80th Scripps College Ceramic Annual
In the Hands of the Collector:
The Fred Marer and Forrest L. Merrill Collections
February 1–April 6, 2025
In the Hands of the Collector: The Fred Marer and Forrest L. Merrill Collections focuses on two California collectors and their passion for clay, concurrent with the evolution of the Ceramic Annual. Fred Marer, a math professor at Los Angeles City College, collected more than 1,500 contemporary works that span six decades. In Northern California, Forrest L. Merril amassed more than 4,000 pieces. The exhibition explores how Marer and Merrill’s collections document a shift from vessels to sculptural forms and demonstrate key moments in West Coast ceramics.
Guest curated by ceramic historian, author, and educator Nancy M. Servis, In the Hands of the Collector features over one hundred works representing more than sixty artists, including Laura Andreson, Robert Arneson, Ralph Bacerra, Michael and Magdalena Suarez Frimkess, David Gilhooly, Shoji Hamada, Jun Kaneko, Glen Lukens, Harrison McIntosh, Otto and Gertrud Natzler, Antonio Prieto, Lucie Rie, Paul Soldner, Goro Suzuki, Henry Takemoto, Marguerite Wildenhain, Toshiko Takaezu, Peter Voulkos, and Beatrice Wood.
The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated catalog featuring essays by Servis; Carol Sauvion, producer and director of the PBS documentary series Craft in America; Rody N. Lopez, executive director of Craft Contemporary; gallerist Mike Holmes; and Kirk Delman, registrar and collections manager at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery.
In the Hands of the Collector, its companion publication, and related programs have been made possible through the generous support of Bill and Francine Baker, Francine Tolkin Cooper; Kirk and Dana Delman; Pasadena Art Alliance; Skutt Ceramic Products, Inc.; The Fred and Estelle Marer Ceramics Endowment; The Joan and David Lincoln Endowment for Ceramic Art, and The Paul Soldner Endowment.
Public Programs
Opening Reception
Saturday, February 1 | 7¬–9 PM
Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery
Join us at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery for live music, tacos, and light refreshments as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Scripps College Ceramic Annual, the longest continuous exhibition of contemporary ceramics in the United States.
More Than Clay: Insights into the Fred Marer and Forrest L. Merrill Collections
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | 2 PM
Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery
Guest curator Nancy M. Servis shares her reflections on the collections featured in the 80thScripps College Ceramic Annual. Presented in partnership with the Scripps Fine Arts Foundation.
Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery
251 E 11th Street, Claremont, CA
Admission to the Gallery and its programs is free
Open Wednesday through Sunday | 12–4 PM
