Be sure to scroll down and read Gwen Heffner's excellent Curator's Statement for our show. It really gives you an idea of how Louisville Clay has evolved over the years.
I have removed the slide show for Best of Louisville Clay. For some reason, it would only stream 20 of our photos and no more. Jeff and I are trying to figure out a solution as it was nice to have the slide show right there on the blog. There is now a link to the complete slide show at Flickr.
If you are going to attend the Beth Cavener Stichter workshop this Friday and Saturday, remember to pick up your parking pass at the University of Louisville studio. Everyone is on their own for lunch so either bring it with you or you will have to find a place to eat.
Diane Heilenman put the workshop in Critic's Choice in the Sunday paper. Jo Anne Triplett has it in the Leo also.
The Best of Louisville Clay show has been extended at KMAC till after Derby and will be moved to the third floor. If you need your piece for something else, you are welcome to pick it up anytime.
Introduction
Video of the Week
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Reception Photos -Best of Louisville Clay
Dick McLaughlin took over 100 pictures of our reception Friday evening. A big thank you to Dick for taking the time to do this for us. Click on http://bestoflouisvilleclay3609.shutterfly.com/ to view. Enjoy!
Curator's Statement for Best of Louisville Clay Show
The Best of Louisville Clay- 2009
Communities, like plants, thrive when they have deep roots and fertile soil.
Louisville Clay is an organization flourishing in the Louisville regions’ deeply rooted and thriving ceramic tradition. With a background constructed from strong university ceramics programs, dedicated and talented teachers and studio potters Louisville Clay represents the joining of these rich elements into a viable ceramics community.
Beginning at the turn of the previous century and continuing today, companies such as Louisville Fire Brick, Hadley Pottery and Louisville Stoneware Company give clay a place of commerce and value in this city. The University of Louisville ceramics program, established under the late Tom Marsh in the 1970’s, was the forerunner for training studio potters and sculptors in the region. Over the past 40 years, U of L and numerous other schools and universities contributed to the growth of the talented studio potters and ceramic artists who live and work in and around Louisville.
Individual studio potters were also seminal in establishing a true Louisville clay community. Studio potters Sarah Frederick, Wayne Ferguson and Laura Ross, along with many others, have been teachers, mentors, employers, promoters and entrepreneurs of clay, creating networks and paving the way to the formation of Louisville Clay. This organization represents a vibrant community of clay artists who meet regularly and work together to share physical and technical problems. They also encourage learning and professional development via regular meetings, guest speakers and clay workshops.
It was a great pleasure for me to curate “Best of Louisville Clay,” this organization’s first juried exhibition. It is a sign of good health when an organization tests itself in this public way by setting the bar high, and I look forward to more “Best of Louisville Clay” exhibitions in the future.
My goal as curator was to choose exceptional works and to place strong sculptural entries up against the strong lines of functional pots. It was exciting for me to see the wide variety of techniques, firing methods and styles represented here. There are works made from every type of clay, some massive and others quiet and subtle, some bold with color and others satisfied to simply let the clay and fire speak. My choices also intentionally reflect different levels of maturity in clay encompassed by this organization, to encourage and challenge the membership. It is my hope that these clay works will give the viewer a glimpse of what this amazingly simple material can become when joined with human hands and imagination. Congratulations Louisville Clay members on this fine exhibition!
Gwen Heffner
Exhibition Curator
Communities, like plants, thrive when they have deep roots and fertile soil.
Louisville Clay is an organization flourishing in the Louisville regions’ deeply rooted and thriving ceramic tradition. With a background constructed from strong university ceramics programs, dedicated and talented teachers and studio potters Louisville Clay represents the joining of these rich elements into a viable ceramics community.
Beginning at the turn of the previous century and continuing today, companies such as Louisville Fire Brick, Hadley Pottery and Louisville Stoneware Company give clay a place of commerce and value in this city. The University of Louisville ceramics program, established under the late Tom Marsh in the 1970’s, was the forerunner for training studio potters and sculptors in the region. Over the past 40 years, U of L and numerous other schools and universities contributed to the growth of the talented studio potters and ceramic artists who live and work in and around Louisville.
Individual studio potters were also seminal in establishing a true Louisville clay community. Studio potters Sarah Frederick, Wayne Ferguson and Laura Ross, along with many others, have been teachers, mentors, employers, promoters and entrepreneurs of clay, creating networks and paving the way to the formation of Louisville Clay. This organization represents a vibrant community of clay artists who meet regularly and work together to share physical and technical problems. They also encourage learning and professional development via regular meetings, guest speakers and clay workshops.
It was a great pleasure for me to curate “Best of Louisville Clay,” this organization’s first juried exhibition. It is a sign of good health when an organization tests itself in this public way by setting the bar high, and I look forward to more “Best of Louisville Clay” exhibitions in the future.
My goal as curator was to choose exceptional works and to place strong sculptural entries up against the strong lines of functional pots. It was exciting for me to see the wide variety of techniques, firing methods and styles represented here. There are works made from every type of clay, some massive and others quiet and subtle, some bold with color and others satisfied to simply let the clay and fire speak. My choices also intentionally reflect different levels of maturity in clay encompassed by this organization, to encourage and challenge the membership. It is my hope that these clay works will give the viewer a glimpse of what this amazingly simple material can become when joined with human hands and imagination. Congratulations Louisville Clay members on this fine exhibition!
Gwen Heffner
Exhibition Curator
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Clay Extravaganza
DEMONSTRATORS SCHEDULE “CLAY EXTRAVAGANZA”
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2009
KMAC
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2009
KMAC
J-D SHALL / WHEEL THROWING / 11-2PM
LAURA ROSS / WHEEL / “TEAPOTS” / ALL DAY
WAYNE FERGUSON / WOODLAND INDIAN POTS / ALL DAY
TONYA JOHNSON / HUMP MOLD POTS / HANDBUILDING / ALL DAY
LINDA BOWMAN / CARVING PORCELAIN / ALL DAY
GLENN ASAUSKAS / HANDBUILDING / TEXTURES / 11-2PM
AMY ELSWICK / HANDBUILDING / SLABS / 11-2PM
JEFF CAMPANA / CUTTING / REASSEMBLING / 11-2 PM
MARY ANN POLLARD / COILING / CLAY BASKETS 2-4:30 PM
MARIE-ELENA OTTMAN / HANDBUILDING / SCULPTURE / ALL DAY
MATT GADDIE / WHEEL THROWING / ALL DAY
Reception – Best of Louisville Clay
Friday night was the reception for our show at KMAC. The combination of great weather and First Friday Trolley Hop made the whole evening a great success, not to mention the beauty of the show itself. The show did look fantastic. We can all thank Brion Clinkingbeard and KMAC for doing such a wonderful job in setting it up. Gwen Heffner, our juror and curator, was there just beaming! She had written a beautiful piece about the journey of Louisville Clay over the years. Mark and Kay Rountree videographed the event and Dick McLaughlin took lots of pictures. A big thank you goes out to them from all the membership of Louisville Clay. A more detailed post of the evening will be added to the blog soon.
Don’t forget the Clay Extravaganza on March 14th at KMAC. Then the Beth Cavener Stichter workshop will be on March 27th and 28th.
Don’t forget the Clay Extravaganza on March 14th at KMAC. Then the Beth Cavener Stichter workshop will be on March 27th and 28th.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Best of Louisville Clay Awards
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AWARD WINNERS!
Our juror/curator Gwen Heffner has selected the winners for award recognition based on the artists creative use of clay, craftsmanship in execution, and content. The AWARD PRESENTATION will be tomorrow night at 6:00 at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft. Come and celebrate with our members along with music, food, bar...and warmer weather. There will also be a chance for members to vote on Friday for their favorite entry and the public is voting for a People's Choice.
$200 Wayne Ferguson Award
"BEST OF CLAY IN SCULPTURE"
BRIAN SOMERVILLE
"I Can Assure You My Bite Is Worse"
$200 AWARD (Anonymous Donor)
"BEST OF CLAY IN FUNCTION"
MATT GADDIE
"Pitcher Trio"
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS
J-D SHALL "Escape"
JUDY MINER "Three Folded Tiles"
WAYNE FERGUSON "Snapper"
MARIE-ELENA OTTMAN "Pensive / Pensativo"
Best of Louisville Clay
“BEST OF LOUISVILLE CLAY”
KENTUCKY MUSEUM OF ART AND CRAFT
715 WEST MAIN STREET
LOUISVILLE, KY 40202
Exhibition of Louisville Clay Club Members
Juried by Gwen Heffner
Art Administrator and Ceramic Artist from the Kentucky Artisans Center at Berea
FEB. 28TH – MARCH 21
ARTIST RECEPTION MARCH 6TH 5 – 9 PM
“THE BEST OF LOUISVILLE CLAY” features a wide variety of ceramic styles and techniques from functional vessels to sculpture, handbuilt to wheel thrown, wood fired to pit fired, and traditional to avant-garde made by Louisville’s most accomplished clay artists.
KENTUCKY MUSEUM OF ART AND CRAFT
715 WEST MAIN STREET
LOUISVILLE, KY 40202
Exhibition of Louisville Clay Club Members
Juried by Gwen Heffner
Art Administrator and Ceramic Artist from the Kentucky Artisans Center at Berea
FEB. 28TH – MARCH 21
ARTIST RECEPTION MARCH 6TH 5 – 9 PM
“THE BEST OF LOUISVILLE CLAY” features a wide variety of ceramic styles and techniques from functional vessels to sculpture, handbuilt to wheel thrown, wood fired to pit fired, and traditional to avant-garde made by Louisville’s most accomplished clay artists.
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