The Carnegie Arts Center will serve as the opening stop of a national exhibit of ceramic works by famed artist Pablo Picasso.

The exhibit, “Picasso: 25 Years of Edition Ceramics from the Rosenbaum Collection,” will open at the Carnegie Sept. 15 and will remain at the gallery through Jan. 15, 2014.

“It’s a great honor and shows a great deal of wide-spread confidence in Turlock,” Carnegie Director and Curator Rebecca Phillips Abbott said of securing the tour’s opening.

The exhibition includes 40 ceramic works — plates, bowls, pitchers, vases and plaques — created by Picasso in collaboration with George and Suzanne Ramie and the artisans at their Madoura pottery workshop in Vallauris, Southern France, between the years 1947 and 1971. Posters from previous Picasso ceramics exhibitions and photographs of Picasso at work at the Madoura workshop will also be part of the exhibit. 

Picasso, who brought cubism and collage into the art scene, started dabbling in ceramics in 1946 after seeing the works of Madoura potters at a craft fair. Picasso made three pots that day. Then one year later he began working in ceramics in earnest and continued to do so until two years before his death in 1973. 

Over the course of twenty years, Picasso produced more than 4,000 ceramics, including sculptural works as well as decorated traditional objects such as plates, bowls, and vases. His subjects are varied. They include still lifes, landscapes, bullfights, and a lively cast of characters of all kinds, including fanciful faces, fish, birds, goats, and horses.  

“What is fascinating about these works is that they depict subjects that delight us all,” Abbott said. “At the same time, each object can be seen as a complex blend of painting, sculpture, drawing and printmaking— all in clay.”  

The exhibition was curated by Gerald Nordland, noted author and independent curator. The Carnegie’s exhibit is being supported by Prime Shine Car Wash and Hilmar Cheese Company. 

“We are extremely grateful for their support,” Abbott said. “They have made it possible to bring this exhibit to our region.” 

The Carnegie will be hosting several Sunday Arts lecture series and Family Friday events to tie in with the Picasso exhibit. Additionally, the Carnegie will be offering local artists the chance to have their works displayed alongside Picasso. 

The juried exhibition, “Imagining the Real,” will be selecting works to display that have been inspired by Picasso’s famous quote: “All that you can imagine is real.” 

The Carnegie is seeking entries that have a clear start in the imagination of the artist.  These works may use color or form in unexpected combinations.  They can be dreamlike, or entirely realistic.  They can convey a message or a mood.  They can also be experiential and call on the viewer to interpret visual symbols present in the works.  The works should reflect Picasso's sentiment according to each artist's individual perspective.  

The “Imagine the Real” exhibit will run from Oct. 16 to Feb. 23, 2014. 

The grand prize winner will receive $1,000 and first place in each category will get $250. Visit www.carnegieartsturlock.org for rules and submission forms. 

Admission to the Carnegie’s Picasso exhibit is $12 for general admission and $9 for members. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday.