Linda and Mathew at Arrowmont

Linda and I will be making work in Gatlinburg this week—as members of the Ceramic Surface Forum. We're happy to be paired with great artists from all over the country, and really blown away with the hospitality of everyone at Arrowmont. It's cold and snowy outside… perfect weather for makin' work! Artists attending the forum this year are: Dylan Beck, Donna Flannery, Eric Knoche, Jill Foote-Hutton, Lindsay Oesterritter, Josh Copus, Luba Sharapan, Forrest Gard, Erik Haagensen, Brooks Oliver, Lindsay Rogers, Stephen Creech, Kyungmin Park, Jocelyn Howard, Andrew Avakian, Daniel Lee, HP Bloomer, and Rachel Garceau. An especially big thanks goes to Jason Bige Burnett, who put us all together!

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Austin TX Ceramics Studio Tour | Art of the Pot

Mark this one on your calendars. We'll be heading there for this semester's ceramics studio field trip! May 11th and 12th

"Art of the Pot celebrates 10 years of opening studio doors to the public for the 2013 AotP Studio Tour.  Hosted by Austin-based artists Chris Campbell, Keith Kreeger, Ryan McKerley, Lisa Orr & Claudia Reese the tour will have 10 guest artists from across the country for the prestigious event.

2013 Guest Artists: Dan Anderson, Cynthia Bringle, Joan Bruneau, Kyle Carpenter ,Bryan Hopkins, Forrest Lesch-Middleton, Courtney Murphy, Jim Smith, Daniel Ricardo Teran plus the return of The Artstream Nomadic Trailer!"

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Source: http://artofthepot.com/
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Wood-Fired Ceramics: 100 Contemporary Artists

Featuring our very own 1st-year grad, Chris Drobnock! I'm excited to get my hands on one of these. From the publisher:

"With over 500 brilliant color photographs, this book highlights the work of 100 innovative ceramic artists who still use the labor intensive, and sometimes unpredictable, process of wood-firing. Throughout the book, artists share several examples of their work, ranging from small pots to monumental installations, as well as their stories about their inspiration, influences, and techniques. The artists also relate how they have adapted various methods of wood-firing to their own needs and environments, using fast-fire, Noborigama, Anagama, and other kilns. Kiln drawings, information about firing logs, clay, glaze and slip formulas, and wood firing resources are also included.The artwork is representative of the diversity of styles, from glazing techniques to the often unique creations based on placement within the various kilns. This book is an essential for all who appreciate or practice ceramic art today."

Source: http://www.schifferbooks.com/wood-fired-ce...
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End of Semester Exhibition - Fall 2013

A big thank you is in order to all of the ceramics students who worked hard to put together another successful end-of-semester exhibition! It's always a pleasure to see the work installed, and there's something very rewarding about wrapping up the semester by inviting the public in to see the fruits of our labor. Here is a sample of the work.

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Laura Polaski — Parataxis

After a semester abroad, at Tainan National University in Taiwan, second-year graduate student, Laura Polaski, will be presenting a summary exhibition of works produced there. Here's the show card. We're all excited to see images from the exhibition, when it goes up! 

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The Archie Bray Foundation Makes a ‘Remarkable Impact’

We're all aware of the Archie Bray Foundation, of course. For many years they've been perhaps the most visible ceramics-specific arts entities in the US. It's a place near to my heart, having been a resident (Linda and Kensuke are also past residents). What's worth noting in this article though, is the tremendous impact the foundation has had on the local economy in Helena, MT. It makes clear just how transformational an arts organization can be in a small community. Cheers to the Bray!

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Source: http://helenair.com/news/local/the-archie-...
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Exhibition Opportunity: Clay? V Exhibition: Call to Artists | Kirkland Arts Center

Juried by the crew at UW—Doug Jeck, Jamie Walker, and Akio Takamori.

"Kirkland Arts Center is proud to present the fifth installment of its biennial contemporary ceramics exhibition, Clay? V, juried by University of Washington, School of Art Professors Doug Jeck, Jamie Walker, and Akio Takamori. Clay? Vexplores the versatility of clay as a medium of artistic expression. Showcasing a range of sizes, scales, subject matter, and techniques, the artwork of this exhibition is both a testament to the enduring legacy of clay and future of the field."

Deadline is January 17th.

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Source: http://www.kirklandartscenter.org/?q=conte...
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Exhibition Opportunity: International Ceramics Festival MINO,Japan

This exhibition "is a triennale held at ‘Mino’, the major production area of ceramics in Japan.
This is one of the world biggest ceramic festivals that features various events that contribute to further development of ceramic industry and culture, such as world-class ceramic competition, "International Ceramics Competition, Mino Japan" and many more. 
It is a big project that happens in Mino and spreads nationwide to worldwide."

This would be a good one. Grads, get your applications ready!

Deadline: January 10th

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Source: http://www.icfmino.com/english/
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Return to Earth @ Nasher Sculpture Center

In case you're passing through Dallas any time soon:

"In the fall of 2013 the Nasher Sculpture Center will presentReturn to Earth: Ceramic Sculpture of Fontana, Melotti, Miró, Noguchi, and Picasso, 1943-1963, the first exhibition to explore the phenomenal increase in interest ceramics received from artists of the avant-garde during this period. Responding to a variety of personal impulses and historical circumstances, Lucio Fontana, Fausto Melotti, Joan Miró, Isamu Noguchi, and Pablo Picasso produced significant bodies of work in fired clay that engaged the material in novel, inventive, even radical ways, and often challenged the boundaries between sculpture and ceramics. The Nasher’s exhibition will offer an in-depth look at some 70 ceramic works, ranging in scale from the intimate to the monumental. In most cases, these objects have received scant attention in comparison to these artists’ work in other media, particularly in the United States. Nonetheless, the works in the exhibition provided the next generation of artists, such as Ken Price and Peter Voulkos, radical examples of the expressive potential of fired clay and paved the way for the resurgence of ceramics in contemporary art today."

Source: http://www.nashersculpturecenter.org/Exhib...
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Val Cushing Dies at 82

Many of you have seen, and used, the orange books floating around the studio. Some of you may even own a copy of "Cushing's Handbook." I purchased my copy during a summer course I was taking at Alfred back in 2003. Although Val wasn't teaching that summer (he had already retired), I was introduced to him and he invited me out to his studio to have a look around and talk about a career in ceramics. At the time I really didn't know who I was talking to, but in the years since, the words and advice that he gave me have rung clearer and clearer with time. He was exceptionally generous, full of wisdom, and he made a lasting impression. Although we only spoke for an hour or two, Val's generosity made a real impact on my life. So, when you see those orange books sitting around...remember Val, and everything he has done for our field.

Follow the link for Val's obit on CFile.

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Source: http://www.cfileonline.org/studio-pottery-...
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Art Makes You Smart - NYTimes.com

Brian Kisida, the husband of our former student and good friend, Lydia Clark Kisida, has co-authored an article that just appeared in the New York Times. Not surprisingly, it spent all day today on the top of the "most e-mailed" list. At this point, it's been shared over 25,000 times. Congrats to Brian, and everyone who has had a hand in the fantastic education program that Crystal Bridges has been running since its opening. 

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/opinion/...
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Current Exhibitions in Kansas City: Ferrin's Top 40 at Red Star Studios

Featuring: Susan Beiner, Robin Best, Stephen Bird, Stephen Bowers, Jessica Brandl, Andy Brayman, Liz Burrit, Beth Cavener, Thomas Cheong, Naomi Clement, Craig Clifford, Mark Cooper, Christina Cordova, Guy Michael Davis, Jenn Demke-Lange, Jason Desnoyers, Thomas Lowell Edwards, Michelle Erickson, Sean Erwin, Leopold Foulem, Alessandro Gallo, Misty Gamble, Gerit Grimm, Rain Harris, Giselle Hicks, Peter Christian Johnson, Brian R. Jones, Ryan Labar, Stephen Young Lee, Linda Lighton, Daniel Listwan, Krisaya Luenganantakul, Roberto Lugo, Lauren Mabry, Walter McConnell, Laura McKibbon, Aya Margulis, Noriko Masuda, Teo Huey Min, Sara Moorhouse, Jun Myoung, Ron Nagle, Aaron Nelson, Katie Parker, Joshua Primmer, Kate Roberts, Stephanie Rozene, Anders Ruhwald, Michael Schwegmann, Paul Scott, James Seet, Richard Shaw, Adam Shiverdecker, Bobby Silverman, Linda Sormin, Shawn Spangler, Vipoo Srivilasa, Jenna Stanton, Dirk Staschke, Rae'ut Stern , Emily Sudd, Tip Toland, Clare Twomey, Shalene Valenzuela, Jason Walker.

Until January 25th

Source: http://redstarstudios.org/kansas_city_art_...
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Current Exhibitions in Kansas City: Contemporary Talavera Uriarte at Red Star Studios

The Belger Arts Center, in collaboration with Red Star Studios and the Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City, presents a group exhibition of over 30 ceramic works by renowned contemporary Mexican artists. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla (also known as the Battle of Cinco de Mayo) in 2012, Uriarte and the University of the Americas Puebla invited recognized artists to create works in conjunction with the Uriarte Talavera tradition. Uriarte Talavera, one of the oldest producers of Mexican talavera pottery, continues this tradition using sixteenth century methods. 

Talavera is a type of majolica earthenware that’s fired at extremely high temperatures. Its origins are believed to date back to the seventh century when the Muslims conquered North Africa and moved into Europe. Majolica evolved to include influences from Chinese, Italian, Moorish and Spanish cultures. When the Spanish introduced talavera to Mexico, Mexican artisans blended these techniques with their established practices to create Mexican talavera pottery. 

 Until January 4th

Source: http://redstarstudios.org/kansas_city_art_...
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