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Richard W. James, an accomplished faculty member in ºÚÁÏÉçÇø's Department of Art, is making waves in the art community with his solo exhibition, No True Scotsman, now on display at the Weston Art Gallery in Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center for the Arts.

The exhibition, which opened with a reception on Nov. 15, invites visitors to explore James’ unique artistic vision, blending intricate craftsmanship with thought-provoking themes. No True Scotsman will remain open to the public, free of charge, until Jan. 19, 2024.

Steeped in the tradition of ceramics, James is a Tennessee-born artist, currently serving as the Assistant Professor in the ceramic program in the Department of Art at ºÚÁÏÉçÇø. His work uses a combination of fabric, wood, and clay to create figurative sculptures in a traditional doll format that investigates how culture and geographical context shape perception.

The exhibit features a series of woven sculptures that challenge traditional notions of identity and authenticity. The pieces highlight James’ innovative techniques and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of contemporary art.

This exhibition features new work from James. The largest work—and the show’s namesake—is a 12-foot-tall sculpture made in the traditional doll format that Richard is nationally known for; however, never at this scale. This work is his largest to date and his first collaborative work. Made with his partner, Emily Scheltgen, the body of this gigantic doll is made with a traditional weaving technique that cords together straw with yarn. The result is an overwhelming and inescapable presence of a straw man in the room. The title of the work - “No True Scotsman” - refers to a logical fallacy attributed to British philosopher Antony Flew to describe the attempt to defend a generalization by denying the validity of any counterexamples given.

Also visible from West 7th street, outside the Weston, is the large installation “Feed Dogs,” which consists of three figures composed of handmade ceramic doll parts and scrap pieces of wood from the ºÚÁÏÉçÇø woodshop. On the wall, 14 feet above, are three antique sewing machines that connect with each figure through a thin thread.

“The Weston has these fantastically high ceilings and great natural light,” James described. “I wanted to center the show around engaging the two very large walls that are visible from the outside. On one side, I wanted one solitary work that uses the columns and brick as a frame. The wall dimensions dictated the size of the large figure. To mirror that single figure, I wanted the other side to be equally as massive but composed of multiple components. The two works were conceived together to address the space and, generally, speak about the same concept, although form different viewpoints.”

James will be discussing his work and process in more detail at the Weston Art Gallery on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Additionally, radio station WXVU will be airing a panel discussion with James in early December. No True Scotsman is free and open to the public. The exhibition will be up until Jan. 19.

For more information about No True Scotsman or to plan a visit, .