Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Getting Caught Up

I had some trouble posting pictures in the past, but now I think I have it down, so let me try to catch up on what’s been happening with Clay Network.

At our July meeting, Vina and Amber presented a beautiful program on several methods of Majolica. They showed a variety of decorated items – both purchased and created by them.  After a detailed presentation on how to paint Majolica, they allowed our members to try their hand at some tiles they provided. The take home pieces were to be fired at cone 05, and are based on Linda Arbuckle's Majolica.  Vina also provided some recipes so people could further experiment at home.














September found us at Wild Ginger Studios in Green Cove Springs.  AJ (co-owner) and Pat (artist who works there) presented a very detailed program of “Lithography on Clay”.  The process is rather complex, but AJ and Pat make it very understandable.







Then, on October 21-23, Clay Network proudly presented a three-day workshop by Scott Aubry on Alternative Firing Techniques.  This was the result of months of preparation and planning.  Partnering with Florida State College at Jacksonville, twenty participants were treated to throwing demonstrations, lectures on theory of alternative firing, and hands on firing of personal creations.  The highlight of course was experimenting with the chemicals, organic combustibles, and other sources of colorants to create totally unique and impressive works.  Scott focused on saggar or “pot in a pot” and aluminum foil firings.  Both techniques created extraordinary results.

Our next meeting is at Marcia's in Arlington  at 2pm on Jan 8, 2012. If you would like to join us, email our secretary at claynetwork.com@gmail.com for directions.

Our meetings are open to all.  If you are not a Clay Network Member, but would like to attend this meeting, and need directions or other information, please contact our secretary, Mary Ellen, at ClayNetwork.com@gmail.com.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

November Meeting Coming

Our next meeting is at Christie's home near World Golf Village at 2pm on Nov 13, 2011. She will share things she learned at a recent workshop on extuders, including some interesting decorating techniques.  Email our secretary at claynetwork.com@gmail.com for directions.

Monday, August 1, 2011

September Meeting

Our next meeting is at Wild Ginger Studios in Green Cove Springs at 2pm on September 11, 2011. AJ will demonstrate a method of image transfer that can be used on clay.  Be sure to join us for this informative program.  Email our secretary at claynetwork.com@gmail.com for directions.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

July Meeting coming up

If you have an interest in pottery or ceramics please join us for our next meeting at Amber's in Mandarin. She will be presenting a program on Majolica decorating.

Our meeting is at 2:00pm on Sunday, July 10. Member's will be provided specific meeting directions. Non members can get directions by emailing our secretary, Mary Ellen at claynetwork.com@gmail.com.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

SPRING HAPPENINGS

With Spring comes all the festivals and shows that make being involved in the pottery world so much fun!!

The meeting at Jerry’s in St. Augustine was fun and informative.

- We started out by previewing Jerry’s garden where we had our “Ceramics in the Garden” show and sale the following month (more on that later in the post). With wandering paths and “innies and outies” everywhere we were sure this was a perfect place for the third annual show.
- Next, Marcia enticed us with information that we are getting close to being able to bring in a known artist for a workshop in October. We are not sure yet, but we are pursuing the possibility of a two or three day alternate firing workshop in the fall. Details will follow, but we are sure members will have the first opportunity to sign up, so be sure your membership is current.
- We ended with a fun program exploring various knobs and handles our members have used or have found interesting, We all left with new ideas! Check out the pictures!

“Ceramics in the Garden”

- This spring show and sale was held in Jerry’s garden on April 30, 2011 10am to 4pm. It was his third annual event.
- Twelve ceramic artists displayed their works, from fanciful to functional and everything in between.
- The garden was beautiful and provided the PERFECT background for our pottery. Did you see that stag horn fern? It was enormous!!!
- Another benefit of membership is participation in group events like this one, sponsored by Clay Network. Clay Network provided a central packing and collection point, collected state tax and provided each artist a check for the net amount of his or her sales. All this for 10 % to the organization and no entry fee! How easy is that?

The Clay Network of Northeast Florida is an organization where clay artists have the opportunity to improve their knowledge, to foster interest in sincere, creative craftsmanship and to educate the public in the appreciation of ceramics in our community. If you have an interest in ceramics and pottery, please join us at our next meeting, May 22, 2:00 pm at Karen's near Craig Airport. She is going to demonstrate a process she saw recently at a Knowledge Clinic held at St. Pete Clay given by Jennifer Hoolihan, Technical Advisor for Highwater Clays. It is a combination of reverse painting on a plaster bat and making a tile using low fire commercial slip ending up with a hand painted tile.

Another incredible benefit of membership is use of our extensive library of books, CDs, and DVDs on all aspects of ceramics and pottery. The library is available at each meeting, so join us and browse the library.

Join us for fun and informative meetings. Be sure to bring your favorite food item to share during our traditional potluck dinner that follows each program.

If you would like more information and directions to the meeting please contact our secretary, Mary Ellen at ClayNetwork.com@gmail.com.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Welcome Clay Enthusiasts!





We finished up 2010 in grand style!  We had several community happenings that our group supported.

 Our organization contributed over $500 to Empty Bowls at their annual event the week before Thanksgiving.  We had 49 bowls and 4 auctions pieces donated.  We sold 20 of the bowls and the auctions brought in $320!!  Thanks to everyone who donated, especially Karen J-A, Rob , Pat , and Marcia who donated those beautiful items for the silent auction.  Rob and Pat get a huge pat on the back for organizing this effort.    Next year Empty Bowls will be on Nov 15, 2011.  So we have a year to plan our bowls - lets work on some
awesome bowls so we can exceed this year's donation.
Clay Networks's table at Empty Bowls


We are continuing our library displays throughout the First Coast area.  Member’s works are displayed at local libraries to increase awareness of the art of pottery.  Although no selling is allowed, artist information is displayed along with the art.  Displays typically remain in place for four weeks and then are moved to the next venue.  If you would like your art displayed at one of the libraries, contact our secretary at ClayNetwork.com@gmail.com.
- Mary Ellen coordinated the display at St Augustine's Library as the last display of the year.
- Lisa has a beautiful display at the Beaches Library.  We had 49 items donate for display by ten of our members.  The display will be at the Beaches Library until the end of January so be sure to stop by for a look, if you are in the area.
- Marcia will coordinate our display at the Regency Library in April 2011
Beaches Library Display January 2011


Our final meeting of the year was at Karen's in Mandarin.  We had a beautiful day for our raku type firing of traditional and not so traditional horse hair firing.  Thank you Karen for hosting this event!  Aren't the pictures awesome?

Ready to pull

Warming the next batch
Applying the horse hair









Our first meeting of the year was at Lisa's at the Beaches where we had a fun mug/small pot exchange.  Each member discussed their item and then we drew to see what new treasure we would take home.  It was lots of fun!! 

The Clay Network of Northeast Florida is an organization where clay artists have the opportunity to improve their knowledge, to foster interest in sincere, creative craftsmanship and to educated the public in the appreciation of ceramics in our community.  If you have an interest in ceramics and pottery, please join us at our next meeting, May 22, 2:00pm at Karen's near Craig Airport. 

One of the many benefits of membership is being able to share in the different selling events sponsored by Clay Network throughout the year.  We have a tent and shelves.   We split the entry fees, take care of the applications, and we help each other.  This is an easy way to get involved in art festivals and other shows.  As a member you may borrow the tent for your own event for a small fee.

Clay Network will be sponsoring a selling event in Jerry's garden in St Augustine on April 30.  This is a wonderful spring show featuring 10 members exhibiting a large variety of ceramic art.  You will find all kinds of pottery from functional ceramic ware to whimsical to sculpture ceramics.  Taking a stroll through the fantastic garden is worth the free admission.  Save the date April 30th, to visit “Ceramics in the Garden” 10am to 4 pm in St. Augustine, FL. For more information on this Spring Garden Show contact our secretary Mary Ellen at ClayNetwork.com@gmail.com.

Another incredible benefit of membership is use of our extensive library of books, CDs, and DVDs on all aspects of ceramics and pottery.  The library is available at each meeting, so join us and browse the library.

Join us for fun and informative meetings.  Be sure to bring your favorite food item to share during our traditional potluck dinner that follows each program.

 If you would like more information and directions to the meeting please contact our secretary, Mary Ellen at ClayNetwork.com@gmail.com.