James Tisdale, the Mississippi-born sculptor currently the ceramic program coordinator at the Austin Museum of Art, exhibits his ceramic figurative sculptures Aug. 15 to Oct. 2 at UALR’s Gallery II in the Fine Arts Building.

“Thoughts from China” is a new body of work created by Tisdale through his experiences during a recent residency in Jingdezhen, China. He said the experience altered his perceptions on both a large and small scale.

“(His time in China) taught me to refine, to shed and to simplify his life and in turn my work,” Tisdale said. “The work is a simple reminder to find the importance in life and to release, and to let go of that which is a burden.”

He said that can be seen in the simplicity of the figures, their surfaces and their relationship with one another.

The UALR Galleries are free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. During the Labor Day weekend, the Galleries will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept 3; from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, and closed on university holidays.