Ceramic Showcase: May 8-10 (see information later in newsletter)

NEXT OPA MEETING: May 15 at Multnomah Art Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland.

6pm: Showcase Wrap-Up Meeting: Time to discuss, evaluate, and congratulate ourselves. Write out your suggestions, complaints, etc, and give them to show chair Mark Heimann. Committee chairs hand in your bills for expenses if you have not already done so. Please note on each bill what budget # it belongs to (this was given to you with your committee chair info). Also note whether treasurer should pay you or the vendor. This goes to Ramona Searle, treasurer and must be turned in by July 31. Checks will not be handed out at this meeting, they will all be mailed.

6:30pm: OPA Business Meeting: The usual announcements, business, etc. To be on the agenda call Mary Walyer.  Bring items for the swap table. Coffee and snacks will be provided at break (please bring some if you have not lately).

7:30pm: Program: The May program will be a panel discussion/presentation with three local professional photographers: Bill Bachhuber; Courtney Frisse; and Phil Harris. They will discuss the way in which they photograph pottery, what they can each offer to us, how we can photograph our own work, etc. If you want to bring a slide or two for them to critique, there may be time. You may also want to bring examples of your work so they can discuss what types of work are easier to photograph, and why one piece might photograph better than another.

NEXT BOARD MEETING: Wednesday June 3, 6:30pm, at Lynn Berry's, 7420 SE Luther in Portland.

JUSTICE CENTER WINDOWS: The OPA has used the windows in the Portland Justice Center as a promotional display for Showcase for many years. These windows have been managed by the Graystone Gallery, and they have allowed many arts organizations to use them. The Graystone no longer manages the windows, so the OPA has volunteered to take over management of the window displays. Lynn Berry, with help from a few other OPA board members will be doing this job.

OPA WEB PAGE: Jim Sloss is working hard on the new OPA Web Page. He has bought an "authoring program" (a do-it-yourself Web Site program), and he brought a mock-up of a Web Page to the board meeting. Currently, we are looking at a $35/month fee for 250 megabytes of memory. We can add 250 more megabytes for $25/mo anytime. The current vision of the Web Site is a Homepage, Showcase information, edited-down newsletters (we can make the complete newsletters accessible to members only, but some sections could be available to everyone), and we would have pages available, for a fee, to members for their own promotional use. Yes, pictures will be included as much as possible. Wow, the OPA is preparing for the year 2000!

OPA PICNIC: We will be needing a new chair for the 1998 OPA Picnic (our previous chair was Jim Sloss- now the OPA Web Site chair). The picnic will be in September, and the chair needs to coordinate the picnic, organizing the members to set up the baseball-toss, the potluck, and any other activities as necessary. If you are interested, call Mary Walyer.

Inflows (membership dues) $12,000.  Outflows $8,329.90.  Administration $1,000.  Phone $550.  Bank Charges $100.  Dues/Subscriptions $400.   Clay in Education $2000.04 .  Picnic/Party $300.  Entertainment/Food $65. Freight/Postage $250.  Gifts $100.  Newsletter $3800.  Program $300.   Professional Services $875.  Rent $640.  Office Supplies $450.   Workshops $1500.

Some items which are not included on the current budget are: the OPA Web Site development (around $420 in annual fees plus $200 for software purchasing); the OPA Relief funds (these are the postcards we send out for OPA members who have emergencies- OPA tries to pay for printing and postage, usually $120 per mailing)

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, MARY WALYER: "Fellow potters: This message is coming to you from Fort Worth, Texas. I am among the many Oregon Potters who have been attending NCECA '98. The weather is warm, dry and very windy. It feels like fall in Oregon.

"This conference has been positive for me many-fold. Rooming with Deborah Shapiro has been an asset. She has been a great companion and we were able to exchange, expand, develop and firm up ideas to bring home to the OPA.

"One interesting comment I want to share with all: In a panel entitled "The Rocky Road to Galleryville", the panelists from the Garth Clark Gallery in New York and from the John Nafsoulas Gallery in Davis, CA stated that color photographs are better than slides for first impressions. Also they said that having an artist who already shows in their gallery recommend you and your work is very impressive to them.

"The panels, breakout groups, lectures and demonstrations were all top-notch. The tours to the galleries and museums in Dallas and Fort Worth were numerous and enlightening, they represented the best work in the US.

Empty Bowls is right around the corner! The OPA's Empty Bowls Project will be at the Blues Festival in Tom McCall Waterfront Park (Portland) on 4th of July weekend, July 2-5. There will be a sign up sheet for Blues Festival Volunteers at the next OPA meeting. Please sign up, this is a guaranteed good time for all!

Thanks for all of the great bowls that were donated at the last meeting! Courtney Frisse is currently working on the photos. We still need more bowls, and you can bring them to the May meeting or donate them during Showcase. Announcements about when and where will be made during the show. You can also drop them off at the following locations:

-Mount Hood Community College Ceramics Dept, Gresham, OR, contact Stephen Mickey, 667-7149

-Janet Buskirk, 3624 SE Yamhill, Portland, OR

-Marylyn Holland, 6107 NW Bernie Dr, Vancouver WA (N end of Lincoln).

-Thurman St Pottery, 2774 NW Thurman, Portland, OR 228-2477

-Oregon College of Art & Craft, Ceramics Dept, 8245 SW Barnes Rd, Portland OR 297-5544

-Georgie's Ceramic Supply, 756 NE Lombard, Portland OR, 283-1353 (25 lbs free clay with every 10 bowls!)

It's that time again! If you are participating in Showcase, you should already have received your Info-Pack. If you have a booth and have not received yours, call Sam Bernardi.  If you are in the gallery and have not received one, call Susan Fishel). Everything you need to know about Showcase is in the Pack, including gallery delivery hours, booth #s, etc. Please read it thoroughly and bring it with you to the show.

Showcase 1999 & 2000: Showcase 1999 is scheduled for May 7-9. Showcase 2000 is scheduled for May 5-7, and we have reserved twice as much space for that year.

Showcase Wrap-Up Meeting will be May 15th at 6pm at the Multnomah Art Center (this is prior to the May OPA meeting), see information at beginning of newsletter.

Overhead Lights during Set Up: On Thursday from 7 to 9pm the overhead lights in the exhibit hall will be off so that Courtney Frisse can shoot photos of booths (see below). Be warned, your booth lights will be the only light you have for those two hours!

Committee Chairs Wrap Up Meeting will be May 27 at 6pm at Mark Heimann's house, 22009 S Lost Mountain Rd in Estacada, 631-8686. From I-205 take Hwy 212/224 east to Carver, Turn right, cross Clackamas River. Left onto Springwater, approx 5 miles to Harding Rd. Right turn, right again onto Fischer's Mill Rd, 1/2 mile, left onto Mattoon Rd, 1.2 miles, pass McKenzie Lane, see black mailbox on left (22009 Lost Mtn), left up steep gravel road, bear right at fork, up to gate. Hello & welcome! The Wrap-up Meeting will be followed at 7:15 by a quick potluck dinner, then at 8pm the Steering Committee Meeting will begin.

1999 Showcase Co Chair: We still need someone to Co Chair with Mark Heimann in '99. Please call Mark  for information!

1999 Publicity Co Chair: This position is also open. Send pertinent information (a resume, a letter stating why you would be great at publicity...) to Nancy Hart, 6161 SW Salmon, Portland OR 97221. Questions about the position? Call Audrey Graham.  or Ann Selberg.

Voting for Awards: There will be awards for the Best of Show, the 2nd and 3rd Place Best of Show, Best Booth, and the new memorial award for Bennett Welsh, for the Finest Decoration on a piece. Each OPA member is entitled to one ballot for the Best of Show awards and for the Bennett Welsh award. For the Best Booth award, the people in the group booth are only entitled to one vote for the entire group. Ballots are in this newsletter, as well as in every Showcase booth and they will be available in the gallery during the voting. If you cannot find a ballot, come to Pamela Mattson-McDonald's booth (B-17) for one on Wednesday or Thursday. Ballot boxes will be in the gallery near the demonstrations area. Voting will be Thursday from 5pm to 11pm and Friday morning before 9:30am.

Workshifts: If you are participating in the show, you have been assigned workshifts. If you are unable to work the shifts listed on the workshift schedule in the information packet, please call Carol Lebreton, ASAP.  If you switch workshifts with someone, please call Carol (or send a postcard!) with those changes so that the printed schedule can be kept accurate. It is each participant's responsibility to know when their workshifts occur and to see that those shifts are covered if a last minute crisis prevents you from doing so. Please check all three days for possible workshifts! If any volunteers and newcomers would like to help, there is still time to donate your invaluable time and energy by working a shift. It is a great way to see fabulous pottery, meet marvelous mud mavens, and be part of this fantastic show!

Photographer at Show: Once again this year, Courtney Frisse will have a photography studio set up in one of our storage rooms. She will be shooting photos of pots, and she will also shoot photos of your booth if you sign up in advance. The booth photos will require us to turn off the overhead lights in the exhibit hall from 7 to 9 pm on Thursday during set up. Call Courtney for a booth photo appointment (331-1671 or 460-0697). Her rates will be approximately $30-35 per slide, $18-24 per booth photo. You can also schedule an appointment with her for these prices during the week prior to Showcase.

Articles & Announcements About Showcase: Please watch your local papers for mentions of Showcase. Clip and save anything you see and turn them in to Audrey Graham or Ann Selberg at Showcase. This is for our Archives, and it really is important. The Publicity Committee sends information everywhere, and they are often not told whether it will be printed or not, so they depend on everyone to save articles from their local publications! (Our Publicity Committee does such a great job. Thanks guys!)

The Treasurer Says: Committee chairs must turn in their expenses by July 31, please include your budget # and whether reimbursement should be to you or to the original vendor. Also, Showcase checks will be mailed to participants, not handed out at the May meeting.

Lobby Display: During Showcase we will have a display in the lobby. This year the display will feature large work and salt-fired pots. If you have anything for the display, please call Lyn Sedlak Ford.

Showcase Potluck/Hospitality Room (this is the potluck that used to be in the RV on the loading dock): The potluck will be in a room in the Best Western Hotel, across Martin Luther King Blvd from the Convention Center. We will not know the room # until Friday of Showcase, but a poster will be posted in the Best Western Lobby with directions to the room. If you would like to sign up for the potluck, send a postcard to Jeanne Charles, 3624 SE Yamhill, Portland, OR 97214.

Advancer Kiln Shelves: Your editor had an Advancer shelf explode in a recent firing. The shelf appeared to have some air pockets in the exploded section. What I learned, though, was that these shelves are very susceptible to moisture, and should always be stored indoors. Mine were under cover, but outdoors. The shelf is being examined by the manufacturer and will probably be replaced free of charge. Advancers are the light-weight shelves that are replacing silicon carbide shelves in many of our studios. They are about $125 each (12x24") and can be ordered from Firebrick Supply, 800-444-3301, x123, ask for Donna. (Yes, even after one exploded, I still love my Advancers and recommend them wholeheartedly)

Clackamas Arts Assistance Project: This is a hotline for arts-related questions. They answer "where" and "how" questions, they are an information clearinghouse, they have a mentor program, and they have workshops. 24 hours, 7 days a week. It's free! 657-6958 x2666. Dulcie Lindsoe-Johanson says that they found her some web sites for glaze formulas. Some of their upcoming workshops are "Promoting Your Own Career", "Linking Schools & Communities", "Preparing Presentation Materials". All workshops are open to Clackamas County residents and are free. For a more complete schedule, call Cheryl Snow, CAAP Coordinator, 266-1496

American Ceramic Society Publications: The American Ceramic Society (publishers of Ceramics Monthly) sent us a list of their new publications. Pottery Making Illustrated is a new quarterly how-to magazine, $12 per year. Out of the Earth, Into the Fire is a practical handbook which reviews the basic materials in clay bodies and glazes, including a classification system that charts the materials basic functions and techniques for glaze calculation, $52 softcover, $62 hardcover. Great Ideas for Potters is a book of the best items from the readers' suggestion column in Ceramics Monthly ($7.95). Answers to Potters Questions is a book of selections from their questions column ($7.95). Potters Guide is a directory of sources for materials, equipment and services from companies in the US and elsewhere in the world, $12.95. Add $2 shipping for the first book, $1 for each additional book. Send orders to: American Ceramic Society, PO Box 6136, Westerville OH 43086-6136, phone 614-794-5890

Booth Canopies: There was an ad in the recent Portland Saturday Market newsletter for a canopy dealer. The ad said new canopies started at $145, used at $99, sides are $22. They also sell fire-resistant fabric and bungies. They rent canopies for $22/week. Pete Bluett, 636-3246

Credit Unions: Portland Saturday Market members are now able to join the Oregon Central Credit Union. That is a project the OPA had talked about working on, but we never found the right credit union. Sounds interesting...

Health Insurance: Apparently it is now the law that health insurance companies must provide some sort of small business plans. Craig Martell & Linda Owen just gave me information about Kaiser's small business insurance plan. The cost is a tiny bit cheaper than buying your own individual coverage, but they do not have exclusions for pre-existing conditions!! To qualify, you must be a business with at least two people in the group, however for basic medical and prescription coverage, only one of the people needs to buy the insurance. If you want chiropractic, dental, optical, etc, at least two people must buy the insurance. To have an employee qualify for coverage, they must work at least 17.5 hours per week, and if you do not pay workman's comp, they must be paid less than $500 per month. Interested in Kaiser? Call Natalie Lee.

Deadbeat Accounts: This month's issue of The Crafts Report covers some strategies to avoid deadbeat accounts. The Artists & Craftsmen's Corner is a forum where people can list their good and bad credit experiences (http://users.multipro.com/wildwood). It is run by Bill Norris, and a nominal fee is charged for using the site. Bill Norris, Wildwood studio, 3525 Little Indian Creek Rd, Buffalo Valley TN 38548, 931-858-5003, email wildwood@wildwoodstudio.com. Also the Mountain Lakes Credit Cooperative provides a list of participating artists credit experiences, both good and bad. Lynn Aylsworth, director, Box 387, Lake Placid NY 12946, 518-523-4400, 523-2623. email info@mlny.org, Website www.mlny.org

Books from The Crafts Report: Several interesting looking books were listed in their May issue: Photographing your Craftwork; The Law (in Plain English) for Crafts People; Business Forms and Contracts (in Plain English) for Crafts People; The Business of Crafts; Pricing your Craftwork; Arts and the Internet: A Guide to the Revolution; How to Produce a Successful Crafts Show; Health Insurance: A Guide for Artists, Consultants, Entrepreneurs & Other Self-Employed; The Artists Complete Health & Safety Guide; The Frugal Entrepreneur; The Basic Guide to Selling Arts & Crafts; Directory of Wholesale Reps for Crafts Professionals. Prices are $12.95 to $21.95. Call 800-777-7098 for more information.

Waxing Bottoms: Have you had trouble with breathing wax during your firings (not just a nuisance, those wax fumes are extremely toxic to your lungs)? Paul Lewing from Seattle wrote in Clayart that he uses a rug-board. This is a common way of cleaning bottoms in industry. Take a piece of short-nap indoor/outdoor carpet, glue it to a piece of plywood with waterproof glue. Get it wet, then wring out some of the water. Now dip your pots in glaze, feet and all. When they are dry, rub their feet on the wet carpet. This removes just the right amount of glaze from the foot of the pot. (thanks Mark Heimann for pulling stuff off of the net)

Tour of the Ohio Pottery Belt: A tour is being organized of the historic potteries in Ohio. It will be March 14-16, just prior to the NCECA Conference in 1999. Approximately $275 will include bus transportation, hotels, meals, tips, admissions, etc for 3 days/two nights. Call Laura Bidwa 614-292-2127, bole.1@osu.edu. Write Ohio State University Ceramics, 146 Hopkins Hall, 128 North Oval Mall, Columbus OH 43210-1363

National Association of Independent Artists has started a small magazine. Their most recent issue had a good section about ranking fairs (additionally they listed companies who ranked fairs, how they did it, how accurate their systems are, etc). This looks like an interesting magazine. I believe it is quarterly, $40/year, Write to NAIA, PO Box 334, Dundee IL 60118-0334

Low Temperature Crawling Glazes are featured in the March/April issue of Ceramic Review magazine. The article discusses the technical problems that are peculiar to crawling glazes.

Ceramic Fiber was also mentioned in the March/April Ceramic Review Magazine. Apparently in England, refractory ceramic fiber will soon be classified as a human carcinogen.

Crystalline Glazes is the title of a new book which was reviewed in the Spring '98 Contact magazine. It covers the history of crystalline glazes, as well as ingredients, firing methods, etc. Sounds interesting. 96 pages, published by A & C Black Ltd, 35 Bedford Row, London, England, WC1R 4JH, phone 0171-242-0946, fax 0171-831-8478

Ceramics of Jingdezhen, China are the subject of an interesting article in the Spring '98 issue of Contact. This area is known for porcelain, especially highly decorated work. If anyone is thinking about traveling to China, you might want to read this article.

2nd Annual Mashiko Ceramics Competition: in Mashiko, Japan, Oct 4-Nov 29, 1998. Deadline June 1, juried from actual work. No entry fee. Contact the Secretariat, Mashiko International Pottery Contest Executive Committee, 2030 O-aza Mashiko, Mashiko-Machi, Haga-Gun, Tochigi-Ken, 321-42, or fax (81) 285-72-6430

Niche Awards: recognizing achievements of North American craft artists who produce work for galleries and retail stores, contact Niche Magazine, 3000 Chestnut Ave suite 304, Baltimore, MD 21211, phone 410-889-3093, deadline Aug 1.

Ceramics Monthly International Competition: March 15-21, 1999 (during NCECA) is open to utilitarian & sculptural ceramics. No entry fee, juried from slides. For prospectus write to CM International Competition, PO Box 6102, Westerville OH 43086-6102, www.ceramicsmonthly.org

Lark Books/Altamont Press is publishing two new books on ceramics: Architectural Ceramics by Peter King and Low Fire Surface Decoration by Lynn Peters. They are looking for photos from potters for inclusion in these books. For entry deadlines, guidelines and forms write to Katherine Duncan, Lark Books, 50 College St, Asheville NC 28801, email kduncan@larkbooks.com. Specify which book you are interested in.

Summer Art is a show at the Columbia Art Center in Vancouver, WA, July 10-13. Artists must live in one-hour radius of Vancouver, $7 entry fee, 30% commission. May 15th deadline. (360) 693-0350, Columbia Art Center, 400 W Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver WA 98660

Call to Artists: The Hawthorne Arts Guild is looking for artists to participate in their member-run gallery. Submit slides or photos and a bio. They are also interested in artist/teachers. 231-7466, 4134 SE Hawthorne, Portland.

MIC Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza the International Competition for Contemporary Ceramic Art will be held in Faenza Italy from May to October 1999.The aim is to stimulate research and the renewal of technique, materials and expressive forms and methods. Application, slides, etc due Aug 1, 1998. Work due in December 1998. Contact the secretary at Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Via Campidori 2, Faenza (Ra), Italy. Tel +39-546-20125; 21240. fax +39-546-20125; 27141. Applications are available in English

Crossroads in Clay annual competition, juror is Josh DeWeese, $10 entry fee, April 30 deadline for slides, June 12 delivery, contact Arts in Middletown Building, 130 North Verity Parkway, PO Box 441, Middletown OH 45042, (513)424-2416

Call to Artists: Artistree Gallery in McMinnville is looking for high quality artwork. 40% commission. They are looking for 3-d work and pottery. 512 NE 3rd St, McMinnville OR 97128, 503-472-9399

Wild Hands Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming is looking for potters. Contact them at PO Box 2844, Jackson WY 83001. 307-733-4619

Teaching Position at PCC Rock Creek: Wally Schwab, the ceramics instructor at PCC Rock Creek, is taking a leave of absence, and Portland Community College is looking for one or several instructors to replace him. This could be for the entire 98/99 school year or only for one term. Send resume and slides by May 8th to Peter Hirsch, Dean of Business & Humanities, PCC Rock Creek, PO Box 19000, Portland OR 97280-0990. Masters degree required.

Hillsboro Tuesday Market is still looking for artists and craftspeople. They will be open Tuesdays 5-8pm June 23-Sept 29. Call 844-6685 x4, booths are $25 per Tuesday or 7% of sales

Roger Allen- Low Fire Surface Decoration: Roger grinds his own pigments, does stencil and wax resist decoration. There will be some hands-on. $25 OPA members, $35 non-members. At Valley Art Association in Forest Grove, August 1st. Mail check (made to OPA) to Mary Walyer, 3511 SE Johnson Creek Blvd, Portland OR 97222.

Al Johnson- Extrusions, Tiles & Raku: Bring bisqued pots or buy them at the workshop, $70 includes two breakfasts. Dormitory lodging available. June 27-28. Monarch Contemporary Art Center, 8431 Waldrick Rd, PO Box 1125, Tenino WA 98589, 360-264-2408

Peter King- Architectural Ceramics: Large scale construction techniques, discussion & slides. He will build sections of a fireplace front, $150 includes 2 breakfasts, May 30-31. Monarch Contemporary Art Center, 8431 Waldrick Rd, PO Box 1125, Tenino WA 98589, 360-264-2408

Arts at the Heart of Learning Conference: Explores the link between arts education curriculum and the Oregon Education Reform Act. April 24, 11:30am-8pm, $20 includes dinner, at the Living Enrichment Center, 29500 SW Grahams Ferry Rd in Wilsonville. Sponsored by RACC. Call 823-5111

Denys James is conducting several workshops: Handbuilding & Exploration of Low Temperature Firing Techniques June 15-26; Extending Your Creative Force July 6-17 (both on Saltspring Island in Canada, $495 each); Oaxaca, Mexico-Clay-Spanish-Pre Hispanic Ruins January 21-February 9, 1999, $1750; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico- Clay, Art, Spanish December 3-19, $1395. Contact him at 182 Welbury Dr, Saltspring Island, BC V8K2L8, Canada. phone/fax (250) 537-4906

Professional Development Workshops: The Clackamas Arts Assistance Project is offering a series of these. See information under "Pottery News" section of newsletter

Paul Soldner, Peter Voulkos & Peter Callas- Low Fire Salt: They will also cover kiln building, firing, forming techniques, glaze striking. June 15-19, $500+$50 studio fee. Oregon College of Art & Craft in Portland, 297-5544

Jan Hoyman & Doug Browe- Color & Commitment: Decorated Earthenware: focus on techniques of brushwork decorated, white slipped red clay. June 22-26, $345+$50 studio fee. Oregon College of Art & Craft in Portland, 297-5544

Robin Hopper- Glaze & Color Development: This is an amazing 2-week workshop on glazes. Many OPA members have taken it in the past. June 29-July 10, $565 + $75 firing (Canadian). Metchosin International Summer School of Arts, Lester B Pearson College of the Pacific, 650 Pearson College Dr, Victoria BC V9C 4H7 Canada, phone (250) 391-2420, email missa@pearson-college.uwc.ca. Also there will be workshops by Patrick Horsley (Throwing- Everything but Round), Randy Brodnax (Kiln Building & Firing), Bill Porteous (Figure Sculpture), Patrick Crabb (Crack Pots), Rosette Gault (Paperclay), Steven Forbes-deSoule (Raku), Andrew Wong (Photo Images on Clay). Workshops are of varying lengths, call them for more details. It looks like an great selection, and an interesting place to go for a few days!

Mary Law-Altered & Faceted Forms: Mount Hood Community College in Gresham, June 15-18, $125, limited to 20 participants. Contact Stephen Mickey, 503-667-7309. You can see samples of her work at her website HTTP://slashmc.rice.edu/marylaw/marylawpottery.html

Robert & Gail Piepenburg; Bill Griffith; Jonathan Kaplan; Dick Luster; Maynard Tischler; Biz Littell; Ro Mead are all teaching summer workshops at Laloba Ranch Clay Center, PO Box 770226, Steamboat Springs CO 80477, 970-870-6423 or 870-6603, email LalobaRanch@compuserve.com

Fused Glass with Christie Runyan April 30-May 1, $275; Moldmaking with Myles Armstrong May 2-3, $150; Advanced Moldmaking with Myles Armstrong June 6-7, $150; Innovative Handbuilding with Lana Wilson Sept 26-27, $100. All at Georgie's, 756 NE Lombard, Portland OR 97211, 503-283-1353, 800-999-2529, http://www.georgies.com

ACC Fairs: Bellevue (sept 18-20), Tampa Bay & Charlotte applications are due May 5th. Call 800-836-3470

Taste of Beaverton: June 26-28. Deadline May 1, 45 booths, $125 booth fee, call 526-2288

Richard Rowland's "The Mind of the Dragon" show was featured in the Up Front section of the April Ceramics Monthly.

The OPA & Showcase will be the subject of an article written by Janet Buskirk in the May issue of Ceramics Monthly.

Glenn Burris, Cindy Hoskissin, Andrea Peyton and more were in "Radius 25" at the Salem Art Assoc. Feb 26-March 27.

Barbara Rawls & Cynthia Spencer are showing their functional & decorative pieces at the downtown Real Mother Goose Gallery in Portland in April & May. Also showing is Helen Knaupp with work in watercolor & ceramics.

Linda Haworth will dedicate her public art commission on May 2, 12-5pm at the Washington St/12th Ave MAX line in Hillsboro. Speeches, Mariachi Music, Folklorico dancers. Linda also recently completed a tile installation at the Arizona State Univ bus stop in Tempe, AZ, and was awarded a $59,000 commission for a freeway pedestrian underpass.

Katy McFadden, Charles Washburn, Jan Shield and many others are featured in the Clackamas Community College Sculpture Exposition, April 6-June 4, includes a performance by Do Jump! theater April 18th at 1:30pm at the Pauling Center, a lecture by Judy Pfaff May 28 at 7pm at the Lakeside Education Hall ELC, and a lecture by Italo Scanga April 23 at 7pm at the McLoughlin Hall Theater. Clackamas Community College, 19600 S Molalla Ave, Oregon City, OR 97045

Wally Read & Ros Samnang are featured at the Graystone Gallery in Portland in May. Opening reception April 26, 2-4pm.

David & Karen Waln and Sue Orlaske in Summerville contributed bowls to the first annual "Shelter from the Storm Soup Supper" in February. This was based on the Empty Bowls projects, and other participating potters were Ted 'Olaf' Juve, Bob Jensen, Bill Barrows, Tom Dimond, Aaron McNamee, Dave Crawford, Jana Winn, Shawn Olson, Rich McIlmoil and students from the LaGrande High School Art Club.

Sue Orlaske is the featured artist at the Crossroads Art Center, 1901 Main St in Baker City, through April 28th.

Bennett Welsh, 1922-1998: Potters in Oregon will miss their good friend, Bennett Welsh, who died in Thursday April 2nd. Bennett was one of the first potters in the Northwest to work with high temperature stoneware clays. He had a vast technical knowledge and he shared this with hundreds potters who were his students, employees and friends during his 50 year career in clay.

Bennett was born and raised in Gresham, Oregon. Growing up, Bennett's family ran the Blue Lake amusement park and Bennett used to paint the intricate scenes on the carousels in the park. He began working with stoneware in the 1940s when he returned from World War II. Later, he founded the ceramics department and built the equipment for the Portland Art Museum's school (now called the Oregon Art Institute). Later, Bennett went to work in the ceramics department at Tektronix, a high-tech computer and oscilloscope company. Wanting to keep his hands in clay, he quit that job and bought Pacific Stoneware, a production ceramics company with several retail shops. In the 1970s, he again decided his hands were not in enough clay, so he sold Pacific Stoneware and started working in a smaller studio with a few employees. They made a production line of handmade stoneware. Bennett officially "retired" from production in 1984, and has since made large, sculptural "art pots." He thought of himself as a decorator of pots, and he worked in his studio until the day before he went to the hospital.

Bennett is survived by his wife, Carol, his children Antonia, Kim, Lon and Abby, and seven grandchildren. Donations on his behalf may be made to the Lighting Fund at Saint Lukes Episcopalian Church, 120 SW Towle Ave, Gresham OR 97080

Beatrice Wood died at the age of 105 on March 15. She was known for her flamboyant lifestyle, wearing silk saris and gaudy jewelry even while working in the studio. She was involved in the early Dada art movement (often referred to as the Mama of Dada) and was on the cutting edge of contemporary art for her entire life. She worked in her studio every day until the age of 103. An inspiration to us all, she will be missed.

Studio Sublet Available: June 1-late August at Thurman St Pottery during my residency in Montana. Inquire re: permanent space thereafter. Call Maria Simon.

Help Wanted: Small shop producing handmade tile in Arts & Crafts style seeking experienced full time shop help. Work is production oriented, physically demanding and requires and organized individual capable of self motivation and direction, preferably a well developed sense of humor. Totten Tileworks, PO Box 2, Winlock WA 98596, 360-785-3282, fax 785-3380, tottentile@localaccess.com

For Sale: 4" Venco Pugmill in good condition, $2000 plus shipping, John Haakanson 1-800-824-2374 (in Eugene)

For Sale: Kick Wheel, solid, good condition, bats included, $200, Mary Walyer .

For Sale: 3 bedroom farmhouse, cedar sided octagonal studio building with showroom, wood fired kiln, 30x60' pole building on approx 2 parklike acres in the heart of the Dundee Hills in Oregon Wine Country. Also selling: some pottery equipment; 1971 24' Winnebago class A motorhome with 76,000 actual miles; 1980 Yamaha 1100 Special full dress road bike with 27,000 miles; many other items! Moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Donna Gettel, Red Hills Potter.

For Sale: Cress Kiln FX-31, cone 10, only used to bisque to ^010, works fine, 31"t x 23"w interior dimensions. Reduced to $600, will deliver. Gil Harrison.

For Sale: KD 10x10 canopy (like an EZup- all metal construction) complete with tip, zipper walls, weights & carrying case, great condition, $650. Glass & oak jewelry case, approx 30"x22"x28", $375. Custom oak turning earring display 16"x16"x30", $300. Wendy Yoder Holub.

 Dates to Remember: