HANCOCK — Copper Country Community Arts Center is pleased to present FUNctional, an exhibition of ceramics by local artist, William Thompson in the Kerredge Gallery now through Oct. 5. From early on in William’s childhood he enjoyed working with his hands, making things that were personalized or unique. He worked primarily with wood carving, two dimensional art materials, and even made jewelry and hat/lapel pins in his spare time before deciding to pursue his art more seriously.

In the spring of 2018 William graduated from Finlandia University earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in ceramics.

In his statement he says, “When I reflect on this body of work — my techniques, the nature of my drawings, and how I came to work in clay — it all centers around fun. Something fun or funny to look at, something that is playful, or fun to hold, or just simply a relic of time I spent having fun indulging my inner child’s undying desire to carve, doodle, and create.”

Thompson’s ceramics include whimsical cups, bowls, and teapots, others that have intricate mandala work and some that have incised carvings of repeat pattern. All are functional. The public is invited to an opening reception on Sept. 13 from 6-8 p.m. The exhibition is supported by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Copper Country Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. For more information call (906) 482-2333 or visit the website www.coppercountryarts.com