Faculty member designs museum's commemorative cups

The Montclair Art Museum has opened a new wing, and commemorating the event are ceramic cups designed by William McCreath of Fine Arts.

McCreath has had several of his creations, including a variety of plates, bowls and sculptures, sold in the Museum Store, so when it came time for a special piece to commemorate the new wing, Ellen Rosenberg, the store's merchandise manager, asked him if he'd be interested. He saw it as another opportunity to express himself as an artist.

"Artists want to share forms and ideas with people," he said. "Designing these ceramic cups was a wonderful opportunity to do that."

Using porcelain clay, McCreath created three designs in shades of jade, bronze and purple, which coincide with the museum's earth-tone colors. "I created designs with impressions that allow the fingers to fit into the cups as a sort of handle," he said.
His creations were just what the museum was seeking. "We were looking for something that had texture and would be comfortable to hold," said Rhonda Sturtz of the Museum Store. "We also wanted the design to have a Native American look to it."

In his designs, McCreath combined history with his love of clay. "I was attracted to three textured patterned designs," said McCreath, who has been at Montclair State for 35 years. "Since at least 5000 BCE, we have had many ceramic designs. Although my work did not come from any specific design, it came from a combination of influences and my love of clay itself."

McCreath has had seven solo exhibitions at the State Museum in Trenton, the Newark Museum and the Greenwich House of Pottery in New York City. He also has participated in more than 80 group shows, and has works in public collections in Canada, the United Kingdom, Israel, Japan and the United States.

The cups, which are imprinted with the museum logo and name, are available for $25 in the Museum Store. "We are very happy with them," Sturtz said. "They are lovely mugs."

Ellen Rosenberg, merchandise manager for the Montclair Art Museum Store, and William McCreath of the University's
Department of Fine Arts, look over the cups McCreath designed to commemorate the Museum's new wing.

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