Recap: April Clay Club at Haywood Community College

Thanks to Emily Reason and her students for hosting April Clay Club in the ceramics studio at Haywood Community College (HCC)! It was great to get to see and hear about the Professional Crafts Program at HCC, which includes ceramics, metals, textiles and wood. Emily told us that this is the 42nd year of the program. (Side note: Duffy Baum told us that she was in the very first class of the program, in the wood program.) It is a full-time, two-year program. Ceramics students can focus on the type of work (e.g., production, art, etc.) that they want to. The program includes extensive studio time and classes in craft history, design, business issues and more. This is really a fantastic program and very reasonably priced: in-state tuition is estimated at $2410 per year (!), not including program fees and materials. Registration is currently open.

Emily told us about her history and education, including her earlier time in WNC (in case you didn't know - and despite her denials - Emily was the original Clay Club President). She's also featured on the newest episode (out today!) of The Potters Cast: Some Professional Tips | Emily Reason | Episode 516. Check it out here: https://thepotterscast.com/516

We enjoyed our potluck on the kiln pad with the soda, car, wood and raku kilns. After that, Emily led us on a tour of the ceramics studio and the rest of the Creative Arts Facility. The building includes the professional crafts and continuing education studios, computer lab, photo studio and gallery spaces. We got to see the current exhibit of work by students in the ceramics program, with works inspired by historical ceramics and explanatory write-ups about the works written by the students. (I included photos of a couple of these works; click to enlarge them and read the write-ups.)

Emily told us about several upcoming events:

Public lecture with Visiting Artist Jason Bige Burnett on Monday, April 22nd: His ceramics have been exhibited nationally, and he has been featured in several publications. He will visit HCC Monday, April 22, 4 to 5 p.m. The lecture will be held in the Creative Arts Building, room 7105 and is free and open to the public.

More info: http://ncclayclub.blogspot.com/2019/04/visiting-artist-lecture-at-haywood.html

and here: https://www.haywood.edu/news/2019-04-03/professional-crafts-department-hosts-two-visiting-artists-in-april

Professional Crafts Summit on Wednesday, April 24th: a one day summit specifically designed to address needs and challenges faced by current and prospective craft artist business owners. Arts based businesses are unique ventures and require special business planning methods. Free but registration required.

More info: http://ncclayclub.blogspot.com/2019/04/professional-crafts-summit-at-haywood.html

and here (with link to registration): https://www.haywood.edu/small-business-center/professional-craft-artist-summit

Spring Student Sale April 24-26th: a portion of the proceeds from these sales support student participation in professional craft shows, such as the American Craft Council show in Atlanta and the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands in Asheville.

Graduate Exhibit at the Folk Art Center in May. Look for more details about the exhibit and opening reception here on the blog.

May Clay Club will be at Dennis McAvoy's studio in Burnsville on Wednesday, May 8th; look for more info closer to the date.

Thanks again to Emily and her students, and to everyone who came!