Oregon Artist Will Re-Create Your Body as Unique Piece of Art;

NEWBERG, Ore., April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Is your body a work of art?  

Oregon artist Mark Terry says, "Yes, nearly any human form can become a work of art by first casting it and then recreating the lifelike form with its many details, in layers of earthen clay."

ART Elements Gallery (www.artelementsgallery.com), is featuring Terry's ceramic torsos in an Earth & Fire show during the month of April. The gallery also is offering a special $3,500 package that includes a personal, life-size, ceramic torso plus luxurious spa treatments at The Allison Inn & Spa (www.theallison.com), one of the top 10 spas in the world.

The first step which is the casting process, will take place in one of The Allison's spa treatment rooms. The guest's torso—from shoulders to upper thighs—will become the form that will be filled with layered clay and then, after five days of 24/7 firing, Terry will present the finished piece of art to its owner.

Terry, who is an associate professor of art at George Fox University, will be featured at an artist's reception from 5-7 p.m., Thurs. April 14 at ART Elements gallery, 604 E. First St., Newberg, Ore. At that time, he will discuss his art in the show and the steps needed to recreate the human body into a unique art sculpture.

"The wood firing process is a very laborious art form," Terry said. "It produces unique and distinctive results with no two pieces turning out exactly alike."  

The anagama kiln, based on 2,000-year-old technology with roots in China, Korea and Japan, is built into a mountainside near Forest Grove, Ore.  Students, artists and volunteers then help stoke the wood fire around the clock for five day before each piece is finished.

Loni Parrish, owner of ART Elements and an artist herself, said she is very excited about the show.

"Mark is well-loved in this community as a professor and artist but his work also is highly regarded when it is shown in major art center such as Los Angeles."

For more information about the body art and spa package, shows, events and art at ART Elements Gallery, visit the website, www.artelementsgallery.com or call 503-487-6141.

SOURCE ART Elements Gallery