The Scripps College Ceramic Annual, the longest continuous exhibition of contemporary ceramics in the United States, will open for its 71st year on Saturday, January 24, 2015 and will continue through April 5.

A selection of hybrid works, this exhibition represents both emerging and well-established artists and will feature an illustrated catalog with an essay by art writer Leah Ollman. The January 24 opening will begin with a special lecture from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Scripps College Humanities Auditorium. The talk will be followed by an opening reception at the Williamson Gallery from 7 to 9 p.m., which will include live music and light refreshments. These events are free and open to the public.

Traditionally an “artist’s choice” exhibition, a leading ceramic artist is invited to choose the participating artists each year. This year’s guest curator is Julia Haft-Candell, a Lincoln visiting professor at Scripps College and Claremont Graduate University. Ms. Haft-Candell has consistently shown her work across southern California as well as New York and Houston. Her own work melds the ceramic with a wide array of other materials and her selection of artists for the Ceramic Annual reflects her free and eclectic approach. The exhibition features Nicole Cherubini, Jessica Hans, Jun Kaneko, Linda Lopez, Anton Reijnders, Brie Ruais, Kathleen Ryan and Betty Woodman – artists whose individual works first appear dissonant, yet resonate in an underlying harmony when shown together. Ms. Haft-Candell says the pieces in the show “hint at the familiar and steer towards the indefinable.”

The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, during exhibitions. For more information on the exhibition, call (909) 607-4690 or visit rcwg.scrippscollege.edu.