Greenware_06/04.qx (Page 1) - Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild
Transcription
Greenware_06/04.qx (Page 1) - Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild
The Newsletter of the Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild Volume 4 Issue 5 April-May 2005 From the Bookshelf Speaking of Seconds... THE POTTER’S GUIDE TO HAND BUILDING By Josie Warshaw Photography by Stephen Brayne Lorenz Books Seconds have always been a point of contention with potters. Reviewed by SUE VINCENT The Potter’s Guide To Hand building is a book every thrower should have in their library just as a change of pace reference. It is well organized into 5 main sections with some basic information such as clay,safety, and workshop design & layout to get your appetite whetted. The book is chalk full of beautiful photographs showing the techniques in detail. What caught my attention enough to buy this book was the section on projects. There are 13 projects that are easily completed in most studios.The techniques used in each one have been thoroughly covered in the previous chapters. Each project has easy to understand instructions along with step-bystep photographs to let you see what it should look like. The Equipment section talks about everything from tools to ☛ page 10 Love ‘em or Hate ‘em! By CINDY M. SARACCO T hey’re a bane to perfectionists but a boon to bargain-hunters. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re a byproduct of pottery. I’m speaking, of course, of seconds. Let’s face it: glazes run, feet chip, bowls slump, and platters warp. So whether you’ve spent a year or a lifetime working with clay, chances are you’ve produced more than a few secondquality pieces. While there’s no hard-andfast definition of what separates a “first” from a “second,” most potters and educated consumers consider pieces with minor defects to be seconds. Pottery with major defects – cracks in functional ware, for example — are something completely different. Indeed, most potters consider them garbage. But we’re speaking of seconds here – serviceable pieces with slight problems. How you deal with yours are up to you. If you can’t decide, consider your options. The most common alternatives involve selling them at a discount, smashing and trashing them, donating them to charity,or finding some way to salvage them. Sell ‘Em Selling seconds has one primary appeal to potters: it enables them to recover some of the labor and material costs associated with producing the pieces. For customers, the appeal is slightly different: they can’t pass up the chance to buy a hand-crafted pot at a rockbottom price. Unfortunately, many potters find that selling their seconds detracts from the sales of their regular-priced ware. Why pay $12 for a mug when a close cousin is selling for a mere $6? If you decide to sell your seconds,consider these guidelines: Develop a coherent pricing strategy. Most professional potters price their seconds at 20 to 50 percent off regular prices, although at least one studio in Maryland discounts its seconds by 90 percent. Clearly label your seconds as such. This will help your customers understand the price variations of your ware. Group your seconds in a separate area of the display, preferably one that’s not highly visible. Or consider having a “secondsonly”sale once or twice a year. Don’t take orders for seconds or “second-priced” ware. Occasionally,potters will discount a first-quality piece or even label it a “second” simply because they don’t like it or ☛ page 10 Election Results are in! From the President Thanks to our past officers By JUDITH ENRIGHT, OVCAG PRESIDENT P By ‘THE TIPSTER’ No Warped Lids Please! When you need to fire the lid to a mug or other container separately you risk getting an oval when you made a circle.One way to avoid this is to do a little extra throwing/planning ahead.When you make the container which will have glaze on the rim make a second cylinder with the same diameter (or just a bit smaller) as the container. When you fire the lid put it in this unglazed cylinder near the container.The lid will stay round and still fit the container it was made for.Whew. Galley Way to Go The best way to make a strong galley that doesn’t change the size of the opening is to make it before you shape the body. To do this make a cylinder as tall and wide as you want the finished pot to be. Make sure to leave the top wide enough to form a galley.Next,using your thumb on your right hand and a piece of chamois, form an “L” on the rim of the cylinder. Smooth the edges and don’t touch it again. Now you can continue to round out your pot.As you do this the “L” will fall over to form a galley.(Fig.1) The diameter should stay the same. If you go to far and it falls in too much just lift it a little from the inside.If you always make the opening of your teapot the same size you can swap lids or make extras you know will fit after they have been fired. A Case For Buffalo: Storage of Trimming Tools For the potter who has one of those fancy Bison trimming tools, I’ve found that using a hardcase eye glass case is the perfect way to store the tool. It protects the tool and is easy to find in one’s clay tool box. –Submitted by Abby O’Connell Thanks for your submission! Think you can out-tip the tipster? E-mail your tips to: tipster@ovcag.org lease join me in welcoming our new officers for the upcoming year! Mark Youmans,Vice President,Alison Pangburn, Treasurer, Anita Clemetson,Secretary,and yours truly, as president. Thank you Swanica,Heather and Sheryl,for your term as officers this past year — you each did a fine job, and it was good serving with you! It sure seems like there is renewed interest in the ceramic arts! From what you’re telling me and what I’m seeing, many of you here in the Bay area and surrounding locales are experiencing an explosion (a ‘bad’ work in our field!) of activity on a variety of different fronts, from more sales venues to increased interest in teaching and learning, to more commission work, and so on. This growing awareness is good news for all of us, especially for our emerging ceramic artists! So as we begin our new fiscal year, you can count on OVCAG’s Sales, Exhibits, and Workshop committees to continue producing quality shows and workshops. The Steering Committee’s plans for the coming year are still evolving with respect to Outreach, Fundrais- ing and other possible new events, and your input will be called for as we work to evaluate and develop programs which you say are important. Our next general guild meeting will be a special event as OVCAG will be announcing and making its first scholarship awards to four high school students and their referring teachers! Please show your support by coming to meeting: Monday, May 16, 2005, in the Roosevelt Room at the Campbell Community Center. Directions/map can be found on our website. With appreciation, Judith Calendar 2005 SATURDAY,APRIL 16 Steering Committee Meeting MAY 2-7 Allied Art Spring Art Show (CANCELLED) MONDAY, MAY 16 General Guild Meeting and High School Ceramic Awards SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Summer Art in Clay Show/Sale SATURDAY & SUNDAY, SEPT. 25-26 Creative Extruder Uses workshop, with David Hendley Bird House Bash Save the Date! Don’t forget about the opportunity to make and donate clay Bird Houses for the Bird House Bash 2005 fund raiser for Child Advocates (www.cadvocates.org). Donations are due by Saturday, May 12th and the event is the 21st of May, 2005. To donate, contact Joyce Wies at 408.253.0964 April–May 2005 • GREENWARE 3 Treasure Chest Overview Photo Courtesy of SVCN • www.svcn.com Peggy Johnston was one of the presenters at the Treasure Chest at March’s Guild Meeting. Her vibrant style speaks to children. By LIDIA SEROUSSI, TREASURE CHEST COORDINATOR January Meeting O n January 19th, had the privilege of having Nina Koepcke present a slide show of her extensive body of work. It spanned from her beginnings as a studio artist to her present involvement in both community and studio work. One of the aspects she addressed was the influence that community work can have on the development of new ideas for the individual artist and the shift or further maturity in can bring to the body of work created. the world of public art and her humility about it as well. We heard many anecdotes from her past art residences in Japan,Russia and France as well as humorous recounts from her work with hundred of kids in several the school districts of the area.These days besides her studio work, Nina is involved with a mural project with the kids of Olhone School in Palo Alto. Thanks Nina for sharing from your experience and being such an inspiring role model to all of us! If you want to search further Nina Koepcke’s body of work refer to: w w w. s j l i b r a r y. o r g / a b o u t / locations/willow_glen/exhibits.ht www.svcn.com/archives/wgres ident/08.30.00/tiles-0035.html. www.svcn.com/archives/wgres ident/08.30.00/tiles-0035.html www.artsgenesis.org Photo Courtesy of Nina Koepcke www.themaingallery.org www.themaingallery.org www.sbawca.org www.air-vallauris.com (then click on gallery 2002) www.svcn.com/archives/wgresident/08.30.00/tiles-0035.html. Standing Georgia, Nina Koepcke. Multifired ceramic, 30” x 32” x 24”. Nina’s presentation was vibrant and humorous; and even though it was late and we were all tired, she managed to leave the audience with a sense of “awe”for her contribution to 4 GREENWARE • April–May 2005 March Meeting On March 21st, the Treasure Chest presentation was lead by three Guild members that are working in the field of Education with younger ages.This is a summary of their backgrounds- ☛ page 12 Java Jive Fresh roasted java, delicious pastries, great conversation and creative pottery! Submit your event to newsletter@ovcag.org. Space is limited and not guaranteed, editor reserves right to refuse any entry. AREAWORKSHOPS NAKED RAKU WORKSHOP,with Wally Asselberghs. Join us either Saturday April 30th or, Sunday May 1st 2005 for a special all day hands-on workshop with the internationally known Flemmish raku artist, Wally Asselberghs. Wally’s workshop has been featured in a Clay Times article, and his photos and recipes are featured in the “Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques” book by Lark books. Learn his “Slip & Glaze” techniques for creating unique “naked” raku ware. Bring 4 to 6 bisque fired pots, no taller or wider than 7”. Burnished/smooth polished pots highly recommended. Workshop is limited to 12 participants per day.Workshop fee: $100,includes all workshop supplies, and box lunch. Start time is 10 am. Bring extra gloves, tongs, or reduction bins if you would like to use your own. Workshop held at Clay Planet. 1240 N.13th St,San Jose,CA.Email Workshops@Clay-Planet.com or phone 408.295.3352 to reserve your spot today.Visit www.Clay-Planet.com for more information & directions, or visit Wally’s website 4300 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara Looking for Exhibit Location/theme ideas! The Exhibits Committee is looking for a few more “good men...eerrr...persons”. We will be meeting next month to do some brainstorming on possible exhibition sites and show themes. We usually schedule meetings as needed, during the day. If you would like to join us, or if you have ideas for show locations or themes, e-mail Linda Mau at Linda@Lmau.com. ☛ page 11 Slab Teapots with Sandy Kinzie In this day and a half hands on workshop you will explore and construct a hand-built teapot, Kinzie style. The first afternoon Sandy will demonstrate texture techniques. Then you will prepare and texture the slabs, make and cut out templates, and cut out the body of the teapot. The second day she will demonstrate construction of the body of the teapot using her 45 degree beveling tool, making the spout, lid, and galley, and explore the handle choices. She will help all participants complete one square teapot before the end of the day. Bring stoneware clay, tools, and anything that will texture clay. For more about Sandy Kinzie, visit her web site gallery at www.kinziestoneware.com. May 14 (1 - 4 pm) and May 15 (11 am - 4 pm), 2005 $100 Blossom Hill Crafts Pottery 15900 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032 Contact: 408-356-9035 or joanne@blossomhillcrafts.com More Information: www.blossomhillcrafts.com April–May 2005 • GREENWARE 5 Looking for a Few Good Links? On the Web By CINDY M. SARACCO P rofessional, hobby, and student potters can find tips and inspiration through a wide range of Web sites dedicated to ceramics. In this issue,you’ll learn where you can view a diverse collection of contemporary ceramics, keep up to date on the Bay Area art scene, brush up on paper clay, and acquire new business skills. Rudy Autio Collection The Rudy Autio Contemporary Ceramics Collection features more than 150 pieces of ceramic art produced since 1950. This site,sponsored by the University of Montana Missoula campus, enables you to view such diverse works as “One Day in the Pot Shop,” a sculptural piece by Douglas Baldwin, and “Red and Yellow Vase,”a functional piece by Carl Martz. Of course, you’ll also find works by Rudy Autio, as well as Peter Voulkos, David Shaner,Otto and Viviko Heino, and many other popular artists. Go to http://www.umt.edu/ partv/famus/ceramic.htm to view these images. And just a click away are links to other virtual art exhibits involving photography, painting, textiles, and more. Bay Area Art Scene Turning a little closer to home, Artsopolis offers an online guide to art-related events in the San Francisco Bay Area. At http://www.artsopolis.com/,you’ll find listings of art exhibits,museums,festivals,and other activities related to music, 6 GREENWARE • April–May 2005 dance, visual arts and more. Click on tabs such as “visual arts” and “festivals” to browse through events most likely to feature ceramics. You’ll also find links in the left pane that can tip you off about art-related jobs or help you find art-related classes. Of course, if you’re in a hurry, you can always use the site’s search facility to quickly locate pages containing keywords of interest. “Pottery” and “ceramics”are two good starting points. Finally, if you’re looking for a way to publicize your work or an upcoming public sale, consider submitting an artist’s profile or an event listing. Both are free, although certain restrictions apply. For example, profiles must pertain to artists living in Cone 6 glazes, check out Bennett’s numerous digital images. You’ll find intricate decorative vessels, as well as a variety of teapots, cups, canisters, and other functional ware. Magazine for Artists the Bay Area. Events must also occur in the Bay Area, be open to the public, and be submitted at least two weeks in advance. Paper Clay and More Clay Studio resident artist Jerry Bennett has created a Web site dedicated to paper clay and several related topics. At www.jerrybennett.net, you’ll find his workshop notes that detail the properties of paper clay (including how to substitute materials other than paper to formulate the final product), storage issues, hand building techniques, and firing issues. You’ll also find similar notes on terra sigillatta and Cone 6 glazes. To get some idea of what’s possible with paper clay and Unsettled weather may leave you longing to curl up with a good book or magazine. Perhaps one designed for artists can ward off rainy-day blues. The Artist’s Magazine,accessible at http://www.artistsmagazine.com/, aims to help artists build their skills as well as understand the business basics in the art world. Although the magazine focuses on drawing and painting,you may find some of the techniques and tutorials useful for decorating your work. In addition,tips on marketing campaigns, effective displays,customer interaction, and self-employment apply to a wide range of visual artists,including potters. The site provides online access to a number of articles, but the full magazine is available only on a subscription basis (for about $20 per year). If it sounds appealing, consider signing up for two free issues.You’ll find a link right on the home page. If you have a favorite site you’d like to see considered for a future column, send me e-mail at saracco_pottery @yahoo.com. Photos Courtesy of the Butts Family Influential Member will be Dearly Missed Butts’ clean, elegant lines are very distinct and recognizable in style. A life dedicated to the Arts J acqueline Butts passed away on January 17, 2005 from heart failure at age 80. Known to her friends as Jackie, she was very active in the ceramics community in the Bay Area and Santa Cruz county. Jackie held bachelors and masters degrees in bio-chemistry, but left the field in the 1950s to raise her family. She always had a strong interest in the Arts. Living in Southern California in the mid 1960s, she tried several media, including oil painting. After taking an adult education ceramics class, she realized this was her true interest. She continued with college courses at the University of Redlands and began developing her own style. She started displaying and selling her work. Soon she was teaching ceramics and doing all the kiln firing at the Riverside Art Center. After moving to the Bay Area in 1975, she continued her work and her teaching. She taught ceramics classes for many years at the Sunnyvale Community Center. She was active in several galleries in the area including Sun Gallery in Cupertino, and Gallery House in Palo Alto. She was a founding member of Aegis Gallery in Saratoga and had been a member there ever since. Jackie was an active member Jacqueline Butts of the Orchard Valley Ceramics Guild. She was also a member of A Gathering of Potters and exhibiting member of the Association of Clay and Glass Artists. She had many successful shows and sales. She was an active participant in Santa Cruz County Open Studios and Hearts for the Arts. Her work earned a number of awards and in 2001, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Monterey Chapter of the Women’s Caucus for Art. She was an avid collector of Ceramics especially Asian, and Southwest Native American ceramics. She enjoyed collecting the work of her friends in the Arts Community and often traded her pieces for theirs. We will all miss Jackie’s warm and friendly personality and her willingness to help others. Reprinted courtesy of the ACGA Newsletter. April–May 2005 • GREENWARE 7 Photograph by Daniel Dermer Opportunities Abound! Unique Overseas Workshop Opportunities A Once in Lifetime Chance By LEE MIDDLEMAN Paz Baram and Falline Danforth hanging out at last year’s Art in Clay June Sale. Event Sales June Sale Approaching Written by DAN DERMER, EVENT SALES CHAIR S pring is here,and opportunities for OVCAG members to show and sell their work abound! June Art in Clay Mark the date on your calendars... OVCAG’s second annual June “Art in Clay” show will be held on Saturday, June 4th, 2005. This large outdoor sale will take place in the parking lot of Palo Alto High School – an excellent venue that allows for maximum participation from OVCAG artists, as well as maximum exposure to potential new customers who happen by the busy corner of El Camino Real and Embarcadero Rd. Last year, our one-day sales total for June Art in Clay was over $14,000 — bigger than the first day sales total of any past indoor sales. Registration for June “Art in Clay” 2005 began on March 21st. If you are interested in participating, please go to the OVCAG web site 8 GREENWARE • April–May 2005 (http://www.ovcag.org), where you will find sale information and application forms. Fill out the application and mail it with your check made out to OVCAG to our show registrar, Larry Wittman, 1286 Main Street, Santa Clara, CA 95050. If you do not have your own tent/canopy or tables for outdoor-style art shows, you may choose rent these item for the day — details on the June Sale application forms. The show is open to all current OVCAG members on a first-come-first-served basis. The entry fee is $50 if the application is received by April 20, 2005, and $60.00 after April 20th. Two artists may share a booth, with each artist paying $30 before April 20, and $35 thereafter.We need to know if we have a viable sale by April 20, and before funds are committed for advertising. We also are looking for volunteers to help with show activities on the day of the sale – please contact Vicky Moore at 408.255.4873 or vjdmoore@mindspring.com if interested. Spring Garden Market Three cheers for Eileen Wolk, who has single-handedly organ- ized a showing of 10 OVCAG members at the eleventh annual Master Gardeners’ Spring Garden Market, was held at Emma Prusch Park on Saturday,April 2,2005 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. How did this show come to our attention? Eileen,who was the coordinator for OVCAG’s ongoing show at Roasted Coffee Bean, was approached by organizers of the Master Gardener show,who became enamored of OVCAG members work over coffee one bright Saturday morning ... and thus a show opportunity was born! For more information, surf to http://www.mastergardeners.org /events/2005/SGM_2005.html JUNE SALE APPLICATION FORM The application form for the June ‘Art in Clay’ Show and Sale is included in this edition of GREENWARE. July 16 to July 23, 2005 8th International Macsabal Woodfire Festival, Korea Applications to participate in this ceramic festival in Bucheon, Korea are available.Work with 20 to 30 artists from Korea, Japan,Canada,and USA. Transfers from/to airport, lodging, food,and clay provided.Participants need only pay from travel to Korea and incidentals. For further details contact Lee Middleman by phone at 650.851.0295 or e-mail Lee@LeeMiddleman.com. Lee attended the festival in 2004 and had a great experience. Also visit website:www.macsabal.co.kr. August 1 to August 14, 2005 1st International Ceramics Festival, Zibo, China Applications to participate in this new ceramic festival in China will be available soon. Over 100 artists will participate from around the world. Transfers from/to airport, lodging, food, and clay provided. Participants need only pay from travel to China and incidentals. This festival workshop is designed to promote an international exchange of ceramic techniques and culture. For further details contact Lee Middleman by phone at 650.851.0295 or e-mail Lee@LeeMiddleman. com. ’S THEREIM ! E T L STIL it your Submtoday! tips CON E-MAITLETST DEADLI N EXTE IPS TO: T IPSTEE R@OVCANDED G.ORG April–May 2005 • GREENWARE 9 Seconds Continued from page 1 don’t plan to make a similar piece again. I learned the hard way to avoid this practice. Tired of trying to sell a lone platter leftover from an old line, I slashed the price to $16. Sure enough, a customer bought it and wanted to order five more at the same price. She even requested a further “volume” discount! Now I either give away such pieces to family who admire them, or I label them “close outs.” This strategy enables me to gracefully decline subsequent orders without offending an enthusiastic customer. Smash ‘Em and Trash ‘Em Many potters bristle at the thought of selling their seconds and go to great lengths to ensure that only top-quality pieces reach the market. Such potters opt to smash and destroy their second-quality pieces. They do so to preserve their reputations and maintain a target retail value of their work. Tom Coleman,an internationally exhibited potter and author of several ceramic books, told OVCAG members at a workshop last year that he follows the smash-and-trash philosophy. “As a craftsman, I guess I make some things chiefly to earn a living, but that doesn’t mean I stint on quality . . . . (My wife and I) never put out seconds. If a piece isn’t technically as good as we can do, then we bust it,nail it on the barn wall,or feed the dogs out of it,” Coleman told biographer John Nance, author of The Mud Pie Dilemma. If you opt to destroy and discard your seconds,plan to factor these losses into your overall pricing strategy. In other words, if you’re trying to sell pottery for a profit, plan to price your firstquality wares so that they absorb the costs of your seconds. And while you’re at it, try to minimize the number of seconds you produce due to sloppy glazing or craftsmanship, ill-conceived designs,or rushed work. Donate ‘Em Can’t bare the thought of having your serviceable seconds cluttering up a landfill? If you don’t want to sell them, maybe you’re tempted to donate them. Many charitable organizations accept ceramic ware. Examples include second-hand stores as well as non-profits that conduct silent auctions. You might feel good about helping out such groups by donating your seconds. And you might further like the idea of claiming a small tax deduction for having done so. Keep in mind, however, that the seconds you donate may end up for sale in a public venue. And you’ll have no control over how they’re priced. If your donated pots can easily be traced to you – perhaps through their distinctive appearance, or perhaps from your signature on the piece – you may want to think twice about having your work sold in this manner. Salvage ‘Em More than a few potters dislike all the options we’ve just discussed. And some of these potters have developed creative ways to salvage,or recycle,their seconds instead. If the defect involves glazing, you may be able to fire the piece again and correct the error. However, not all glaze defects can be remedied in this manner. And certain types of pieces, such as large, high-fire platters, are prone to cracking or warping the second time around. Finally, kiln space and firing costs can become an issue. A number of artists who participate in ClayArt discussions (http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/default.asp) have opted to 10 GREENWARE • April–May 2005 smash their seconds and recycle the shards for mosaic projects. Wall decorations, planters, and outdoor tables are among the first-quality items now festooned with the remnants of second-quality pottery. If making a mosaic isn’t your style, see if a local crafts organization or class might like your shards. Just be sure to warn them that about the sharp edges. Or, better yet, use a Dremel (rotary hand tool) or rock tumbler to smooth out your broken bits. Who knows – you may be able to bag up those safe shards and sell them. Other potters have. From the Bookshelf Continued from page 1 kilns. It covers mold making, glazing & firing and Hand building. These are all done in remarkable detail with photos to match. Of course where would this book be without a section devoted to Hand building? You learn all about pinching,coiling, slabbing, extruding and anything else you want to know about getting your hands dirty. As a thrower I find it exhilarating to challenge myself with a technique I am not as familiar with. The decorating chapter features techniques that could be applied to thrown ware as well as hand built ware. For those who want to use molds the section on Making and Using Moulds is invaluable.It covers in great detail the methods & plaster formulas to make perfect molds. You will also learn about humps,slumps, jiggers & jolleys. If you like the decorating part of pottery but not the making part this may be for you. Finally, the section on Glazing and Firing offers many exciting ways to finish your work. It covers the standard bisque and glaze firings as well as the more unique crystalline, enamel, reduction, raku, smoking and vapor firing.There is an extensive table for firing times and temps of various clay bodies in the section as well. I highly recommend this book to children of all ages and skill levels. Ongoing Sales SIGN UP FOR OUR COFFEE SHOP SHOWS! Promote your work! By TERESA KRULEE Just a reminder that a sign-up table for Mission City Coffee and Roasted Coffee Bean will be available at each General Meeting for OVCAG members. Keep in mind that the spring/summer months are the best months for promoting your work. We occasionally have last minute cancelations, so if you find yourself with the time,and the inventory,just call us! If you can’t wait for the next meeting,contact Swanica Ligtenberg for RCB at Swanica@ligtenberg.com, 650.947.8730 or Anita Clemetson for MCC at Clayfeat@sbcglobal.net, 408.984.2616. Volunteers OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS! By LIZ KING, VOLUNTEER CHAIR As always there are opportunities for interested members to become involved in the many activities of the Guild. After all, if there were not volunteers among our members, the Guild wouldn’t exist. As we go to press we are looking for enthusiastic members to help with our Sales and Shows efforts. Contact Event Sales Chair Dan Dermer (408.947.7444 or ddermer@sbcglobal.net) or On-Going Sales Chair Teresa Krulee (408.313.3276 or plentysonspottery@yahoo.com). Also, Exhibits Chair, Linda Mau (408.446.2792 or Linda@LMau.com) is looking for additional personnel for her committee. You may always contact Liz King about the possibilities listed above or about other types of things you would be interested in doing for the Guild. Liz is available at 408.734.5313 or king8292@earthlink.net. Member News Compiled By ALISON PANGBURN, MEMBERSHIP CHAIR Shimoda involved in Ikebana Show , ACGA Show Michiko Shimoda will be having an Ikebana Ceramic Vase Show at Utsuwa No Yakata inside Mitsuwa at 675 Saratoga Ave. from April 29 to May 8, 2005. She will also have a piece in the ACGA show at the Craft and Cultural Arts Gallery State of California Office Building, 1515 Clay Street,Oakland from May 16th through July 1. Swink accepted into clay competition Sara Swink’s work has been accepted into the Sixteenth Annual California Clay Competition.Exhibition dates: April 29May 28,2005 at The Artery,207 G Street,Davis,CA 95616.Hours: Monday to Saturday 10-6, Fri until 9 pm,Sunday 12-5.Opening Reception: Friday,April 29,7-10 pm.The opening also coincides with over 25 clay exhibit openings in Davis that evening. Middleman featured in Ceramics Monthly Be sure to check out the article in the February issue of Ceramics Monthly featuring the work of Lee Middleman! What’s Going On? Continued from page 5 www.wallyasselberghs.be. SLAB TEAPOTS WITH SANDY KINZIE. Saturday,June 23,1 pm to 4pm.Sunday,June 24, 11 am to 4pm. Bring Stoneware Clay,Tools,and anything that will texture clay.In this day and a half hands on workshop you will explore and construct a hand-built teapot,Kinzie style.The first afternoon she will demo some texture techniques.They you will prepare and texture the slabs, make and cut out templates and cut out the body of the teapot.The second day she will demo the construction of the body of the teapot using my 45 degree beveling tool,the making of the spout,the lid and galley and explore the handle choices.She’ll help all of you to complete one square teapot before the end of the day. To register, call Joanne 408.356.9035 or e mail to Joanne@blossomhillcrafts.com. Visit www.blossomhillcrafts.com. HANDLES AND SPOUTS! With Steve Salisian. April 23, 2005.Come learn from the artist who practically invented decorative handles and spouts! Salisian demonstrates how to make and use texture stamps and press molds. He will form handles, spouts,feet and lids using coil and slab construction techniques, in conjunction with thrown bodies resulting in very individualized mugs,pitchers and teapots. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll be ableto try some of these techniques. $65 / $60 for OVCAG members.Mother Earth Clay Art ☛ page 13 Mau at the Tsao Linda Mau is showing ceramic sculpture at the Tsao Gallery, Davis Art Center,1919 F.Street, Davis, during the Ceramic Sculpture Conference. April 29-May 27. Reception,April 29. Member’s Artwork chosen for Sunnyvale Art and Wine Logo Member Cindy Couling’s artwork was chosen as this year’s Sunnyvale Art and Wine logo. WELCOME NEW GUILD MEMBERS! Ritsuko Moore Nancy Smith Diane Cassidy Jill Getzan Paul Hummel Linda Ferzoco Rita Lewis Janet Gaynor Tricia Hemminger April–May 2005 • GREENWARE 11 Photos Courtesy of Greg Pine • More photos: Photo Courtesy of SVCN • www.svcn.com Lee adds multiple layers of clay to her beachball pot. In addition to teaching children, Susan Worley is also a sculptress and runs her own face painting and henna business. Treasure Chest Continued from page 4 Susan Clare Worley – Artist/ Teacher/Mixed Media Sculptress Phyllis uses natural objects to create natural textures. Beach Ball Babylon! Written by ABBY O’CONNELL and ABBY FOSTER P hyllis Lee conducted her first workshop,entitled Beach Ball Babylon,at Mother Earth Clay Art Center on February 19th, 2005. It was well received by the students who attended, some of which had traveled from as far away as San Francisco and Pioneer,CA. For this hands-on workshop, participants learned Phyllis’ techniques for building round pots, using a plastic beach ball as an armature. Various ways of decorating the surface were explored The ball’s plug — air is released as the pot dries. including use of sand and ground bisqueware,as well as shells and layering. A string was attached to the beach ball opening to enable deflation once the work had dried to the leather-hard stage. 12 GREENWARE • April–May 2005 “I have been working with students of all ages since my graduation from University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 70’s. I received an Art Education Degree and a certification to teach art in the Wisconsin Public Schools to students in grades K-12. It was a truly enjoyable experience teaching students in the Wisconsin public school system,as well as teaching evening adult enrichment classes in drawing and painting at the local community college. My public school teaching ended when I moved to CA in the eighties. I was no longer interested in teaching large quantities of young people at a time with just minutes between classes,and wanted to focus on a more favorable student-teacher ratio. I was fortunate to be hired to teach at a clay studio run by the City of Sunnyvale and also 2 local art schools. I now teach after school art classes and summer art camps in various media at Young At Art in Cupertino and really enjoy the experience.” Peggy A. Johnston “I have been teaching students from ages 3-85 for over 30 years in Colleges,public and private schools, for non-profit organizations,and in my very fun and creative studio in Cupertino California. I am a mixed media artist who’s most favorite medi- um since the age of 4 is clay; pique assiette mosaic, papier mache, wire, glass, PMC, watercolor and printmaking are also classes/media I enjoy teaching. My teaching philosophy is based on the concept that we are all born to be creative;the student’s job is to decide what to make and the teacher’s job is to make a psychologically safe and supportive environment which nurtures that creativity and provides the technical knowledge, tools, and equipment to solve the problems inherent in any creative endeavor. Marie Franklin “I have been a credentialed art and elementary teacher for 40 years and have taught art in grades K-6 at Stocklmeir School for the past 25 years.I thoroughly enjoy the children that I teach and the creative genius that they share.I work in clay with the students and also present workshops with art and clay for the teachers. Additionally, for 15 years I have provided art instruction for Stocklmeir volunteers in an art docent program. My personal clay art is figurative sculpture and decorated wheel work. One of the central points of the presentation was the importance given to the process of creativity more than to the nature of the result. Kids are generally trained to think in terms of “ the right way to do things and the wrong way”.When working with clay though, you can guide the students with options of construction to empower the child to make their own choices.In that ☛ page 16 What’s Going On? Continued from page 11 Center. See www.mamasclay. com for info or call 408.245.6262. MONOPRINTS IN CLAY with Eduardo Lazo. May 7, 2005.An innovative technique for creating monoprints using colored slips. Lazo has developed this 2D art form from our beloved 3D medium. Final artwork is more “painterly”rather than sculptural. $65 / $60 for OVCAG members. Mother Earth Clay Art Center. See www.mamasclay.com for registration info or call 408.245.6262. LEARN TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR POTTERY with Mark Youmans. May 21, 2005. Would you like to learn how to take slides of your pottery? This hands-on workshop will cover basic setup of the camera, background, lighting, and work placement.Opportunity to try various lighting setups,backgrounds,and exposures to determine what works best for your work and camera. $65 / $60 for OVCAG members. Mother Earth Clay Art Center. See www.mamasclay. com for registration info or call 408.245.6262. STORIES TO THROW BY with Mel Jacobson. May 28-29, 2005. Famous Clayart Moderator,Mel Jacobson,will do a multiple level throwing workshop with emphasis on learning to throw the repeated form.Japanese hump throwing is taught, along with using many kinds of measuring devices.Audience will be encouraged to ask questions. Mel is an amazing resource and inspiring teacher! $110 watchonly / $100 OVCAG. Meterials fee of $25. Mother Earth Clay Art Center. See www.mamasclay.com for registration info or call 408.245.6262. AREA SHOWS SILICON VALLEY OPEN STUDIOS. MAY 7-8 - San Mateo County & Coast - Belmont,Burlingame,El Granada, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Montara, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, etc. MAY 14-15 Northern Santa Clara County. Cupertino, Los Altos, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto,Saratoga,Stanford,Sunnyvale, etc. MAY 21-22 - Southern Santa Clara County & neighboring towns along Highway 17. Campbell, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Milpitas,Morgan Hill,San Jose, San Martin, Santa Clara, Scotts Valley, etc. For more info: www.svopenstudios.org. LES SCULPTURES EN VOYAGE.Gallery Blu.April 14-May 3,2005 New sculpture and paintings by French artist Frederic Lanovsky.Please join us to celebrate the recent sculptures and paintings that have been created while Fredic has been living in the Bay Area over the past few months.. Free. Info Phone: 408249-7662.Wed-Fri:4pm-7pm .Sat 2pm-7pm.Sun-Tues:By Appointment. Gallery Blu, 2255 The Alameda, Santa Clara,CA 95050. LGAA ANNUAL OPEN JURIED SHOW 2005. March 20-April 30, 2005. Artwork by Northern California artists selected for inclusion based on review of actual artwork. Juror: Karen Tsujimoto, Senior Curator, Oakland Museum of California. Six categories; painting, mixed media,photography,pastel, sculpture, watercolor. Free. Info Phone:408-354-0071.Museum Hours:Wed-Sun, 1pm-4pm. Art Museum of Los Gatos,4 Tait Avenue ,Los Gatos,CA 95032. ARMEL /ZIVKOV - CONTEMPORARY GLASS. Noted Palo Alto artists,Paul Armel and Pete Zivkov,team up to present a riot of color in this contemporary glass and photography show. Large, abstract photo canvas prints are paired with functional, multicolored glass designs. Gallery House, 320 California Ave.at Birch (through Printers’ Visions in Clay Call for Entries Co-sponsored by San Joaquin Potters Guild et al Over $3,000 in cash awards! Categories: Functional NonFunctional (includes sculpture). Deadline for Slide Entries: June 30, 2005. For info: Jeri Foppiano 209.933.9373 or e-mail Kathy White at sjpgvic2005@hotmail.com. SOUP SUPPER: April 17th The Alpha Omega Project is a group of 12 churches that feeds, houses, and helps to rehabilitate a select group of h o m e l e s s p e o p l e . They host the Soup Supper fund raiser at one of their churches. Potters generously donate the bowls for the event. The public attends, takes home a soup bowl of their choosing after a delicious meal for just $15. Donating potters are invited to attend as guests but MUST reserve a FREE ticket so we have enough soup and chairs for all. Please e-mail eb@ovcag.org to reserve and buy tickets for family and friends.We encourage you to reserve your free ticket and purchase additional tickets early! Call 650-967-2189 or e-mail eb@ovcag.org TO DELIVER BOWLS OR FOR INFORMATION: Joyce Wies: 408-253-0964 • Floyd Phillips: 408-739-9686 THE 14TH EMPTY BOWLS SOUP SUPPER WILL TAKE PLACE: SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2005 • 4PM-6PM • Mtn. View Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1425 Springer Rd., Mtn. View, CA • Phone 650-967-2189 Tickets are $15 • Make Checks payable to: Alpha Omega-Empty Bowls The chairpersons of the Empty Bowls Project thank you! April–May 2005 • GREENWARE 13 Photos Courtesy of Sue Vincent Martell Workshop a Huge Success! the hardware store,because they hold a lot of slip coloring when dipped in the container. He also used hair dye applicators purchased from beauty supply stores to do fine detailing on his pieces. Craig graciously shared his glaze recipes,slip recipes and clay body recipes with those in attendance. We enjoyed the pot luck dinner at Barbara Brown’s home in Sunnyvale on Saturday night. It was,as usual a very relaxing evening. We had a number of new Martell demonstrates to workshop participants his slip trailing and decorating techniques. Martell does ‘His Thing”! By JUDY LEE and JOAN RIDINGS T hirty-three artists gathered to hear and watch Craig Martell “do his thing” throwing and slip-decorating porcelain. The first day was spent with Craig throwing the pieces he would decorate on Sunday. Although we were anxious to see the decorating portion,we listened with interest as he shared his tips and secrets to working in Porcelain. No matter how long you have been working in clay, there always seems to be one more “tip” that we can add to our arsenals. • Use one of the large, wide rubber bands from broccoli in place of a chamois • Use the bat pins as markers for quartering or marking pots for decorating • When a pot starts to get weak, scrape slurry off the sides (both inside and out) to help strengthen • Use the rib down from the rim to get a better contour on bowls • When making platter rims, throw/pull it out rather than pushing out and down. Pushing tends to let it come back up to where it was…e.g.clay memory. • When the rim is sturdy enough (before leather hard stage), lay another bat on top (with your pot in between like a sandwich) and flip it over to cut bat from bottom of piece. • Save the slurry from scraping the sides for making slip— just add colorants. • Make your own damp box using a roller cart with shelves, by taping plastic sheeting to the sides and back. Then put a curtain of plastic on the front,making it tie up out of the way when checking pots or adding more. • Craig makes his own clay from formulas developed over the years. He also makes his own glazes and slips. An important take-away from this first day was that all the little, tiny finishing touches you do on your work enhance the appeal of the pot. To make the slip, use the same (white) clay body you are throwing, save the trimmings. Let dry completely to get an accurate weight. Measure out 500 grams to get one quart of slip. Add approximately 10% colorant, depending on the color desired. • When glazing the finished 14 GREENWARE • April–May 2005 pieces,it is good to use a translucent glaze rather than transparent,unless you want the bold colors and sharp lines of the slip decoration. The translucency or satin matt effect tends to soften the coloring. Craig used the coloring beautifully and boldly on the pieces. We watched as he carefully and methodically applied the slip decoration so easily on each piece. He used various widths of the foam paint trimming brushes you can get at Martell throws a lid. workshop attendees who drove quite a distance to attend. So we made new friends and enjoyed the two days together. The venue Ginger Yee checks out Craig’s lovely finished pieces. ☛ page 15 Developing your own Artistic Voice in Well Crafted Ceramics subhead to come Written by EDUARDO LAZO T Close up of tea bowl with slip decoration applied. he art and craft of clay grabs you and never lets you go. Once you are “bitten” the passion seems to grow and propel you in a lifetime of discovery. This article is meant to review the phenomenon of ceramic artistic development and perhaps shorten the learning curve. Since we all have dif- ferent professional and artistic ambitions,I define success in the field as the “progressive realization of a worthwhile goal.” We all spend years learning our craft. Experience shows that it takes at least 10 years of working in clay to “master” the craft of ceramics. We patiently and painfully learn the “how to” of working with clay by attending classes, workshops, seminars, and by being mentored. Concurrently, we express our artistic ideas, the “why.” Some say that artists are born with the talent. That gift and ability can be honed but seldom taught. We learn ways of expression but it takes real introspection to develop the art of clay. After much investment of time,effort and money we learn to throw proficiently,hand build with skill, do all manner of glazing and firings from raku / low fire to high fire reduction. Some of us are self taught, most are products of some form of teaching system. Someone teaches us ‘It is remarkable how many different paths clay artists travel, each in his or her own unique way. After all, there is only one of us and we all have our exceptional way of expression and communication. I love it.’ The formed piece before any decoration was applied. Martell Continued from page 14 at Mother Earth Clay Art Center was pleasant and comfortable. The workshop was full and everyone stayed to the very end. We would both like to thank everyone who attended and made the workshop a success; we really appreciated all the help from everyone. A big thank you to Dorothy Christman and Marilyn Austin for keeping the coffee pot full and providing all those lovely morning goodies;Barbara Brown for hosting Craig Martell and giving him a potters tour of the bay area; and to Cinda Mefford for helping with taping the workshop. We both owe a big hug to Robert Thomas from Mother Earth; he was always ready to help with anything we needed. Now that our 1st workshop as co-chairs is over,we look forward to David Hendley’s workshop in September. to develop our own glazes,glaze freely, paint with deliberation, multifire,grow crystals on ware, perfect our forms and market our products. At some point we will look at a piece and say:“that looks just like so and so’s work.” But what about developing our own unique style? For some, this realization comes early in the process, for others it may take years to reach this awareness. One day you decide that the time has come to bring all this education to fruition or quit. This is the point where we remember Shakespeare’s words: This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. So we turn to introspection, quietness and meditation. We look at our past life experiences for inspiration,ideas and trends. We look at what we want and like to do. We stop jumping through someone else’s hoops and think about “marching to our own drum.” The time of being mentored is over. Our time has come. It all starts with a feeling deep within us. This takes the form of an idea. Now we have engaged body and soul. So let’s start. Without deliberate intention or thought,let the clay take form in your hands. There should be no conscious effort, no preconceptions,no thought. Let your self go with the feelings. Let your spirit guide you. Do not think about it. Do not judge it. Just do it. When a form takes shape, set it aside and meditate. Let the idea “rest”for a while before you come back to it. Look at it with the discovery eyes of a child. Let your emotions rule. Then contemplate its “presence.” The next step is to repeat the form over and over again to develop the concept and the form. Work out the problems of construction. See what works and what does not. Gain proficiency in its realization. In my experience, it takes me at least 20 repetitions to begin to “see the light.” Now set your series of attempts aside for a period of time. Do something else. Return to the series with a critical, judgment eye and heart. What do you think about each attempt? What emotions do they evoke? Show the series to others,right and left brain types. What response do you get? Take photos of each piece in the series from different perspectives. Study the photos. Do a second series incorporating all your feedback and repeat the process until you are satisfied and the last piece tells you it’s finished. Test the final product in the market. Enter it in shows and sales venues. Evaluate your feedback. If necessary,develop a new series. This process will help you in expressing your self through your art as you walk down your own path. Make this a spiritual journey. Forget about the competition,about comparing yourself to others,just focus on yourself, your experiences and emotions. You have nothing to prove. Put you ego aside and just be. Let your clay art touch others with its simplicity, honesty, and reflections. Art is the progressive realization of self. Footnote: I just returned from the NCECA conference. It is remarkable how many different paths clay artists travel, each in his or her own unique way. After all, there is only one of us and we all have our exceptional way of expression and communication. I love it. April–May 2005 • GREENWARE 15 Treasure Chest Continued from page 12 NEXT MEETING MONDAY,MAY 16,2005 at 7:00 PM. This will be the Scholarship Awards ceremony night, as well as jobassignments for participants in the June sale, so it’ll be a packed night! in a beautiful Nature Preserve in Los Altos.650.941.5666. POTTER’S WHEEL LESSONS in Ben Lomond. Cinda Mefford, specializes in teaching beginners and troubleshooting problems. Like working with a coach,her methods are exact, maximized, and easy to follow. 20 years of experience. Artistry of Touch. www.artistryoftouch.com or call 831.336.8021. FOR SALE: 6 FOOT FOLDING TABLE. Perfect for exhibitions — $25. Please contact Vicki if interested: vam@vicvam.com. Must pick up in San Bruno. LOOKING FOR several (eight) potters to make 20-40 planters each for a new retail plant store in SF.I am also looking for a potter willing to make roughly 50 planters for a plant stand I designed and am having built. These planters are slightly smaller... 6 inch diameter, 61⁄2 inches tall. Planters need to fit into the prototype which is available to the potter who takes the commission. Contact Al Turpin altohone@yahoo.com. 416.664.8352 CERAMIC STUDIO SPACE AVAILABLE. Share work area,slab roller,gas,electric & raku kilns.Open 24/7.Located CLASSIFIEDS ARE FREE for members.Non-members,this space is only $10. Send your ad to:newsletter@ovcag.org. Contact Us: Website - www.ovcag.org Membership - members@ovcag.org Shows & Sales - sales@ovcag.org Workshops - workshops@ovcag.org Website - webmaster@ovcag.org Volunteers - volunteers@ovcag.org Library - library@ovcag.org General Info - info@ovcag.org Outreach - outreach@ovcag.org Publicity - publicity@ovcag.org Exhibits - exhibits@ovcag.org Fundraising - fundraising@ovcag.org Sponsorship - sponsors@ovcag.org Subscriptions - subscriptions@ovcag.org The GREENWARE Team is: Cindy Couling, Sue Vincent, Falline Danforth We welcome your submissions and story suggestions! Next deadline for submissions is May 15, 2005. Contact GREENWARE at: newsletter@ovcag.org Snail Mail: Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild, PO Box 1046, Sunnyvale, CA94086-1046. Phone: 408.998.3014 Classified ads: Free for members • $10 for all others. Insert and display ads: Contact the newsletter editor for prices. Many thanks to our contributors: Dan Dermer Judith Enright Abby Foster Liz King Teresa Krulee Judy Lee Lee Middleman Abby O’Connell Alison Pangburn Greg Pine Joan Ridings Cindy Saracco Lidia Seroussi ‘The Tipster’ Sue Vincent Joyce Wies 16 GREENWARE • April–May 2005 © 2005 way her or his work is unique. The three artist/teachers stressed the relevance of a supportive environment .That will lead to the development of the kids ideas.The adult is there to facilitate the techniques needed to implement the kids ideas. Rules are important when working with younger populations but they have to be set to avoid judgment and comparisons between kids. On the other hand,it is positive to have the child compare his work through time,that will make her/him feel accomplished. For us as a group, it was quite fun to have a piece of clay to work with and make our “clay monsters”while listening to the presentation. Everything explained made more sense since we could experience with our hands and brain at the same time and become more involved in the listening. The samples brought from students work were also important to see and some of tem were very impressive. Kids are amazing!” Thanks to Peggy, Marie & Susan for the insightful presentation. Your membership renewal date is on your GREENWARE mailing label. MONDAY, MAY 16, 2005 AT 7:00 PM AT: Campbell Community Center - Roosevelt Room • 1 West Campbell Ave #C-32, Campbell WINNER Return Service Requested P.O. Box 71046 Sunnyvale CA, 94086-1046