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.

May 16 Meeting - TOTEM INSPIRATIONS

WOW!  What and eventful meeting!

Our Library display schedule is finalized through April 2011.  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.

The meeting schedule for the rest of the year is as follows:

-         The July meeting will be at Marcia’s.  She will demonstrate how to prepare items for Raku firing.

-         A horse hair firing is in the works for our September meeting at Karen's.

-         Our November meeting will be at the Wild Ginger Studios in Green Cove Springs with Christie sharing what she learned at a recently attended workshop.

We discussed the many sales opportunities coming up including the Fall St Augustine Art Festival, ARTrageous, and the Bark ’n Art festival.  Details for these events can be found in the column to the right labeled “Opportunities”. 

Marcia announced the board will be developing the protocol for giving scholarships to members to help them attend workshop, seminars, or national meetings.  The recipient would be required to host a program sharing what they learned with the other members.

          

After the formal meeting, Vina shared personal totem poles that she and some of her students created.  These totems were opportunities to build garden sculptures with very personal themes.  One was a memorial for a lost child; the others were combinations of individual pieces with special meaning to the artist.

-          Some segments were built using the tar paper support system

-          Some used the extruder

-          Some used drape molds of foam that had been carved.

-          Extruded pieces were used as spacers

-          The totems were assembled using a metal bar for reinforcement

THANK YOU VINA AND STUDENTS FOR SHARING A GREAT PROJECT!

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.

Clay Network sponsors different selling events throughout the year.  We have a tent and shelves. We split the entry fees, take care of applications, and we help each other. This is an easy way to get involved in art festivals.  Selling opportunities are only a small part of the advantages of membership in Clay Network.  As a member, you are also have the opportunity to borrow the tent for your own event for a small fee.  If you would like more information please contact our secretary, Mary Ellen at ClayNetwork.com@gmail.com.

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

Beginning our 17th year

woven coil pottery demonstrated by Pat

Our January meeting was held at Lisa's home in Neptune Beach.

It was a good way to start off 2010!

We had Marcia's “Photo Cube” set up for members to take some nice photos of their pottery. If you didn't take advantage of it this time, we will have the opportunity again when we meet at Christie's place in March. Once you have your pictures on a disc please send it to Marcia. She will make sure that Randy gets your work displayed on the “gallery” pages of our under-construction web site.

The Clay Network board has allotted funds from our treasury for donation to Jo Nell's church, in her memory. We had loads of goodies for everyone from Jo Nell's studio. Everyone selected items they can use, and in exchange we added our personal donations to increase the monies we will send to a favorite ministry of Jo Nell's.

We will pursue some group sales for the spring. Art & About in Orange Park sounds like a good event. The St Augustine Spring Art and Craft Festival is another one for which we will be organizing a group booth. If you want to be a part of either of these, please jump in. Whether you are a beginner, or a more seasoned potter, we will have a great time together as we share the space, the work load, and spend happy times together. Clay Network handles the tax collections for you. We have the tent and shelves. We split the entry fees, take care of applications, and we help each other. This is an easy way to get involved in art festivals.

We have been talking about a saggar firing workshop and we are going forward with that. We will have more information when we meet next time about preparing pots for that. We plan to fire in saggars this spring.

A raku workshop is in the planning stages as well.

The most important item of business was our yearly election.

Our officers for 2010:

President - Marcia Scheeter

Vice President - Christie Rogers

Secretary - Mary Ellen Davidson

Treasurer - Jane Langford

and in appointed positions:

Librarian – Pat Robey

Historian – Carole Malcolm

Hospitality – vacant at this time

We thank all of them for stepping up to lead us as we begin our 17^th year.

We are always welcoming new members. Come and join us in our Clay Network.

We would love to have you with us.

Please remember our dues are now due for the new year. Please send your check to Jane.

We have Clay Network T-shirts available for $20.

Program
Pat demonstrated her technique for making woven coil pottery.
She uses extruded coils of very soft stoneware clay. She starts with slightly flattened coils around the rim. A coil then crosses over the center, and another is placed perpendicular to the first, making a cross over the hump. She used a hump mold to shape the piece over, but you could also create this weaving inside a bowl type form. Coils are added and the under and over pattern is created. She lifts a coil over, and pokes the clay under using a gentle touch. She warned us not to cut the coils too short as some of the length is taken up as you weave. Pat smooths the coils to the rim making a good join. Then she adds a flattened coil over it to make a solid, strong rim. The form must be allowed to stiffen, then it is flipped over and the rim is refined. Perfect for bread! Nice for fruit too.

We finished up with our traditional potluck meal, which was enjoyed by all.

September Meeting Summary

Pat's pottery using slip transfer method

On Sunday, September 20th, 2009,Clay Network was happy to meet at Wild Ginger Studios in lovely Green Cove Springs.Thank you to AJ and Karen for welcoming us to their clean and very well equipped clay facilities.

Our Clay Network banner will be printed soon. We will add .com to our name on the banner.

Christie spoke about Clay Network doing the St Augustine Fall Festival as a group. It is a perfect opportunity for those just getting started, who aren't ready to do a solo show. It is also good for those who don't do shows anymore but like to do something occasionally. She encouraged everyone to participate, if not in this event, then to prepare to join in the next.We will be dividing the fees of $225 and we will pay a small (10%) commission to our Clay Network on our sales.Clay Network will provide the tent, shelves, and we have the “tax number” to handle sales properly.We will have our booth at the end of a row this time. That will give us plenty of room for our demonstrations and for the crowds that love to watch us make the clay dance.

Clay Network is happy to participate in the 25th Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon benefiting the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, from noon – 1 p.m., at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. We will have our own table, with our Clay Network banner displayed. Our bowls will be sold to raise funds to support the food bank. We will also have a wheel to demonstrate throwing. All members are encouraged to donate for this worthy cause. Last year more than 1,200 people attended and the event raised over $75,000 for the Food Bank. We hope folks see the Clay Network name and get used to associating our group with fine clay works. There will also be a silent auction held, if you would like, you may donate a piece for that too.Pat and Marilyn are coordinating our participation in this event. Details and contact information has been emailed to members and friends.

Margaret will be collecting seaweed, as there is a good deal washing up at the beach behind her home now. Many members expressed interest in planning a sagger or pit firing workshop using seaweed, salt, copper, steel wool, cotton and various other ingredients to fire burnished low fired pots.

Marcia has made a “photo cube” from foam board. She will provide the opportunity for us to use her set up. We can all have nice pictures for our gallery pages on the up coming Clay Network web site.

The Clay Network will participate in the 2009 Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens First Anniversary Celebration. The event will be held Saturday November 14^th from 10am-4pm. We will be selling our garden art and pottery. Set up will begin at 8:30am and we will begin packing up at 4pm. You can visit http://www.jacksonvillearboretum.org/ for more information about the park. The celebration is covered under “things to do”. To participate in the sale, with the Clay Network, please contact Marcia.

Jane invited members to join her at the Unity Church on Race Track Rd. for a crafts sale Saturday, October 24^th, from 10am-4pm. An outdoor space of 12 x 12 is $25, an indoor space of 10 x 10 is $35. 15% commission on sales will be donated to the church. Please contact Jane if you would like to participate with her.

The Women's center of Jacksonville, and the St. Augustine Art Association also have a few upcoming events that they want us to know about. (Those items, and information about a workshop, have been posted under “opportunities in our area”. Please check the right side bar.)

Our next meeting will be held at 2pm on Sunday, November 15th at Marcia's home in the Arlington area of Jacksonville.

Program

AJ and Pat demonstrated a creative slip application method.

AJ began by brushing colored slip on newspaper, then carefully laying the paper, slip side down, on a prepared slab. She rubbed with her hand, and rolled the back of the paper with a “pony roller”. Then, carefully peeling back the newspaper, an irregular layer of colored slip was left on the clay. We learned that the slip she uses is colored with 20, 30, or up to 40% Mason Stains. She advised us to use another piece of newspaper to “blot” between applications. Next She added texture with a piece of netting. Then AJ trailed slip on a newspaper and waved it to dry “just until the shine goes off it”. She applied this to the slab as before. The layers of color and texture were built up a step at a time.

Pat showed us how to use a paintbrush handle to “write”on the backside of the slip coated paper. She uses stencils too. She noted that the stencils should be rolled into the clay well, so that the clay is pushing up through the openings. If slip is then applied with the paper, you get a “light effect” if you brush colored slip directly on the clay, you can get a darker, or more pronounced effect.

The “flinging” technique can be used to stretch the slab. The applied patterns will stretch too. Texture can be added with stamps, texture “sheets”, rollers, and stencils from craft stores, and with all types of “found” items. As she demonstrated, Pat's slab became rich in colors, textures and designs. So many possibilities!

What a wonderful demonstration! We all came away with great ideas to incorporate in our art.

Thank you AJ and Pat. You explained every step very well, and the beautiful pieces on display were quite inspirational.

A bountiful potluck meal was enjoyed by all as we chatted with our new members and friends.

If you have questions about any of the events, and do not know where to call, Lisa will be happy to put you in touch. (stixandstonz@hotmail.com).