CALL TO ARTISTS -

Exhibition: Midstream: New Ceramics from the Heartland
Exhibition Dates: August 23, 2008 – February 28, 2009
Deadline May 23rd

The Arizona State University Art Museum’s Ceramics Research Center, in an effort to define the front edge of experimental ceramic work, is looking for limited submissions for the exhibition Midstream: New Ceramics from the Heartland. Artists in the Midwestern region of the U.S. can submit up to 5 low resolution digital images and a brief resume and statement. Artists residing in the following states are eligible: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Contact: Peter Held, Curator of Ceramics at peter.held@asu.edu or find more info here or here.

Craft Symposium _ TOMORROW!

In combination with the exhibition Object Factory: The Art of Industrial Ceramics
which runs May 15 – Sept 7, 2008 at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto, tomorrow they are hosting:

EXHIBITION SYMPOSIUM
Craft and Design Interface
May 17, 1 - 4 pm at Gardiner Museum
$20 Public/ $16.25 Members/ OCAD students free

Speakers include:
Jorunn Veiteberg
Glen Brown
Ezra Shales
Dov Granchrow
Marek Cekula
Sara Diamond

From the Gardiner Website:

"This groundbreaking exhibition will both startle and delight you with the work of international artists and industrial designers re-imagining the possibilities of ceramics in the 21st century.

See more than 200 objects from eighteen countries, including work by artists Cindy Sherman and Arman, designers Ettore Sottsass and Masahiro Mori, and industrial manufacturers Rosenthal and Nymphenburg.

Curator Marek Cecula emphasizes the new relationship between artists, designers and industry that “has heralded a vitality and fresh orientation to ceramic material.” The exhibition also includes sections devoted to recent advances in ceramic materials and technologies, and to the creative manipulation and re-use of industrial ceramics by studio artists."

Sounds like an amazing exhibition so hopefully some of you can check it out. For the rest of us there are some podcasts on the Gardiner website.

Call for Entry - all artists living in Ireland

First Contemporary Ceramic Award At Hallward

Deadline - 17th July 2008
Prize - solo exhibition at the Hallward in 2009/10

For more details visit the website.

Amazing graffiti on the streets of Buenos Aires.

You'll have to forgive the lack of ceramic content in this post, but I wanted to share a video with you of an amazing graffiti animation I ran across. At first it seems like a post production work, but quickly you realize that this guy actually painted each image and photographed them. If I figure it takes forever to make ceramic work with all the firings and everything, I can't imagine how long this might have taken.
Enjoy!

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU

Upcoming conference

SURFACE, FORM & SUBSTANCE
September 19-20, 2008 | Indianapolis, Indiana

The conference site boasts:
"Debra Fritts will demonstrate a handbuilding technique that combines modeling, pitching, and coiling for small figurative sculptures. Develop your vocabulary and aesthetic of color with Ovidio Giberga. Susan Kemenyffy will share the secrets of how to balance contour and surface. Eva Kwong, will reveal how to incorporate more color through the use of AMACO's velvets and colored slips. Jeffrey Nichols will demonstrate his unique approach to color and surface. Learn unusual construction techniques with Lana Wilson, using soft slabs of clay to make a teapot and stand."

Register early for a discount!
For all the info go to their website here.

More ways to spend your summer holidays.

The Metchosin International Summer School for the Arts is offering a number of ceramics courses this summer including Aesthetics of Ceramic Form, Figurative Sculpture, Special Effects Glazes, Architectural Ceramics, and Firing Techniques just to name a few. All are being offered by some of ceramic's greats like Robin Hopper, Sandra Black, Grace Nickel and Les Manning, among others.

Check out their website for further workshop details and registration information.

The Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts
Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific
650 Pearson College Drive
Victoria, BC, Canada V9C 4H7

Phone: (250) 391-2420 - Toll Free in Canada 1-800-667-3122
Fax: (250) 391-2412 - email: missa@pearsoncollege.ca

One of the main things on my "to do" list lately has been to update the links on this blog which are currently looking quite sparse as compared to the numerous blogs I actually read and am inspired by. So hopefully soon enough there will be enough hours in the day to get this done. Priorities have definitely shifted as of late with most of my time spent amusing or being amused by the little one and desperately searching for stolen moments away in the studio. The loud music in the studio may have been replaced by the hum and crackle of the baby monitor but it's still a wonderful escape from the repetition of the everyday.

But this new schedule has also had an impact on my blog reading as of late. I'm falling behind now that the little one sleeps through the night and I'm no longer up in the wee hours of the morning coaxing him back to slumbers and reading craft theory or design blogs to keep me awake. Yes I realize I'm an obsessive geek to even think of reading about ceramics at such a time!

Anyhow I was just catching up on my reading of Mike Press's blog Hand Made Theory and thought to myself that I might not have mentioned it before on this blog, so here you go, it's a great read for craftspeople of any medium with great links so find the time for a browse (preferably during sane hours of the day!)

Lazy afternoon studio tours

I was just out in BC for a long needed break, enjoying the beautiful spring gardens of the coast, and finding some time for lazing about and checking out some of Victoria's open studios. It's such a great idea that I wish we did this more back home, having afternoon open houses/studios where you can meet artists, enjoy yummy cookies, and see some fantastic work that you might not otherwise find in the shops and galleries. Of course it's always nice to have that direct interaction with makers, finding out interesting tricks of the trade and seeing how different people work - plus it fuels my snoopiness about how others studios are set up, which in turn can also fuel studio envy...



This is the work of Ester Galac who is a lovely clay artist I met on the studio tour. She had beautiful works with a variety of elegant glaze choices from subtle blue to bronze glazes and interesting forms incorporating inspiration and materials from the coast. You can check out more of her work on the BC tourism website.

I think this open studio format of exposing the public to artwork is interesting. Not only does it provide a relaxed casual setting for viewing art, but is also allows the direct interaction between maker and user of an object. In craft communities we often talk about a need to educate audiences about the importance/value/excellence in craftsmanship of the crafted object and this format presents a less didactic or formal approach as compared to a gallery setting. I know lots of artists who do this individually, hosting their own open studios which is great, but there was also something nice about an organized tour of multiple studios all in one day where you can float in and out of spaces enjoying a day of conversation and beautiful art here and there around the city...

If you're visiting or living in Waterloo...

SPEAKER SERIES: Wilhelm Nassau speaks at the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery on the history of ceramics and glass

THE HISTORY OF CERAMICS
Friday, May 9 at 4:30pm
Admission - $5.00
CCGG Docents & Volunteers – free!

THE HISTORY OF GLASS
Friday, May 30 at 4:30pm
Admission - $5.00
CCGG Docents & Volunteers – free!

25 Caroline Street North, Waterloo, ON N2L 2Y5 519.746.1882
GALLERY HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday 11-6pm, Sunday 1-5pm, FREE 5-6pm Tuesday to Friday

2 items of NCECA news

2009 CALL FOR PROGRAM PROPOSALS -
DEADLINE May 1, 2008
43rd annual meeting of NCECA in Phoenix, AZ
Call for proposals of lectures and panel discussions relating to issues of Aesthetics, Critical Theory, Art History, Education, Professionalism, Technology and New Work. Submissions will be evaluated for merit, the presenter's expertise in the area, and a general interest in providing a balanced and inclusive program for the members. Members are encouraged to submit proposals, and general information on this process can be found at the NCECA web site.
All proposals will be submitted ONLINE.

Plus I just got an email from NCECA regarding NCECA going GREEN!!!
They are looking for feedback from members addressing different ways to have a more sustainable practice in the studio, the classroom or at home. Working in collaboration with Ceramics Monthly and the Archie Bray Foundation the future is looking to be more green for our community. If you know of individuals who are dedicated and experienced in the issues surrounding going green please forward their information to Kate Vorhaus, NCECA Projects Manager in our Erie, Colorado office; kate@nceca.net

They are also looking for a student to join their "Green Task Force", So if you know of someone that fits the bill please send their name and contact information to NCECA Student Director-at-Large, Jessica Orlowski; seraphim205@yahoo.com

Keep an eye out for NCECA webpages and blogs on the subject, but in the meantime get involved, because as with all things green, we all have to get involved and do our part. So start getting all your ideas together, talk with others in your community and get in contact with any member of the newly formed NCECA Green Task Force:

Robert Harrison, NCECA Past President; granitwood@aol.com
Joe Molinaro, NCECA Programs Director; joe.Molinaro@eku.edu
Morgan O'Brien, NCECA Executive Director; morgan@nceca.net
Sherman Hall, Ceramics Monthly Editor; shall@ceramicsmonthly.org
Steve Lee, Archie Bray Foundation Director; steve@archiebray.org
Brian Kohl, NCECA Podcast Director; brian.kohl@mac.com

Also check out the May issue Ceramics Monthly for John Britt's article on "The Ease of Being Green", which focuses on practical steps individuals can take in their own studios to reduce energy consumption and carbon impact. Here's a link to the article.

Updated website

Well I finally got around to updating my website and posting some new functional and sculptural pieces I've been working on lately. I had a great friend set up the site originally, but have since switched over to using iweb and it's fantastically easy even for someone like me, who is quite computer illiterate, to use and update. There are still a few bugs to be worked out, (in particular the link section is pretty sparce) but the bulk of it is ready for viewing so if you have a minute i'd love for you to check it out!

I'll be updating with much more sculptural work in the next month or so as I finally finish the 30 or so pieces that I've been composing since November. Would love to hear what you think of the new stuff. Here's a few pics of work I've just sent off to Prime Gallery in Toronto.

Emerging artists announced...

Image of Jeremy Brooks' work.

The 2008 Ceramic Monthly emerging artists have been announced! Check out a sneak preview and vote for your favorite before the issue hits stands at the Ceramic Monthly website. There's pots and sculptures, installations and design work, a little something for most peoples tastes. I'll be curious to find out the peoples choice...

Upcoming Craft/Design Conference call for papers/workshops

Selling Yarns 2: Innovation for sustainability
Presented by The Australian National University, Craft Australia and the National Museum of Australia
Venue: National Museum of Australia, Canberra
When: 6 - 8 March, 2009

* Deadline for abstracts and workshop proposals: 1 July, 2008
* Notification of acceptance: 1 August, 2008
* Deadline for biography (on acceptance): 1 September, 2008
* Deadline for full papers: 15 January, 2009

for more information check out the website.

Ceramics Biennial - call for entry

The New Hampshire Institute of Art is pleased to announce Ceramics Biennial Exhibition 2008, a national juried exhibition for clay artists.

Entries accepted will be made predominantly of clay. A maximum of two entries
may be submitted by each artist. Images, registration forms and entry fees must
be postmarked August 1, 2008.

Check out the website for more info or contact:
Ceramics Biennial
Attn: Alison Williams, Gallery Director
New Hampshire Institute of Art,
148 Concord Street
Manchester, NH 03101

If you're in Arizona...

ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center is currently hosting an exhibition of work by SUSAN BEINER titled: SYNTHETIC REALITY. Runs until August 2nd.

Just to entice you here is a bit from the gallery statement:

"What you see is not always what you get. In our digitized, photo-shopped world, reality is often altered and manipulated. Reality television shows seem unreal. With today’s technology, many products we use daily are manufactured with artificial materials or manipulated DNA aided by scientific processes, reshaping what was once all natural. Biotechnology allows for genetically altered foods grown in controlled environments, gene splicing produces cloned animals and hybridization of consumer products has changed our lives forever. Ethical issues continue to challenge these advancements. What are the costs of scientific efficiency versus environmental and health concerns?"

I'm always interested in ceramics that explore beyond the material properties yet use and subvert that material and its history to enrich a contemporary context/issue/discussion, and/or political stance.

You should also check out her amazing work on her website. I particularly love the images of the works before bisque, always nice to see work before and after, first as a neutral palette and then as the artist envisioned it in their minds eye.

Upcoming Woodfire Conference

Tye River Pottery will be hosting an international conference May 30 – June 1, 2008. The conference will be an opportunity to hear eight internationally renowned wood-fire potters discuss their experience firing together. The following potters will be on the panel: Robert Compton, Kevin Crowe, Stephen Driver, Vicki Hansen, Mark Hewitt, Micki Schloessingk, and Jack Troy.

If you have questions regarding this conference, please email at tyeriverpottery@aol.com. Or speak with Kevin Crowe or Krista Loomans at Tye River Pottery: 434-263-4065.

Kevin Crowe
1289 Falling Rock Drive
Amherst, VA 24521

Check out the website for all the conference details and registration forms.

new blog

Quick addition to the previous post about Vipoo is that he has joined the blogging world. So do make sure to add his blog found here to your list of reading!

Ceramic Whistle Competition

The Town of Matera and The Cultural Association Genius Loci announce their call for entries for 1st Edition of the International Competition for Ceramic Whistles - 2008 Città di Matera

The Competition is open to individual and schools with no age limit. Each competitor may submit a maximum of six works (whistles) which may be created using any ceramic technique. Works must not exceed 20x20x25 of their dimensions.

More information icluding all the rules and guidelines check out their blog

or contact:
Tina Festa, Ass. Culturale Genius Loci - Matera through their website or by e-mail: geniuslocimatera@libero.it

For the FUTURE

Or if Saskatchewan isn't your neck of the woods, how about Melbourne?

Later this month Uber Gallery will be hosting an exhibition of new works by Vipoo Srivilasa (one of my personal favorites, I love the humor and the politics of his work).

For the FUTURE
Runs from April 30 to June 1st with an opening 6.30 on the 30th.

From the media release:
"In this particular series, Srivilasa continues exploring the inherent commonalities between the cultures of his native Thailand and his new home of Australia, only this time the emphasis is on global warming and the damage caused to the coral reef of both countries due to greed and over consumption. He uses the coral reef issue as a link between the two places, as both face similar problems.

As Srivilasa emotionally expresses “…The works express my concern toward what happens to the world right now, especially to the coral reef where my heart belongs. The reef is where my alter ego, Mermaid, lives and now it’s being threatened by global warming. By making this series of work, I hope to increase the general public awareness of the importance and value of the living coral reef ecosystems and perhaps highlight their problems!”



Make sure to check out Vipoo's website for more about the artist plus some great images of past work, workshops he offers and news of the upcoming events he's involved with.

Über Gallery,
52 Fitzroy St,
St Kilda Vic 3182
(03) 8598 9915

Upcoming workshop

If you're in the Saskatchewan area or nearby make sure to check out:

Try-alls and Tools
a MOOSE JAW POTTERY CLUB WORKSHOP

with the lovely and amazingly talented Dee Funk! This is a workshop not to be missed!
May 2, 3 & 4, 2008
May 2 Slide Show and discussion of participant’s work 7:30 pm
May 3 Workshop 9:00 - 5:00
May 4 Workshop 10:00 – 4:00
Fee: members $60.00 non-members $75.00

To register phone 693-4970 or e-mail florence@sasktel.net
MOOSE JAW POTTERY CLUB WORKSHOP
741 7th Ave. SE by Wood Acres
Moose Jaw Saskatchewan

Ahead of the Need

An Invitational Ceramics Exhibition to Benefit the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF.)

The Charlie Cummings Gallery is hosting an online-only benefit exhbition curated by Anthony Schaller and Lana Wilson. The exhibition, which runs from April 5th-30th, features work by over 70 nationally and internationally recognized artists. This is a great opportunity to buy great ceramic art and support a great cause.

The exhibition is now available for preview. Sales will begin at 11am Saturday.

Call for Entry, Celebrating 40 Years: APA Cone Box Show

Deadline April 30

An exhibition of ceramic art being held at the Cultural Centre Gallery (Medicine Hat College Gallery) in Medicine Hat May 29 - June 27, 2008, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Alberta Potters' Association and will be planned to coincide with the Annual General Meeting of the organization.

1. Each participant may submit one work of art.
2. Exhibition open to all ceramic media and techniques may include other materials as part of the work.
3. Artists are encouraged to portray or communicate an aspect of 'celebration' in their submission, regardless of form, function, subject or interpretation.
4. Size is limited to the dimensions of an Orton Standard Pyrometric Cone Box (50 large cones), i.e. 3" x 3" x 6"; all components of the artwork must fit into the box.
5. Entry may be for sale; no commission is taken by the Gallery.
6. Registration form is to be submitted to the Gallery by April 30, 2008; mail to: Cultural Centre Gallery, 299 College Drive SE, Medicine Hat, AB. T1A 3Y6
7. Artwork must be shipped or delivered to the Cultural Centre Gallery no later than May 15, 2008.
8. Registration info: Name of Artist/ phone number Address Title of Artwork Brief description Price/ Insurance value (if not for sale)

For further details, contact Allan Jensen at (403)502-9006.

Just so you know...

some days trying to strike a balance between my studio practice, updating this blog and running around with my new baby means that I only have a little time to search for opportunities and events happening out there in the ceramic world. So if you have a posting, an exhibition, call for entry, etc. that you'd like posted here to get the word out please let me know. International posting welcome as the blog is read by 58 countries/territories. You can email me at carole_epp@yahoo.ca with all the details. I can't promise I'll post everything, but I can promise I'll do my best.

cheers!
carole

Summer Ceramic Workshops

Anderson Ranch Arts Center has a list of what looks like some amazing upcoming workshops this summer. Personally I'd love to attend the "Ceramic Sculpture as Social/Political Commentary" with Richard Notkin. There really seems to be something for everyone, what a great way to spend the summer holidays!

*Working in Jamaica: ceramic vessels and pottery with
John Neely
Alleghany Meadows
David Pinto
Doug Casebeer
*Field & Frame: exploring plates and platters with Gail Kendall
*Animal Imagery & Meaning with Joe Bova
*Handbuilt Pots: form, function and context with Mark Pharis
*Ceramic Head Constructions with Stan Welsh
*Soda Firing & the Sculptural Vessel with Brad Schwieger
*Photographing Your Work with Michael Fortune
*Slab & Coil: handbuilding fundamentals with Jill Oberman and Sam Harvey
*Who You Are: a self-portrait with Tip Toland
*Majolica on Terra Cotta Pottery with Posey Bacopoulos
*Handbuilding Vessels with John Gill and Andrea Gill
*On & Off the Wheel: basic pottery with Andy Brayman and Christa Assad
*Wheel-Thrown Pottery with Doug Casebeer, Val Cushing and Alleghany Meadows
*Wood-fired & Decorated: the Bourry box alternative with Charity Davis-Woodard and Lorna Meaden
*Mata Ortiz Southwest Pottery with Juan Quezada and Michael Wisner
*Finding Form through Surface with Mary Barringer,David Pinto and Sam Clarkson

Check out there website for more information.
PHONE 970 923 3181
FAX 970 923 3871
EMAIL info@andersonranch.org
ADDRESS P.O. Box 5598
Snowmass Village, CO 81615
5263 Owl Creek Rd
Snowmass Village, CO 81615

Working collaboratively...

Recently I've been working with a group of ceramic artists here in Saskatoon whose work has been inspiring to me in my own practice. I'm thrilled now to have the opportunity to work more in depth with them, gaining a new and more thorough understanding of their work, process and inspiration, all the while making some pretty fun work that takes me out of my everyday of studio work. I think for me at least, it can become a bit routine in the studio, working in isolation, and I benefit quite a bit from working with others and having the opportunity not only to work, but to talk about work and get into the dirt of why it is that we make what we do.

Here's the basic premise of what we're doing so far...we wanted to create some collaborative work, but where to begin? Each of us has a firmly established practice, aesthetic and technique. What we've set up as an exercise to get us going is not unlike the childhood game of telephone. If you don't know the game, it begins with one person whispering something to another who then passes it on to the next, etc, etc. As children this saying would often get altered with humorous results once it had passed through a number of kids. So how we've undertaken this in the studio is that we've each begun with a piece of work by each of the other artists which we then make a response piece to. Then we meet as a group, discuss the pieces and see what's been percolating in each others minds/studios. Then back to the studio again to respond and make new work based on the pieces we saw. With each successive piece the work gets further and further removed from the original through the work of a different artists hand. Make sense?

We also decided to deal with vessel forms to give ourselves some focus and an underlying premise to unify the finished work for exhibition. Our interest in the vessel is in part because of the functional research in all of our practices and because the vessel has been one of the most recognizable and central aspects of ceramic history and tradition throughout all cultures. Essentially a utilitarian object it has been a subject for representation of cultural aesthetics, ritual and visual history. The vessel can be both read universally as well as a signifier of specific personal, cultural, and geographic interpretations. Despite the contemporary focus on quantity over quality in industrial production of functional wares; the vessel and the craftsmanship of its creation by hand alongside the multitude of perspectives and aesthetic renderings, still remains a focus among contemporary practitioners of the ceramic medium.

We have yet to document any of the work, but when we do I hope to post it here to further show you what I mean. In the meantime here are some images of the work of these amazing local talents.

Zane Wilcox



Paula Cooley



and Bonnie Gilmour



This project we've undertaken will be exhibited in 2009 in Red Deer, AB and hopefully here in Saskatoon as well.

Argilla-Italia call for entry

What: Ceramics, Art and Craftwork Trade Show
Where: Faenza - one of the capital cities of majolica in the world.
How: All potters interested in participating must submit a participation application via post, fax, e-mail, or in person, including at least 3 photographs of works and if possible 1 photograph that illustrates participation in previous exhibits or a panorama of various pieces that may be exhibited.

Check out the website for further details in a downloadable PDF.

Applications must be submitted to the organization by April 15, 2008 at:
Comune di Faenza,
Segreteria ARGILLÀ,
Piazza del Popolo 31,
48018 Faenza (RA) ITALIA
fax 0546-691214 (from abroad 0039-0546-691214)
info@argilla-italia.it

Japan Artist in Residence Program in 2008

Aomori Contemporary Art Centre is accepting the application for the
Artist in Residence Program in 2008.

In this autumn, accordance with the guidelines, we will invite 4
artists in our residency program.

Details will be forthcoming shortly on their website
The deadline for applications is May 31st.

KONDO Yuki (Curator)
Aomori Contemporary Art Centre (ACAC)
152-6, Yamazaki,
Goshizawa, Aomori
030-0134, JAPAN
TEL: +81 17 764 5200 FAX: +81 17 764 5201
mail: acac-air@acac-aomori.jp
http://www.acac-aomori.jp

2 opportunities - The Clay Studio of Missoula

The Clay Studio of Missoula presents International Cup, Feb. 6th-Feb. 28th, 2009, a juried exhibition showcasing the idea of ceramic-made cups from around the world.

Juried by Patti Warashina.
Deadline: November 26th, 2008.
Entry fee: $20 for one; $25 for two.
Size may not exceed 20 inches or 15 lbs. Slides or digital.

Address: International Cup, The Clay Studio of Missoula, 1106 Hawthorne, Unit A, Missoula, Montana 59802. Telephone: 406-543-0509.
Email: info@theclaystudioofmissoula.org.
Website

The Clay Studio of Missoula presents Soda Salt National, Nov. 7th-Nov. 25th, 2008.

Juried by Jim Koudelka.
Deadline: 1 August 2008.
Entry fee: $20 for one; $25 for two.
Size may not exceed 20 inches or 15 lbs. Slides or digital.

Address: Soda Salt National, The Clay Studio of Missoula, 1106 Hawthorne, Unit A, Missoula, Montana 59802.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show

Online application deadline is April 1st for the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft show.

The 32nd annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center November 13th through 16th, 2008.

This premier show and sale of contemporary craft, includes 195 of the finest and most dynamic craft artists in the United States, selected from 1,380 applicants. For the first time, artists from Israel will be featured.

Check out their website for application and further information.

Call for Entry, 5th World Ceramic Biennale 2009 Korea International Competition

The 5th World Ceramic Biennale 2009 Korea (CEBIKO) International Competition will take place April 25-June 21, 2009, at the Icheon World Ceramic Center, Korea.
Categories: Ceramics for Use and Ceramics as Expression.
Juried. Cash awards. No entry fee.
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2008.
Apply online or delivery mail.
Contact: Shinhee Park, Curator,
World Ceramic Exposition Foundation, Curatorial Dept.,
467-020, San 69-1, Gwango-dong, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. cebiko@gmail.com
Tel: +82 31 645 0580
Fax: +82 31 631 1614
Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
http://www.wocef.com

Call for Entry

Coming Up Next, Alberta Craft Council - 4/25/2008
Deadline for Entry April 25, 2008

Exhibition Dates: June 7 - July 12, 2008(Discovery Gallery)
Artists Reception: June 7, 2008

The Alberta Craft Council is organizing a juried exhibition that is open to emerging fine craft artists who are in the first five years of their career or in the last year of their formal education. If you are creating contemporary fine craft (clay, glass, fibre, wood, furniture design, jewellery or metals) with fresh new designs submit a current cv, artist statement and 3 - 5 images (slides, prints or digital) of work presented for the exhibition. All submissions must have been produced in the last two years. Please include a SASE if you would like your images returned. The exhibition will take place during the Nextfest: Syncrude Next Generation Arts Festival

Send your submission to:
Alberta Craft Council
10186 - 106 Street,
Edmonton AB T5J 1H4

Nextfest: Syncrude Next Generation Arts Festival is a multi-disciplinary arts festival dedicated to young emerging artists that takes place in a variety of unique venues in and around downtown Edmonton.

www.albertacraft.ab.ca

Craft related job opportunity

Job Description, Financial Manager
Deadline: March 25

The Financial Manager of the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador has key responsibilities in the areas of financial management. Tasks will include, but may not be limited to the following:

Administrative functions

The Financial Manager will use Simply Accounting and Excel to maintain the financial records of the Craft Council, including:
- ledgers and income statements
- accounts receivable and payable
- monthly and annual financial statements
- monthly and annual government remittances and other submissions

Other financial areas that fall within the responsibility of this position are:
- authorization and payment of invoices, recording fees for project participation
- balancing of bank statements and investment certificates
- preparation of the annual charitable return
- maintenance of filing system for invoices, receipts and other documentation related to the administration of the Craft Council
- working with staff and Board of the Craft Council to ensure that budgets are developed and monitored and that variances are resolved
- supply the auditor with all necessary documentation to ensure a timely and accurate return

The successful delivery of services to the membership and to the public will involve all staff and volunteers of the Craft Council. Those staff working from the Devon House Craft Centre will work together to ensure its smooth operation. All staff are expected to contribute to the achievement of the Craft Council’s mission, contributing the time, skill, knowledge and resources that they have available.

Salary Range: $25,000 - $38,949 for a full time position, pro-rated to part time hours. Starting salary to depend upon qualifications and experience.

Resumés, accompanied by a cover letter describing what the applicant can bring to the Craft Council, should be received no later than March 25.

Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
59 Duckworth Street, St. John’s, NL A1C 1E6
or by email to info@craftcouncil.nl.ca

Banff Centre for the Arts

The Banff Centre also offers residency programs for ceramic artists, located just a short drive from Calgery AB, in the beautiful Rockies.

For more info on their ceramic facilities, and upcoming residency opportunities check out their website.

The Medalta International Artists in Residence Program

Dates of Residency June 2 - 27, 2008

The Application Deadline for the 2008 International Artists in Residence program is April 18, 2008

2008's invited artists are:

Lily Bakoyannis
Susanne Ashmore
Todd Leech
and Stephanie Craig

The residency offers:
~ A dramatic historical setting capitalizing on Medicine Hat’s ceramic heritage which is attracting global interest.
~ The opportunity to work beside ceramic artists with a wide range of artistic approaches.
~ A well-equipped Studio, with 24 hour access. Each artist has 250 sq feet of Studio space, a wheel, working table and storage.
~ Firing facilities include a 2- chamber wood fired Bourry kiln, electric, gas, and raku kilns. All glaze materials are provided.
~ Clay and Supplies are readily available at Plainsman Clay, located adjacent to site.
~ Slab roller, clay mixer, jiggering and slip casting equipment available.
~ Day trips to the Cypress Hills, Clay Pits, and Fort Walsh can be arranged.
~ Formal and informal tours of both the Hycroft China and Medalta Potteries sites designed around artists schedules.
~ Interaction with the vibrant local ceramic community during both social and demonstrative events.
~ Slide presentations presented by the invited Artists, open to the public.
~ Participant slide presentations, organized on an “in-house” basis.

Check out their website for more information or contact:

Medalta International Artists in Residence Program
713 Medalta Avenue SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, T1A 3K9
Telephone: (403) 529–1070
Fax: (403) 580–5868
www.medalta.org
miair@medalta.org

Gold Coast International Ceramic Art Award

(Julie Bartholemew - Winner 2006
I am Louis Vuiton I am Manolo I am CoCo)

26th Gold Coast International
CERAMIC ART AWARD

With up to AUD$15,000 in awards and acquisitions

JUDGE MAREA GAZZARD

ENTRIES CLOSE - Friday May 30 2008
Exhibition 16 August to 19 October 2008
Check out their website for further details.

An NCECA Must See!!!

If you count yourself among one of the lucky ones that's heading off to NCECA this year allow me to give you an exhibition suggestion, as I know there are so many to chose from! The curator, Robin Lambert will be doing a guest post on musing once he returns from NCECA for those of us not attending so that we can get a bit of a run down of the events. Keep an eye out for that. In the meantime you can check out his website.

But here are the exhibition details:

BackTalk.
New works from emerging Canadian artists Carole Epp, Michael Flaherty, Shannon Isfeld and Lia Tajcnar. BackTalk features artists whose work challenges and confronts ceramic traditions, technologies and ideas.



Curated by Nicole Burisch and Robin Lambert.
Mar 19-22.
Wed 9:00a.m.-6:00p.m.,
Thu 10:00a.m.-8:00p.m.,
Fri 10:00a.m.- 5:00p.m.,
Sat 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m.
Reception Mar 20, 6:00-8:00p.m.

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, 6300 Fifth Avenue, 412-361-0873.
Scaife Building 2-D Studio