ceramics. Mira has worked in multiple studios as a Studio Lab Technician and Instructor, always striving to offer a supportive and positive approach to those she works with. She is currently the Studio Assistant at Not Another Pottery Studio in Eagle Rock.
For more information, follow Mini Pottery on Instagram.
Packrat Vintage
Packrat Vintage – New to You Fashion – began many years ago with an unexpected thrifting discovery. One day, Jordan Matranga's mother returned home with a "find" for Jordan's father. Though initially not fond of secondhand items, he inspected it with interest, asking, “Is it new?” Her mother replied, “It’s new to you!” This phrase became the ethos behind Packrat Vintage.
Jordan developed a love for searching through racks for unique treasures, combining vintage fashion with modern styles to create distinctive outfits. Her passion for one-of-a-kind pieces began at a young age during thrift-shopping trips with her mother. As her collection grew, Jordan turned her passion into a business, realizing that others appreciated her eye for style and were curious about where she found her unique items.
Today, Packrat Vintage offers a curated mix of timeless pieces and contemporary trends. While most sales are online, the highlight of the business is the pop-up shops at Jones Coffee Roasters, where Jordan enjoys connecting with customers face-to-face.
For more information, follow Packrate Vintage on Instagram or visit her website.
RareBird
Emily Tyra has been creating ceramic art under the moniker RareBird since 2018. Through wheel throwing, she navigates gravity, force, and mass with physical movement, much like in her early career as a professional ballet dancer. Instead of the fleeting imprint of choreography, she fills negative space with soft clay, leaving a permanent record of a small, intimate dance.
Emily’s work is inspired by the rich color palette and landscapes of California and other sweeping coastlines she has explored in her travels. Her signature glaze lines are designed to showcase movement within a still form. Additionally, Emily is a brain cancer survivor and has found working with clay and creating beautiful objects to be a meditative, healing practice. She takes joy in knowing that these pieces of art will outlive all of us.
For more information, follow RareBird on Instagram or visit her website.
Robert Sherrill
Robert Sherrill, a Southern California artist, captures the majestic beauty of the natural world through his impressionistic paintings in watercolor and oil. His passion for art began early, with museum visits as a child, and continued with formal education at Riverside Community College and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Sherrill has spent over three decades participating in exhibitions across Southern California, gaining recognition for his plein air painting style, where he creates artworks outdoors from direct observation. His collection, including local scenes from Pasadena and South Pasadena, is celebrated for its vivid portrayal of light, shape, and color. To view his complete body of work, including rarely exhibited watercolors and coastal landscapes, visit his online collection with S7CAG.
To view the full collection of available artwork by Robert Sherrill, visit his online gallery here on the S7CAG website.
Sad Flame Ceramics
Sad Flame Ceramics is a female-driven ceramics business based out of Los Angeles. Each ceramic piece is handmade by a collaboration of Latinas, inspired by nature and cartoons.
For more information, follow Sad Flame Ceramics on Instagram or visit there website.
Wicked Shrooms
Jaz, founder of Wicked Shrooms, has been crocheting since 2020. With a deep love for mushrooms and forest creatures, she began creating her own versions, which quickly resonated with others who share her passion. Jaz primarily works with acrylic yarn due to its accessibility and ease of care. Her inspiration is drawn from cottagecore aesthetics and Ghibli films, imagining the kinds of creatures that might inhabit a witch’s house.
As a self-taught artist, she honed her skills through YouTube tutorials and written instructions. Jaz uses the 'Knife' grip to hold her crochet hook, a technique she also employs when playing drums. Over time, she developed muscle memory for her stitches, allowing her hands to work intuitively, with each piece uniquely detailed. Every mushroom creature Jaz creates has its own personality, and she takes great joy in seeing the adventures they embark on—some now reside in small, locally-owned coffee shops.
Wicked Shrooms is renowned for its high-quality hand-crocheted mushroom, bee, and imagined creature figures in various sizes and styles. Known for using top-quality materials and intricate crochet techniques, Jaz’s creations tend to sell out quickly—so be sure to visit her booth early!
For more information, follow Wicked Shrooms on Instagram or visit her website.