Artistic Duo
HARMONY — Exhibiting at the Bottlebrush Gallery are painter Jan Jay and potter Paul Jay, her husband. They are residents of Harmony.
Both have shown their work all over the country. Paul has a piece in the permanent collection of the National Education Association in Washington, D.C., as well as in the Westmoreland Museum of Art.
Locally, Jan has exhibited numerous times in the Carnegie Museum's Annual Associated Artists Show in Pittsburgh.
Together, both artists have participated for more than 37 years in the "Fair in the Park" in Shadyside.
Working with clay early in her career changed Jan's approach to painting. In the last decade, she has delved into Native American healing, medicine and teachings. Her pieces are calm, thus encouraging meditation and thought.
The couple met while pursuing their bachelor of fine arts degrees at the Kansas City Art Institute. Paul then earned his master of fine arts at Ohio University. The two artists moved to Pennsylvania, where Paul has been a professor at the Community College of Allegheny County for the past three decades teaching art history, design, drawing and ceramics.
Jan, originally of Concordia, Kan., and Paul, originally of Little Rock, Ark., lived first in Valencia until they moved to Harmony 13 years ago and relocated their studios to Swain Hill Road.In 1980, Paul received a Fulbright Scholarship to go to Yeovil College in Somerset County in the United Kingdom.Paul's raku works are recognized for their quality. Prior to focusing on raku, Paul worked in salt glaze porcelain.In addition to exhibiting their work at the Bottlebrush Gallery, the Jays also host an annual open house at their studios.
