Baby Turkeys are in!

Finally they make an appearance!

Potter's Mark

Does anyone know this potter's mark?  Angela Fina wants to know.

Ceramics Glaze DVD

I was featured on Ceramics Arts Daily today. The folks from CM are here in Mitchell County today doing more DVD's for next year. They will have Nick Joerling and Liz Zlot Summerfield.

http://ceramicartsdaily.org/ceramic-glaze-recipes/glaze-chemistry-ceramic-glaze-recipes-2/a-super-simple-analogy-to-help-you-understand-glaze-structure/

Craft Research Fund Award applications due Monday, July 1

Final deadline reminder: 2013 Craft Research Fund Award applications due Monday, July 1. Have you submitted your proposal yet?

For applications and more information, see:

http://www.craftcreativitydesign.org/grants/craft-research-fund/

Ceramics Monthly Visits

Had a great visit with Jen and Kevin from Ceramics Monthly. They were up in Mitchell County shooting a video of Liz Zlot Summerfield and Nick Joerling.

Some people were pretty sure we were weird!!

Toe River Arts Council post-studio tour meeting on Tuesday, July 2

Toe River Arts Council (TRAC) members in Mitchell and Yancey Counties - TRAC sent out the following email to June studio tour participants. Wanted to share it here because they're not giving much notice and because I think folks who didn't participate in the June tour might want to participate in this meeting. Spread the word and come if you can.

Dear June Tour Participants,

We have scheduled a post-tour meeting for Tuesday, July 2, at 4:00pm at the Spruce Pine TRAC ARC. At that time, we (staff and tour committee) will share and discuss some of the comments and results of the survey plus other topics that need to be addressed.

The agenda for the meeting will be:
>Review Tour Survey responses
>Tour June dates – we seem to be having lots of comments about conflicting with the RAD studio tour
>Review Tour promotions
>Review Tour collaterials: postcard and tour guide
• Larger map?
• Tour signage
>Tour budget
>We need your help to improve the tour in these areas
• Marketing
• Exhibit set-up
• Reception
• Solicit sponsors
• Distribution of guides
• Volunteer – making phone calls

We hope that you all can be there and have your voice heard.

TRAC Staff

Ceramic Workshop Survey

Hey Clubbers,

Someone "special" I know wants to run a workshop and wants to get anonymous input into what type of workshops people want. Could you fill out this quick survey?

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/62P8J5T

It would be a great help.  They are trying to provide excellent service to the potters of the world.

Need Help with Wood Kiln Project

I am trying to help out these potters at the Rochester Folk Art Guild build a wood kiln. They are not rich to say the least and need a bit of help. If anyone would like to assist me in passing the word on or donating a small amount it would go a long way toward helping them!

They are a good group with limited funds trying to hold on to a dream in this complicated world!!

Click on this Kickstarter link below:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/folkartguild/the-wood-kiln-project

Want to go to Tuscany? And Soda Fire?

It will be a joyous adventure. Not only do you create in clay and learn new marketing ideas- but we will have chocolate and wine tastings, travel to other cities to see sites and potteries, explore great foods, fire La Meridiana's woodfired pizza oven and make homemade pizzas, fire their soda kiln and just sit out on the terrace and watch the Tuscan sunset.....

There is not a deadline for signing up but it is very limited space 8-10 people.

There is a promo video at this link-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4U6oUCdD-8

I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,


Jayson Lawfer
director / consultant
The Nevica Project
3717 N. Ravenswood Unit 115W, Chicago, Il 60613
www.theNEVICAproject.com
info@theNEVICAproject.com
mobile- 406.360.0164

Brenda and Marty Stokes /Gulf Coast Kiln Society

Just had a great visit from Brenda and Marty Stokes from The Gulf Coast Kiln Society where they host the Gulf Coast Clay Conference in February every year. It is in the panhandle of Florida and a very exciting conference and very cheap to attend!!!  Check it out...Think they are getting Tom Coleman this year!!

OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE CLAYSPACE

The clayspace has an available studio opening. Located in the Wedge, right in heart of the river arts district of Asheville NC, the Clayspace has been promoting the artistic growth and success of its members through cooperation for the past 10 years!

Here are some details:

208 sq. ft of personal working space, representation in the gallery with great retail potential, access to common equipment including slab roller, pug mill, electric kiln, 3 awesome wood kilns, utility sink, bathroom, small kitchenette.

225$ month.

message me on Facebook for more information.

Eric Knoche

https://www.facebook.com/eric.knoche.73?hc_location=stream

Studio Spot WANTED!!

I will be moving to the Asheville vicinity to attend Haywood Community College's clay program. 

I am looking for more or less 1 acre of reasonably priced land to build an efficient "tiny" house, space for my studio and a garden. Madison, Haywood, or Buncombe county would be ideal.


Please contact Amanda Hollomon
amandaholl138@gmail.com

Do you come from a family tradition of craft?

A company that develops television programs is doing research for a potential reality show based in the Southern Appalachians. The premise is to present unique small businesses that have been run by several generations of a single family. 

This could be an arts business or a business in your community. The producer wants to use rural communities. 

If you know of such a family enterprise contact Kathleen Thompson at tjthomps@tds.net or Allison Brough at <allison@triconfilms.com>

Clay Club Summer Line-up

We've got an awesome Clay Club line up to look forward to.  Thanks to our hosts!

details to come in advance of each respective Clay Club Meeting

Wednesday July 10 -Rabbit Ridge Pottery, Weaverville (sculptor Susan Clusener & potter Stephen Foehner)

Wednesday August 14 - Curve Studio, Asheville (Karen Newgard, Kyle Carpenter & Maria Andrade Troya)- demo by Kyle, grillin' by Karen

exact date TBD - Speckled Dog Pottery, Spruce Pine (Robbie Bell)

Alex Irvine marries sculpture and skateboarding

Hands-On Pottery Workshop w/ Emily Reason- Wild Acres

Join Us!

while space is still available in the Hands-on Pottery workshop

Hands-On Pottery Workshop with Emily Reason, August 26-30, Wild Acres Retreat, Little Switzerland, NC

This workshop will be structured to suit participants’ needs, so bring your questions and requests. We’ll focus primarily on wheel skills and address surface treatment. Forms we’ll explore include cups, pitchers, plates and serving pieces. Achieving intent and recognizing characteristics of quality will be our goals to develop good habits and improved skills. One of the greatest benefits of a workshop like this is the dialogue that we share as we work together. Ongoing discussions about inspiration, aesthetics, function, education and marketing enrich this experience. Each day we’ll engage in demonstrations, hands-on time, discussion and reflection over tea or cocktails. We conclude Friday with a studio tour of the Penland and Marshall areas. 

Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Workshop Fee: $600 includes room & meals. There is an additional charge for clay. 

Deposit: $300 reserves your space, balance due August 1 

For further information & registration, contact Emily Reason reasonpots@gmail.com or  Click Here to download the Registration Form

Cup & Plate at Knife & Fork, July 1

Nathan Allen, owner and head chef at Knife and Fork, will host ceramic artists Elisa Di Feo, Nick Moen and Gwendolyn Yoppolo and glass artist Kathryn Adams for an evening of fine dining.  Allen will plate on handmade tableware created by the artists.  This collaboration of culinary and visual artists celebrates the handmade and highlights the sustainability of Western North Carolina’s food and craft arts.   The Cup & Plate @ Knife & Fork event is a premier exhibition of fine dining that will act as template for others like it around the country.  

The tableware in Cup and Plate was created specifically for the event, in response to Allen's design ideas for presenting his menu of fresh and local foods.  The chef’s thoughts on form and color were considered by the materials artists as they designed service vessels for the meal.  The final plating of the dinner will complete this dialogue among artists and will offer guests a dining experience that celebrates the union of the culinary and the material arts.

"Cup & Plate" @ Knife & Fork will take place on Monday, July 1st at Knife & Fork in Spruce Pine, North Carolina.  There will be two sittings with 30 guests at each sitting.  Ticket are $70.  Guests will be able to purchase the limited edition tableware at the event.  Reservations can be made by calling (828) 765-1511, visiting http://www.knifeandforknc.com/ or the Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/457334827692135.

Chef Nathan Allen is owner and head chef at Knife & Fork restaurant.  He has traveled the world to get to spruce pine and dedicates his life to the relationships that come from the magic of sourcing and preparing food.

Elisa Di Feo was recently a resident artist at the Appalachian Center for Craft.  She currently maintains a studio in Penland, North Carolina.

gwendolyn yoppolo is a current resident artist at Penland School of Craft.  

Nick Moen is a current resident artist at Odyssey Clayworks in Asheville, North Carolina.  

Kathryn Adams is a current shop manager at the Asheville Glass Center in Asheville, North Carolina.

Flashpoint Softbox for Sale - $25.00 -   SOLD!

More clearing out at the studio.  This has never been used.  Selling for 50% off retail.  Local WNC sales only!

Hang it from the ceiling to light your work beautifully.

Contact me at mlparkes (at) gmail.com

http://www.adorama.com/FPSSB.html

Thanks for a great Clay Club!

BIG thanks to Mike and Michon for hosting Clay Club last night.  Mike Ball demonstrated an old-timey Catawba Valley potters' technique for throwing a 2-piece jug.  In and around the 18th century, Catawba Valley potters were paid by the piece and so developed time-efficient throwing methods.  Get you a copy of Turners and Burners to learn more about the rich history of folk pottery in North Carolina- a staple for every potters' library.

Clay Club Tomorrow night!!!! June 12

Don't forget, Clay Club is tomorrow (Wednesday) night!!!!

C'mon down to the River Arts District Wednesday June 12 6:30-8pm for the next edition of CLAY CLUB.

We are going to have a grill and make some chicken. Potluck would work for the rest.

The evening will be divided between demonstrations in our studio (Mike Ball's studio is two doors down from Foundation Clay. Look for pots in the window, above the door) and the meal in The Asheville Ceramics Gallery next door in the Phil Mechanic building.

Parking is street level at the Phil Mechanic.

Here's the location

House/Studio/Kiln for Sale, Madison County, NC

1700 sq ft home with studio + 450 sq ft storage, anagama on as much as 11 acres.
Call Ron Knight 828-649-3804

acreage negotiable, rent to own possible

Glaze Chemicals

Free to a good home!! 
We have six bags of glaze chemicals that are just in the way and we have no use for!!

What we have:

About a half bag of Neph. Sy.

50 LBS. of Ceder Heights Clay

Half bag of G-200 Fledspar

Barium Carb.

50 ILBS of OM4 Ball Clay

and then we have the Mystery Bag!

CALL US AT 675-4241 OR EMAIL ME triaturrougirl@gmail.com . If you want them.

You will have to come pick them up! 

CORRECTION TO CLAY CLUB LOCATION

My bad y'all, Mike's studio is two doors down from Foundation Clay. Look for pots in the window, above the door)

C'mon down to the River Arts District Wednesday June 12 6:30-8pm for the next edition of CLAY CLUB.

We are going to have a grill and make some chicken. Potluck would work for the rest.

The evening will be divided between demonstrations in our studio (Mike Ball's studio is two doors down from Foundation Clay. Look for pots in the window, above the door) and the meal in The Asheville Ceramics Gallery next door in the Phil Mechanic building.

Parking is street level at the Phil Mechanic.

It's a new day at Odyssey!

Gabriel Kline has some wonderful plans for the future of Odyssey ClayWorks.  Check out their new video and pass the word.  He needs our help to make the vision come true!

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pots-for-life

CLAY CLUB meets Wednesday June 12 in Asheville!

C'mon down to the River Arts District Wednesday June 12 6:30-8pm for the next edition of CLAY CLUB.  

We are going to have a grill and make some chicken. Potluck would work for the rest. The evening will be divided between demonstrations in our studio (Mike Ball's studio is two doors down from Foundation Clay. Look for pots in the window, above the door) and the meal in The Asheville Ceramics Gallery next door in the Phil Mechanic building. Parking is street level at the Phil Mechanic.

Here's the location.

Face Jug by Mike Ball

New Art Gallery in Old Fort NC

A new art gallery has opened in Old Fort, NC. When you are passing by stop in and check us out!

https://www.facebook.com/arrowheadart?group_id=0

Gerstley Borate for Sale

I have 1500 lbs. of gerstley borate for sale that you can post on blog. I'll take 25.00 per. 50 lb. bag. Pick up only in Mt. Airy NC.

Anyone interested can call at 336 786 9361 or email mudduck@mudduckpottery.net

News

Like workshops, classes your teaching, sales you're in, pots you like? Openings at OOAK or Crimson Laurel? etc.

I am out of the loop.

Any news?

Anyone got anything to post on this blog?