Exhibition: John Cote, Alison Palmer and Eileen Sackman “Philozoic Gestures”

BAU Gallery is pleased to announce Philozoic Gestures, an exhibition that brings together three distinct artistic voices of John Cote, Alison Palmer and Eileen Sackman to explore our deep, enduring connection to the animal kingdom. Through the mediums of atmospheric-fired ceramics and narrative painting, this exhibition examines how the form, spirit, and historic footprint of animals shape our visual language. The "gestures" here are two fold, they are the physical, compassionate marks left by the artists’ hands through brush and clay, and they are the extraordinary stories and life of the animals. Together, Cote, Palmer, and Sackman create a rich material and thematic dialogue. Where Palmer’s vessels capture external playfulness and fluid grace, Sackman’s wood-fired portraiture provides a soulful, urgent reminder of our responsibility to protect the planet's most vulnerable species. Cote’s narrative paintings expand this conversation into the realm of history and marvel, honoring individual animals who left an unforgettable mark on our collective consciousness. Philozoic Gestures invites viewers to pause, look into the eyes of these rendered beings, and reflect on the profound, complex, and often miraculous footprint of our interactions with the animal world. About the artists: John Cote has recently transitioned from a forty year career as a full time storyboard artist to focusing primarily on his paintings. His most recent solo exhibition has been at the Croton Free Library in Croton on Hudson. He has shown regionally, most notably at Silvermine Arts Center in CT, Visual Arts Center of New Jersey and Arts Center of Northern Westchester. Alison Palmer graduated with high distinction from the California College of Arts and Crafts with a BFA in ceramics. Following a successful 25-year career in wholesale craft, she transitioned her focus to creating one-of-a-kind pieces using her wood and soda kilns. Today, Alison hosts professional ceramic workshops and the annual Clayway tour. Eileen Sackman is a ceramic artist living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Eileen exhibits her hand carved ceramics nationally and actively teaches ceramics in both the university and community arts levels. She recently was invited to the Tenth Annual Sugar Maples Pottery Festival held at the Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts. She actively curates national and international ceramic exhibitions, and she most recently built her anagama kiln at her home in Catskill, NY.