River Oaks Square Arts Center is preparing to once again turn the spotlight on ceramic artistry with the 12th Annual Dirty South Cup Call - National Artists Call & Competition, opening April 16 and remaining on display through May 30, 2026. A favorite among collectors, artists, and art lovers alike, the exhibition in the Bolton-Davis Gallery will feature an outstanding selection of cups from artists across the United States. When paired with the Friends of the Juror Showin the Stokes-Harris Gallery, the combined exhibitions will bring more than 120 mugs and cups to River Oaks, continuing a tradition that has helped place the Arts Center firmly on the national ceramics map. The Galerie des Amiswill concurrently host “Give Me Poodles” by resident artist Madilyn Anderson.
This year’s guest juror is Amy Kline, a ceramic artist whose work and teaching have earned her a respected place in the field of contemporary ceramics. Born in Plattsburgh, New York, Kline grew up immersed in the fine arts, including art, music, and theater. She earned a BFA in Ceramics from Alfred University and an MFA in Sculpture from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. In 1995, she moved to Las Vegas and built Pottery West, where her focus shifted toward high-fire porcelain after meeting well-known ceramic artists Tom and Elaine Coleman. She later moved to Henderson, Nevada, where she began apprenticing with the Colemans and continues to host porcelain workshops while creating her own work. Her forms are known for their sensuality and their exploration of porcelain as a kind of glass - interacting with slips and glaze in compelling ways.
“As the Dirty South Cup Call continues to grow, it’s exciting to welcome artists of Amy Kline’s caliber to River Oaks,” says Rachael Dauzat, Executive Director at River Oaks. “This show always brings a fresh energy to the Arts Center because it connects our local audience with nationally recognized ceramic talent. It’s one of those exhibitions that feels both refined and approachable at the same time - people are drawn to cups because they’re familiar, but then they begin to see just how creative and sculptural they can be.”
In addition to serving as guest juror, Kline will also lead this year’s featured workshop through the Explore Alexandria Pineville CVB Education Series. Titled “All About the Melt: Form, Line & Design w/ Guest Juror Amy Kline,” the workshop will take place April 15 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Designed for intermediate to advanced participants, the class will focus on strong form, line, and surface design in porcelain and stoneware. Students will draw directly onto bone-dry thrown cylinders, explore surface in relationship to 3D form, and refine techniques for altering, carving, and assembling larger pieces. The workshop fee is $100 per person, and registration is available at www.riveroaksartscenter.com/workshops
Meanwhile, in the Galerie des Amis, resident artist Madilyn Anderson will present her solo exhibition, “Give Me Poodles.” Anderson’s work explores line and form as the foundation of her artistic practice, drawing equally from her imagination and her background as an art historian. In this body of work, she turns her focus to a subject that is deeply personal: the poodles she has loved in her life. “This body of work is a celebration of these special animals,” Anderson says. “I wanted to showcase poodles in compositions that take them beyond the prissy stereotype that follows them. The hope is that these pieces illuminate the breadth of their intelligence, regality, and big personalities.” It promises to be a charming, witty, and thoughtful companion exhibition to the larger ceramic showcase.
The Friends of the Juror Show in the Stokes-Harris Gallery will round out the River Oaks spring lineup, offering visitors an additional look at artists connected to this year’s juror and the broader ceramics community. Together, the three exhibitions create a rich and varied experience, pairing nationally recognized ceramic excellence with the inventive and highly personal work of a River Oaks resident artist.
The exhibitions will officially open with a Reception and Awards Ceremony on April 16 from 5-7 p.m., with Guest Juror Remarks and the Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m. The opening reception is sponsored by Explore Alexandria/Pineville, the City of Alexandria, Hotel Bentley, Red River Bank, the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, CLECO, The Bentley Room, The Mirror Room, RoyOMartin, Legacy Floral Designs, and Diamond Grill.
River Oaks also notes that for those inspired by the Cup Call and eager to get their hands in clay, the RoCK Lab ceramics studio continues to offer Beginner’s Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, making this a great time to step into the studio and start learning.
And while spring at River Oaks is shaping up to be full of clay and color, there is even more on the horizon. Summer Arts Studio registration opens March 18 for members and April 1 for non-members, with registration available through hisawyer.com/river-oaks-square-arts-center As always, sessions are expected to fill quickly.
For more information on the 12th Annual Dirty South Cup Call & Competition, the workshop with Amy Kline, or other upcoming events at River Oaks, call (318) 473-2670, visit RiverOaksArtsCenter.com, or follow River Oaks Arts Center on Facebook.
