6:30pm: Showcase Meeting: If you are planning to participate in Showcase, it is highly recommended that you attend these meetings. Showcase is a cooperative show, and communication is much better when people attend meetings.

7pm: OPA Business Meeting: Call Ginger Steele, 503-693-7721, if you have something for the agenda. Bring Empty Bowls donations, items for the swap table, notices to pin on the room divider, etc.

7:30pm: Program: Potluck and Social Hour, then Showcase Booth Selection. Bring a dinner dish to share (main dish, side dish or dessert), your own plate, cup & silverware, and your appetite. When we finish our food and visiting

we will begin the booth selection process. Booth selection will occur when we finish eating. This year will be similar to past years’:

1. You will be called by your ranking based on points

2. You will either have to be at the March meeting or send a proxy to choose your booth. A map is in this newsletter. If you have no proxy, a booth will be chosen for you.

3. If you are "group spacing" your points will be averaged. A lottery has been done for people with the same number of points.

NEXT BOARD MEETING: Mon, April 8, 6:30pm at Larry & Debi Nelson’s, 19438 SW Neugebauer Rd, Hillsboro, 503-628-1562

NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: April 10, 2002. Please write information down and send to Janet Buskirk, 3624 SE Yamhill, Portland OR 97214, janetbuskirk@yahoo

CERAMIC SHOWCASE will be May 3-5, set up May 1-2, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland

FROM THE FAIR FEES STUDY GROUP: This group has been meeting to discuss the fairness of Showcase’s booth fee vs. its commission. Any recommendations made by this group will be presented to the Steering Committee, and their decision will affect Showcase 2003.

The Fair Fees group would like your input. Please write down your suggestions and send them to 3624 SE Yamhill, Portland OR 97214 or larrynelson@mac.com. There will also be a questionnaire in the April newsletter.

A few comments about how this group is determining the projected Showcase budget and income: They are being conservative, and assuming that sales could go down a bit in 2002 or 2003 (figures are based on $450,000 total receipts). They are assuming that costs could go up (figures are based on $100,000 in expenses, adding about a 10% safety net above our current budget). Of course, we all hope that Showcase will make more money and spend less, but we must prepare for this possibility.

The Fair Fees Group will probably recommend re-instating the after-Showcase rebate (with a specific date for its issue), since this adds a safety net for the organization. The group also may recommend that Showcase look into other sources of income: entry fees or more sponsorship.

Below are some figures from this group. If you would like more detailed charts, Ramona Searle can email them to you. The group is looking at charging two different commissions: A "normal" commission for each person’s sales up to $7000, and a lower commission for additional sales. These figures are based on the individual potter’s sales from last year, and are based on there being 120 booths in the show.

$75 21% 11% $101,800

$150 19% 9% $102,808

$200 17% 7% $99,665

$833 0% 0% $99,960

MAILING LISTS: This is your last, plaintive, message from the Mailing List Chair. Please send your lists (written legibly or on PC-disk) to Ginger Steele, 3285 NW Susbauer Rd, Cornelius OR 97113.

NEXT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING: The next meeting is the day when this newsletter will be mailed. If you would like the schedule for future meetings, call Showcase Chair Mark Heimann (503-631-8686) or Secretary Anne Stecker (503-399-0590)

SHOWCASE CHAIR 2003-2004: Natalie Warrens has agreed to co-chair Showcase with Margie Adams in 2003 and chair it in 2004. Thanks, Natalie!

EMPTY BOXES: The wrapping committee reminds you to start collecting boxes for Showcase. Everyone should bring 25, and they should be clean, flattened and bundled. The best sizes are clay boxes (pay special attention to cleanliness -- sponge them off), liquor and wine boxes, and produce boxes. We can also use some larger ones, but don't bother with smaller ones. Thanks, Chris Nielson, Wrapping Chair

TIME PAYMENTS AT SHOWCASE: At the last Steering Committee Meeting, time payments at Showcase were again discussed (see the December newsletter for the background on this). The Committee agreed to lower the minimum amount for a purchase to $100.

LOBBY DISPLAY: This year the display will feature bowls of all shapes and sizes. We are looking for a few stunning or dramatic bowls which can hang on the wall and will receive prominent placement. We also will put bowls on pedestals. All OPA members may put work in the Lobby Display. Bring your bowl, and a pedestal on which to display it, to the lobby during Showcase setup, Wed May 8 (10am-5pm) or Thurs (10am-1pm). Last year 65 potters were featured in the teapot display and the sales were exceptional. I appreciate knowing in advance if you plan to participate, please email me at sedlakford@mac.com. -Lyn Sedlak-Ford

POTTERY NEWS

CLAY BALL: A fundraiser for the Salem Art Association, an auction of 20 timepieces made by artists, Feb 23, 7-10pm, $25, call 503-581-2228

LIFESTYLE CRAFTS in the name of a catalogue of handmade items which I just received in the mail. It looks interesting- if you want a copy, contact them at 1665 W 5^th Ave, Columbus OH 43212, www.lifestylecrafts.com

FINE ART CERAMICS is a new magazine which your editor received in the mail. It looks interesting (I’m not just saying that because it prominently features the Skutt ad that I posed for…). I think it is monthly (it does not specify), and is $28 per year. Contact them at PO Box 448, Welches OR 97067, 503-622-3828, toll free 888-899-5985 (Yep, it’s produced locally. Nope, no one had breathed a word about it until this issue appeared, but it looks interesting). They are looking for article submissions, they seem to be oriented somewhat toward ceramics-as-a-business. For writing guidelines, call them or email ceramics@hevanet.com.

VISUAL ARTISTS RIGHTS ACT: An article in Fine Art Ceramics discusses artists’ "moral rights." These rights are things like the right to claim authorship of work, to prevent your name being named as author of work that is not yours, to prevent the use of your name with work that was yours but has been substantially changed, and to prevent destruction of work that is of recognized stature. It is an interesting article about legalities of art authoring and ownership.

DATABASE FOR CERAMICS EDUCATION PROGRAMS: NCECA has collected a Programs Database for all sorts of programs for the study of ceramics. To look for a program look up www.nceca.net, click on NCECA Programs Database. To add your program to the list, contact Susan Filley, sfilley@home.com

PEOPLE’S POTTERY was a 47-store chain which fell into bankruptcy in 2001. A series of articles have appeared in Crafts Report (the March 2002 article is most informative), and there are a number of things that people are learning because of this large retailer closing. People’s Pottery was large enough that they generated a huge percentage of some potters’ incomes. When their checks began to bounce, some studios had no other income. Many potters also were more lenient with credit than they should have been; as the checks arrived later, potters continued to fill orders. An interesting item in this article mentioned that people who had succeeded in receiving and cashing checks during the last few months of People’s Pottery may have to pay the money back, since other vendors may be entitled to some of this money! A few suggestions in this article are: Avoid putting all your eggs in one basket; Don’t ditch your smaller retailers because of large orders from others; Don’t wait to pursue those who owe you money; Don’t lose perspective about why you are in the crafts business.

CONSIGNMENT FRAUD: An article in the new Fine Art Ceramics magazine discusses the most common type of art-related crime: Fraud during consignment. This type of fraud is, unfortunately, all too easy to perform. Artists send work to complete strangers who have sent out calls for entries. How can we protect ourselves from this? The first thing to do is sign a contract. This seems basic, but many consignment agreements are made over the phone if at all. The contract should specify how long the gallery will have the work, who pays for the return of the work, how or when the work will be stored, when the gallery will pay the artist after the work is sold. A contract should also cover the artist in case of gallery bankruptcy or gallery owner death. The article points out that often artists are so thrilled to show their work at all that they are hesitant to make demands of the gallery.

The March 2002 Crafts Report also has an article about consignment. It outlines many ways to insulate you from losing if a gallery closes. Your rights vary from state to state. All states have a Uniform Commercial Code, and they recommend filing a UCC form with the county or the state where the gallery is located. This article also outlines what should be in your consignment agreement: The store’s responsibility for damages to goods; the retail price for the goods; the inventory being consigned; the galleries fees for the consigned goods; who pays for shipping; promotional responsibilities (if any); and a requirement that the store post a sign stating that goods are on consignment (this is a legal protection for you if they go out of business)

DISCOUNT CERAMICS BOOKS: Edward Hamilton, Bookseller, Falls Village CT 06031-5000 publishes a catalogue of books available, all at 35-50% off, shipping is $3.50 regardless of how many books you buy, books are returnable if you don’t like them.

STUDIO AND LIVING SPACES AT GEORGIES: Georgies in Portland has bought the building next door and they are planning to remodel it to have a shared studio space. There will also be some living spaces available upstairs. The studio will have space for 10 people, and should have power for gas and electric kilns (Georgies will supply some kilns). The living space will consist of 5 studio apartments with a shared kitchen, bath and laundry. Rent for living plus studio space is $500 plus utilites, studio alone is $100 plus utilities. Contact Stan, 503-283-1353

RECYCLED ART SUPPLIES: You may already know about the School & Community Reuse Action Project (SCRAP), which shares a space with the Rebuilding Center in Portland. Both of these groups diverts materials that are headed to the landfill and sells them to you at low prices- SCRAP sells projects for art, the Rebuilding Center sells construction materials. SCRAP, a non-profit organization, is looking for your financial support. If you would like to make a donation or visit their store (open Wed-Sun afternoons), their address is 3625B N Mississippi, Portland OR 97227, 503-294-0769

ARE YOU HAVING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS? Don Adamaitis, a potter since 1962, is willing to share his knowledge of ceramics to try to solve your problems free of charge. His studio is in the eastern Vancouver area. His expertise is in the physics of kilns and the chemical aspects of glaze formulation. Contact him at jadamd@attbi.com or 360-604-1100. He admits that he doesn’t know everything, but who does? And the price is right.

WORKSHOPS-LECTURES-CONFERENCES

ROBIN HOPPER: DECORATION, DESIGN & SURFACE TREATMENT: Sept 13-14, 2002, Portland Community College, Rock Creek campus. $60, Sponsored by OPA, contact Lisa Clapp 503-755-1810, emberwind@mac.com. Featuring an array of thrown work to serve as vehicles for surface enrichment. Decoration techniques are likely to include colored clay work such as Agate ware, Neriage and Millefiori-style blockmaking; Traditional Slipware and Mishima; Majolica, Brushwork, Underglaze, Overglaze and other Glaze Application and Decoration. Robin also offers vast knowledge of the form and function of pottery, glazes and the history of ceramics.

All of the below Workshops will be held at Clay Space on the Puget Sound (45 min from Seattle), contact Brenda Beeley, PO BOX 1339, Suquamish, WA 98392-1339, (360) 598-3688, mtimes@telebyte.net

JOHN CALVER: ALTERING & DECORATING THROWN POTTERY: June 15 & 16, $120

EUGENE DAUB: PORTRAIT AND FIGURE SCULPTURE WORKSHOP: June 24-28, $480 + materials and model fees

CHRIS RICCARDO: PORTRAIT AND FIGURE SCULPTURE WORKSHOP: Week 1: July 15-19, Clay and Plastilena modeling, July 20 free studio time. Week 2: July 22-26, Finishing Pieces from 1st week. Learn how to ready pieces for Bronzing: Plaster molds; rubber mold making; wax pouring. $300 per week plus materials and model fees

ARTHUR GONZALEZ: CLAY MONOPRINTING & IDEAS IN FIGURATION: August 17-18, $130

LANA WILSON: INNOVATIVE HAND-BUILDING TECHNIQUES: Demonstration of handbuilding and use of unusual glazes. Sept 15-16, $150

OPEN STUDIO WEEK: Aug 19-23 Enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest and Puget Sound

While creating with clay with other kindred souls. sculpting or handbuiling. Open studio hours are 9-6 PM. Beach walks, hiking, Kayaking, massAges available. B&B's and waterfront camping nearby. $50 per day plus materials, no instruction provided.

HAND MADE BRUSHES AND MONOTYPE PRINTS with GLENN GRISHKOFF & VAL CARTER: 2 day workshop focusing on constructing custom made brushes as well as using these brushes to create monotype prints from a clay slab. Covers technical methods involved in making brushes, such as knot tying, epoxy mixing, cutting and wrapping hairs, and methods used to create brush handles. (All materials for construction of the brushes, and creation of monotype prints are provided and included in the studio fee.) Sat & Sun, April 6 & 7, OCAC ceramic studio (Portland). Call 503.297.5544 for information or to register.

BUILDING THE "MINIGAMA": Mt. Hood Community College (Gresham) will offer a 7 week workshop on building an Anagama. Rhue Bruggeman will be organizing and teaching the workshop . Rhue teaches at MHCC , OCAC and PCC. He is also the lab technician at MHCC. Kiln Design will be basic barrel arch with floor steps and hand made tapered bricks to round off the chimney end of the 100 cu ft kiln. Kiln building will be Sun afternoons April 7-May 12. Loading/firing May 17-19, $175. Mail checks to : Stephen Mickey, Mt Hood Community College, 26000 SE Stark St. Checks Payable to MHCC Ceramics. Call 1-503-491-7149 if further questions. The class is limited to 12 participants. Your check will reserve a spot for you in the workshop. They will send you a list of items you need to bring.

NCECA CONFERENCE: Room-mate Sought: The Conference Hotels are booked solid, but Ann Hubbird (ceramics teacher & potter from Eugene) is looking for a roommate for her room w/ 2 double beds at the Westin Crown Center. (541)683-5683. NCECA does have a list of "overflow hotels," contact NCECA at 866-266-2322. Call For Proposals, 2003: Theme of Borders in Flux. Topics can be: Aesthetics/Criticism/Philosophy; Art History; Education; Professionalism; or Technology. Lecture or panel formats, for more info contact Jeremy Jernegan, 504-862-8000 x2207, sisdjhj@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu

MOLDMAKING: April 6-7 at Georgies in Portland, $150, 800-999-2529

DON RIETZ, CHUCK HINDES, CATHARINE HIERSOUX & DEAN ADAMS: 3 day demonstration & workshop, June 21 -23 at the Seabeck Conference Center on Hoods Canal Seabeck, WA. The weekend will include: an exhibition by the artists at Phoenix Rising Gallery (opens June 20, 5-7pm in Seattle); Demonstrations by all the artists including hand building, throwing, and slip casting; Panel discussions; Evening slide presentations; Seafood barbeque and unloading of the nearby Seabeck anagama kiln (fired by the artists prior to the workshop). There are various options for participation: Full workshop plus lodging and meals, $350 ($315 WPA members) includes all workshop activities plus 3 nights and 8 meals at the Seabeck Conference Center (dormitory-style); Full workshop without lodging, $225 ($200 WPA members) includes all workshop activities, plus meals (information about alternative accommodations is available); Partial workshop, $75 per day ($65 WPA members) includes workshop activities for that day, plus meals (does not include Anagama unloading party and barbeque); Evening slide lecture drop-in, $15 ($10 WPA members). For more information and/or to request a prospectus and application contact: Steve Sauer, 1142 Baby Doll Rd E, Port Orchard, WA 98366, 360 871-4788, sauerapplepro@home.com

JAN EDWARDS: Decorative Techniques for Soft & Leatherhard Clay, Feb 24, noon-5pm at Club Mud in Eugene, $15 for LocalClay, Club Mud or OPA members, $20 for others, contact 541-466-5635

IAN CURRIE workshop, March 23-24, 9am-4pm at North Eugene High School, $45 for OPA & Local Clay members, $50 for others, 541-466-5635 for more info

BETSY SMITH-FIGURATIVE CLAY SCULPTURE: At Georgies in Portland, Saturdays March 2-23, $100. 800-999-2529

CERAMIC SCULPTURE CONFERENCE: The 13^th annual California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art, May 3-5, $105-185 registration, contact John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1^st St, Davis CA 95616, 530-756-3938, www.natsoulas.com

WARREN MACKENZIE: March 30-31, 1394 Orange Hill Ln, Penryn CA 95663, $100, www.jps.net/penrynwrkshp, 916-663-2815

DECORATING & GLAZING with DOROTHY STEELE: Have fun creating your own decorative images on 3 pieces of handmade pottery! Sat, March 16 & Sat, March 23. $125.00 includes all supplies. Call Dorothy Steele's Studio for details 503-234-3736 (SE Portland)

SAVORY POTTERY BY THE SEA: 5 days of clay immersion w/ instruction on making & firing raku pottery w/ waterfront accommodation and delicious dining at Page Point Inn, $785 (Canadian $) per person, Mar 10-15; Apr 7–12, 1-877-860-6866, includes field trips, studio tours, recreation and leisure time. Tools and materials provided. Workshop attire and hiking boots are a must. Workshop participants can choose to fly into Vancouver or Victoria, but will then require further transportation to Ladysmith. Participants flying into Nanaimo, a mere 7-8 minutes from the studio and Inn, can arrange for pick-up via Page Point Inn.

PETER KING: Award winning, internationally renowned architectural ceramist Peter King will be giving a architectural workshop in Vancouver B.C. Fri slide show, Sat & Sun creating a freestanding sculpture with an archway. For more info on Peter see www.peterkingceramics.com. March 15-17, $(Canadian) 260.00, Contact Sonja Picard @ 604.278.0864, info@sonjapicard.com

PETER KING also will give a workshop in Suquamish, WA (45 min from Seattle), $250, date unknown, contact Brenda Beeley, P.O. Box 1339, Suquamish, WA 98392-1339, (360) 598-3688, mtimes@telebyte.net

XINIA MARIN: Xinia is well known for her profound understanding of glaze technology. "She layers glaze like a watercolorist " says Peter King. This workshop is on glaze application and trouble shooting glaze problems. Bring your glaze recipes or examples to workout and discuss. We will also be glazing an architectural piece created the week before in a Peter King workshop. For more info on Xinia see www.peterkingceramics.com, Sun March 24 & Mon March 25, $(Canadian) 135.00, near Vancouver BC, Contact Sonja Picard, 604.278.0864, info@sonjapicard.com

The following workshops will be held at Summer Clay Workshops at Lost Dog Farm, 4701 Holland Loop Rd. Cave Junction, OR 97523, email: coneten@internetcds.com; telephone (541) 592-6976, contact Stephanie Friedman, food and lodging are included at their 82 acre property.

STEPHANIE FRIEDMAN: CLAY BASICS, June 28-July 1

MARGARET KUHN: HANDCARVED MOLDED TILES, July 8-14

PENELOPE DEWS: WORKING BIG: MAKING SCULPTUREW WITHOUT AN ARMATURE, July 18 –21

JIM ROMBERG: RAKU: GLAZE COLOR & FIRE, July 27-28

STEPHANIE FRIEDMAN: SLAB, SURFACE & GLAZE, August 8-13

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR ARTISTS: Developing Effective Leadership for Your Arts Group, 9am-noon, and Grassroots Marketing for Arts Organizations, 12:30-2pm, all on March 2, 9 or 16, $25 all day. Preparing Your Work for Presentation: A Workshop for Visual Artists, 9am-1pm, April 6, 13 or 20, $20. Contact RACC, 620 SW Main St, suite 420, Portland OR 97205, 503-823-5111

OPPORTUNITIES

WORK SOUGHT: Mirador, a retail store in southeast Portland is looking for locally made pottery. They are interested in mixing bowls, casserole dishes and other pottery for the home and kitchen at affordable prices. Please contact at 503-231-5175 or info@mirador-pdx.com.

WORK SOUGHT: Show one or two of your pieces in a window display in downtown Portland, no jury, no fees, no deadline, no commission. Contact James DeRosso at 503-232-6816 or james3d@serv.net

CALL FOR ARTISTS: Potters are invited to sell their seconds and one-of-a-kind

Items (both functional and decorative) at Albany's 17th annual Going to Pots sale April 26-28, 2002. Deliver on Thursday, April 25 to Two

Rivers Market, 250 Broadalbin St, Albany. For more information contact Connie Petty, Arts & Letters, 1033 Gibson Hill Rd NW, Albany, OR 97321, 541-928-7924, or Mildred Nelson, 541-928-9214

CALL TO ARTISTS: The Battle Ground Art Alliance is having their first Spring Show and Sale March 23 & 24. Artists from all media except photography may submit work. Artists must live in Clark County. Entry date March 22. Contact Linda Kliewer at (360) 687-7414 for information and entry form.

CALL TO ARTISTS: Kirkland Arts Center will have an exhibit called Chado/Ikebana: A Contemporary Survey, showing ceramic wares related to the Japanese tea ceremony and ceramic containers for Ikebana flower arranging. Exhibit dates June 13 - July 3, submit 3 entries, fee $25.00. Postmark deadline April 1. For prospectus send SASE to Kirkland Arts Center Gallery, 620 Market Street, Kirkland, WA 98033.  

CALL TO ARTISTS: Annual Juried Show, March 1 deadline, show May 5-June 1, juried from slides, $8 per slide, Allied Arts Assoc, 89 Lee Blvd, Richland WA 99352, 509-943-9815

CALL TO ARTISTS: Plates ’02, April 1-26, deadline March 1, $20 jury fee for 3 slides, for prospectus contact Art Gallery at Riverside Community College, 4800 Magnolia Ave, Riverside CA 92506, jhopkins@rccd.cc.ca.us

CALL TO ARTISTS: Second Annual Juried Cup Show, May 15-June 18, deadline March 1, juried from slides, for prospectus contact Gallery 138, 138 E Main St, Kent OH, 44240, Gallery138@kent.edu

CALL TO ARTISTS: LOCAL 14, a show of women’s artwork, Oct 4-7, screened from actual work April 13 (jurying from slides ok for artists over 75 miles from Portland), PO box 1854, Lake Oswego OR 97035, $10 screening fee, $40 acceptance fee + 30% and 9 hours work during show.

CALL TO ARTISTS: Shaped Clay 2002, open to high school students and high school graduates who have not attended college, May 1-June 15, deadline March 15, jury fee $10 per entry, send SASE to Shaped Clay, Ceramics Area, 121 Comstock Art Bldg, School of Art & Design, Syracruse Univ, Syracruse NY 13244, shapedclay@hotmail.com

CALL FOR ENTRIES: 2003 NCECA Clay National, exhibit will be March 2003, deadline Sept 25, prospectus available after this year’s conference (send SASE w/ 57¢ postage to NCECA, PO Box 777, Erie CO 80516-0777, download from www.nceca.net), open to NCECA members and US artists.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: Recent Ceramic Graduate Students, June 7-July 20, deadline March 15, send SASE to Pewabic Pottery, 10125 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit MI 48214, www.pewabic.com

CALL FOR ENTRIES: International Competition for Contemporary Ceramic Art in Faenza, Italy, juried from slides, deadline July 13, work must be received by Jan 18, 2003, exhibit is March 23-Dec 31, 2003, http://www.micfaenza.org, held at the International Museum of Ceramics, Via Campidori 2, 48018 Faenza, RA, Italy (I have a copy of this application which I can Xerox. –ed)

PHOTOS SOUGHT FOR BOOK: Lark Books will be publishing a book called 500 Bowls, and they are looking for images of bowls. Slides or transparencies, deadline March 15, www.larkbooks.com, 828-253-0467

CALL TO ARTISTS: Juried Art Exhibit, City of Gresham Art Advisory Committee, deadline March 31, show June 18-July 25, no entry fee, 20% commission, contact Bruce Rowland, 503-668-4630 or Connie Otto 503-618-2360

CALL TO ARTISTS: 16^th Annual Arts for the Parks Competition. Goal is to enhance public awareness of National Parks and celebrate representational & impressionist artists. www.artsfortheparks.com, 800-553-2787, deadlines May 1 & June 1

CALL TO ARTISTS: Ceramic Tile Triennial, Museum of Modern Art, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (will travel for one year), deadline March 2, www.elit-tile.net, thimop@elit-tile.net.

CALL TO ARTISTS: Birds of Clay, June 14-Aug 11, Frog Hollow Vermont State Craft Center, functional or sculptural work inspired by bird imagery. Deadline April 2, 802-388-3177, bcunningham@froghollow.org.

CALL TO ARTISTS: Animals, Animals, Animals. May 9-June 3, deadline March 3, no jury fee, up to 5 slides, 40% commission, Corvallis Art Center, 700 SW Madison, Corvallis OR 97333, 541-754-1551, caclbca@peak.org

RESIDENCY AVAILABLE: up to 4 months at the Sitka Center in Otis, OR. Deadline April 15, contact Randall Koch, Sitka Center, PO Box 65, Otis OR 97368, info@sitkacenter.org

RESIDENCY AVAILABLE: McNight Artist Residencies for Ceramic Artists at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis, 4 grants of $5000 w/ studio space, glaze & firing allowances for 3 months. Public workshop at end also pays $300. Artists make own housing & travel arrangements. Deadline March 29, NCC, 2424 Franklin Ave E, Minneapolis MN 55406, 612-339-8007

ART IN BLOOM: in Medford, May 10-12, deadline Feb 25/March 11, booths $50-100, jury fee $10-20, 4 slides + booth slide, Rogue Valley Foundation, 101 E 8^th St, Medford OR 97501, 541-779-4847 x324

ART IN THE VINEYARD: in Eugene, July 5-7, $250-500 booths, deadline April 1, 4 slides + booth, 541-345-1571, www.artinthevineyard.org

ART IN THE PEARL: in Portland, Aug 31-Sept 2, deadline March 31, $400 booth fee, $15 jury fee, www.artinthepearl.com, 503-722-9017

SAUSALITO ART FESTIVAL: Aug 31-Sept 2, deadline March 1, $900 booth fee, jury fee $25-50, www.sausalitoartfest.org, 415-332-3555

BEST OF THE NORTHWEST: In Seattle April 26-28, Aug 17-18 & Nov 22-24. Portland Oct 25-27. Booths $245-840, deadline Feb 28, jury fee $20 for 1 show, $5 for each additional show, Northwest Crafts Alliance, 360-221-6191, www.bestnwcrafts.com. OPA usually buys a bank of 8 to 10 booths at the Portland show. We need a coordinator for this, if you are interested call Anne Stecker, 503-399-0590, annestecker@hotmail.com. If no one comes forward for this, we will turn the booths back over to Best of the Northwest.

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL GIFT FAIR: Aug 3-7, deadline April 1, George Little Management, 914-421-3370, sfigf@glmshows.com

REST OF THE BEST: in conjunction with Bellevue Art Fair, July 26-28, deadline April 1, booth fee $350-800, jury fee $15, 206-363-2048

TAPESTRY ARTS FESTIVAL in San Jose, CA, Aug 31-Sept 2, deadline April 19, booths $390-950, jury fee $35, www.tapestryintalent.org, 408-494-3590

FORT VANCOUVER RODEO & ARTS/CRAFTS/WILD WEST FESTIVAL: July 5-7, booths $50, 360-896-8308, www.VancouverRodeo.com

ARTFEST: in Spokane, May 31-June 2, deadline March 8, booths $30-40+20%, $10 jury fee, 5 slides, 509-456-3931

PARK CITY ART FESTIVAL: Aug 3-4, deadline Feb 28, booths $325-700, jury fee $25, 5 slides, 435-649-8882 x107, tommy.Kimball@mail.burgoyne.com.

REBECCA URLACHER will exhibit handbuilt forms and vessels at the Jacobs Gallery in Eugene, May 3-June 16.

JOE DAVIS will be in the following shows: Necessary Objects, The Arts Center, St Petersburg FL; The OPA Mentor Show; Utilitarian Ceramic National, Thibodaux, LA. He also has started a photography & imaging service (see the advertising section)

LESLIE LEE: As many of you know, longtime OPA member and former OPA President Leslie Lee has recently undergone surgery for Ovarian cancer.  Although her health insurance has thus far covered most of her medical expenses, she could definitely use some financial assistance in meeting her expenses while undergoing chemotherapy and follow-up treatment, as she will be unable to generate income for awhile.  If you are able to kick in a little bit toward helping Leslie, I know she'd appreciate it tremendously!  Please send contribution checks by March 5th, payable to OPA, marked "Leslie Lee fund", addressed to Ramona Searle, OPA Treasurer, 131 Schilling Rd, Lyle, WA  98635. Thanks so much!

KIM MURTON has a piece in the "Up Front" section of the Feb Ceramics Monthly

LISA CONWAY had a piece featured in the March Crafts Report. There was also a nice ad for KARL KNUDSON & MARK HEIMANN’s work in this issue

RURI has a clay sculpture included in "Cultural Identity", a national juried exhibition at the Campbell Hall Gallery, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon. From February 14 to March 15, 2002

DAN SCHMITT will have work in the Utilitarian Ceramic National in Thibodaux, LA. He also had a picture of his work in the Dec/Jan 02 American Craft magazine

SAM SLOAN will have a piece in The Vase at Pewabic Pottery in Detroit as well as a piece in the Teapot Show at Chiaroscuro Gallery in Chicago in April

DEBORAH SHAPIRO and JANET BUSKIRK both had work selected to be in the upcoming book 500 Teapots by Lark Books

MISSING OPA MEMBERS: If you know the most recent addresses and/or phone numbers for Alexis Campbell and Marylyn Holland, would you please contact me at 509-365-2784 or mmusic@gorge.net. Their newsletters

have been sent back to us, and they are too elusive for me to track down. Thanks, Mary Orcutt, membership chair

LAURIE CHILDERS writes: I spent 2 weeks in December in Nueva Gerona, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba, at a small international ceramics conference/workshop entitled "Todo Ceramica 2001." This year there were about 20 Cuban ceramists and two from the US. We spent each day making art in a spacious ceramics factory. We took one field trip to an isolated village near the southeastern tip of the island, provided some clay for the villagers to make pieces, and did a pitfire, a paper kiln, and a raku firing. The Cuban ceramic artists I worked with had a calm certainty about the relevance of their work to their community. I found this quality intriguing and, ultimately, very moving. I believe that at its core are two significant factors:

1) The government of Cuba loves its children enough that it gives them health care, a place to live (I admit ignorance about how many economic matters function), basic food commodities*, and a good education including paying them to attend universities. I believe that one result of this is that the people are calmer and lack an anxiety that I sense exists deep inside almost every other person I have met outside of Cuba.

The artists that were university trained in art had a remarkable level of skill in drawing their ideas on paper and then constructing them in clay with exactitude. They are familiar with European, American, and Cuban art history.

2) Cuba's culture is notably non-commercial. Since no one expects to get rich, there is little pressure to work in a field for which one might be unsuitable just because it is potentially lucrative. Cuban artists grow up in a culture that values art so highly, that young and aspiring artists don't have to answer questions like "And what are you going to do for a real job?" nor justify their desires to make art. In a spiritual sense it was like encountering rivers that have never been dammed. The ideas flowed through them, from their hearts and out their hands and into the clay. They didn't seem to think in terms of repeating forms unless they were designing for industrial mass production.

Cubans also have a phrase for people who are creative in many fields: "música, poeta, loca musician, poet, crazy)." In English, we say, "Jack of all trades, master of none." Our phrase assumes someone who creates in different media does none of them well. In Cuba they assume that a person has a diverse energy for creativity and they make no negative judgment. It was my sense that any creative effort that came from the heart was understood as such and received appreciatively.

Many things could be improved in Cuba; I am not blind, and I do not intend to argue that it is a perfect society. The heavy bureaucracy could perhaps be spiced with a little capitalistic incentive here and there to get things happening where the flow is dammed. For example, the more mature artists would like more opportunities to sell their work in galleries and tourist hotels, and I heard discussions of ideas to develop a greater cooperative relationship between the factories and artists. But Cuba's government and culture have also had a remarkable and positive effect on the quality of its art and artists.

* One of the best things about the food was their name for a common dish of black beans and rice cooked together: "moros y christianos," which means "moors and christians."

Laurie Childers, Childers@peak.org, 541-757-9025

BONNIE MELTZER is dedicating a show to GORDON SMYTH, the director of Contemporary Crafts in the 60s & 70s. He will be at the opening on March 2 at Contemporary Crafts. Call for info 503-285-3131

MICHAEL CONNELLY & PETE SCHERZER opened Feb 7, at Fifth Element, 404 NW 10^th in Portland.

THE FIGURE IN CERAMIC: Jan 24-March 10, Lewis & Clark College Art Gallery, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd in Portland

GAIL NICHOLS soda fired ceramics, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, 3934 SW Corbett in Portland, March 2-April 14, gallery talk by artist March 24, 2pm. See the article about her in the Feb Ceramics Monthly. (Ceramics by Hilary Pfeifer, Kyoko Tokumaru, see the article about her in the Dec 2001 Kerameiki Techni, and Vladimir Tsivin will be there until Feb 24)

FOR SALE: 3 bedroom, two bath view house with 500 sq ft pottery studio.  Wired for 2 electric kilns plus outside kiln shed with natural gas. Choice location in Ashland. $289,000, 541 482 4796

STUDIO SPACE AVAILABLE: 500 sq ft of workspace in a completely equipped close in SE Portland Pottery studio w/ retail show room. Dorothy Steele, 503-234-3736.

FOR SALE: Greenlight 26 brick, 950 straights, 66 #1 arch, 21 #2 arch, $2/brick. 2 BASO gas safety valves, includes pilot light & thermocouples, $150 each.Jiffy mixer, 20.5" for 2-5 gal, $35. Hydrometer, $20. Dry materials, 1 lb. each bentonite (325 mesh), bone ash, borax, cobalt carb, chrome ox, copper carb, dolomite, english grolleg, ferro frit #3110, ferro frit #3195, manganese dioxide (2 lbs.), nepheline synenite, PV clay, red iron ox., rutile, soda ash, talc, XX sagger, zinc ox, zircopax, zirconium silicate. 50 lbs. each: Custer feldspar, EPK, OM-4, silica (ground), whiting. 100 lbs. each: Lincoln fire clay, silica sand, $150 for all, or obo for each item. Miscellaneous Items: kiln furniture, electronic gram scale, batts, kiln gloves, fine sawdust, misc. clay (inquire for price, obo). (503) 235-7977, Stephen Schmidt styler7@juno.com

FOR SALE: Skutt 1227 240V Kiln. Manual fired kiln, comes with a Skutt wall mount "Kilnmaster" automatic control unit. Includes the blank center ring, Skutt's Enviro-Vent (for exterior venting), plus 12 half shelves and posts. Excellent condition with low "Lowfire" hours. $1450 for all. Located in Portland, OR. Call Brian or Ellen at 503-774-6258 or e-mail Brian@Soundhole.com

FOR SALE: 818 Skutt electric kiln, new elements, great condition, $250-300, Bob, 503-287-5694

FOR SALE: Great Rolling Cart, stands on solid casters, holds 14-16 4' shelves using both sides of the cart and it breaks down easily, making it easy to move and store, $150. Two Ohaus triple beam balance scales: One has been used very little and is still in great shape, 2610g, $65. The other has never been used and is still in it's original carrying case. It even has the original paper work with it, 2610g, $95. Debra Norby, 503-288-8883 or cell# 503-490-8883

WANTED: Kiln space in cone 10 firings. Would be glad to assist in loading, unloading, etc and pay for the privilege of sharing kiln space. Darcie Ryan, 360-253-7115

WANTED: Old, front loading kiln to convert to raku kiln. Call 541-846-7665 - Pam Fichtner.

PHOTOGRAPHY & IMAGING SERVICE AVAILABLE: I'm hiring out my photography and digital imaging services, check my web page for an outline of my services. Joe Davis Photography and Imaging Services, Eugene, OR, http://www.efn.org/~joedavis/ad.htm

FOR SALE: fire brick, various types of hard brick, about $375 per pallet, each pallet contains 108 to 364 bricks (depending on size & shape of brick- normal 9x4.5x2.5 brick are 364/pallet. Each pallet contains the same volume of brick, so pallets of larger brick would have fewer pieces), over 100 pallets available. "Circle brick" (brick that are curved & can be put together to form a circular wall), $250/pallet. Greenlight 26 insulating brick, $1.75 ea. Various types of castable, call for price. Free cold patch mortar. RHI Refractories, 503-227-7944 (Portland)

FOR SALE: 18-20 gallons of Georgies Terra Cotta slip. 1st $20 takes all. Vintage Bluebird PUGMILL, $400/OBO, best suited for iron-based clays. Matt Lyon, 503-234-0272, SE Portland

FOR SALE: Four TR-8 eclipse burners w/ Stick Tight tips, valves, gauges, regulator & automatic shutoffs, $600 for all, Ken 541-758-0889 (Corvallis)

STUDIO & LIVING SPACE AVAILABLE: Georgies is planning to open a group studio in the building next door to their Portland store. See information in Pottery News section.

FOR SALE: 3 bedroom, two bath view house with 500 sq ft pottery studio.  Wired for 2 electric kilns plus outside kiln shed with natural gas. Choice location in Ashland. $289,000, 541 482 4796

STUDIO SPACE AVAILABLE: 500 sq ft of workspace in a completely equipped close in SE Portland Pottery studio w/ retail show room. Dorothy Steele, 503-234-3736.

FOR SALE: Greenlight 26 brick, 950 straights, 66 #1 arch, 21 #2 arch, $2/brick. 2 BASO gas safety valves, includes pilot light & thermocouples, $150 each.Jiffy mixer, 20.5" for 2-5 gal, $35. Hydrometer, $20. Dry materials, 1 lb. each bentonite (325 mesh), bone ash, borax, cobalt carb, chrome ox, copper carb, dolomite, english grolleg, ferro frit #3110, ferro frit #3195, manganese dioxide (2 lbs.), nepheline synenite, PV clay, red iron ox., rutile, soda ash, talc, XX sagger, zinc ox, zircopax, zirconium silicate. 50 lbs. each: Custer feldspar, EPK, OM-4, silica (ground), whiting. 100 lbs. each: Lincoln fire clay, silica sand, $150 for all, or obo for each item. Miscellaneous Items: kiln furniture, electronic gram scale, batts, kiln gloves, fine sawdust, misc. clay (inquire for price, obo). (503) 235-7977, Stephen Schmidt styler7@juno.com

FOR SALE: Skutt 1227 240V Kiln. Manual fired kiln, comes with a Skutt wall mount "Kilnmaster" automatic control unit. Includes the blank center ring, Skutt's Enviro-Vent (for exterior venting), plus 12 half shelves and posts. Excellent condition with low "Lowfire" hours. $1450 for all. Located in Portland, OR. Call Brian or Ellen at 503-774-6258 or e-mail Brian@Soundhole.com

FOR SALE: 818 Skutt electric kiln, new elements, great condition, $250-300, Bob, 503-287-5694

FOR SALE: Great Rolling Cart, stands on solid casters, holds 14-16 4' shelves using both sides of the cart and it breaks down easily, making it easy to move and store, $150. Two Ohaus triple beam balance scales: One has been used very little and is still in great shape, 2610g, $65. The other has never been used and is still in it's original carrying case. It even has the original paper work with it, 2610g, $95. Debra Norby, 503-288-8883 or cell# 503-490-8883

WANTED: Kiln space in cone 10 firings. Would be glad to assist in loading, unloading, etc and pay for the privilege of sharing kiln space. Darcie Ryan, 360-253-7115

WANTED: Old, front loading kiln to convert to raku kiln. Call 541-846-7665 - Pam Fichtner.

PHOTOGRAPHY & IMAGING SERVICE AVAILABLE: I'm hiring out my photography and digital imaging services, check my web page for an outline of my services. Joe Davis Photography and Imaging Services, Eugene, OR, http://www.efn.org/~joedavis/ad.htm

FOR SALE: fire brick, various types of hard brick, about $375 per pallet, each pallet contains 108 to 364 bricks (depending on size & shape of brick- normal 9x4.5x2.5 brick are 364/pallet. Each pallet contains the same volume of brick, so pallets of larger brick would have fewer pieces), over 100 pallets available. "Circle brick" (brick that are curved & can be put together to form a circular wall), $250/pallet. Greenlight 26 insulating brick, $1.75 ea. Various types of castable, call for price. Free cold patch mortar. RHI Refractories, 503-227-7944 (Portland)

FOR SALE: 18-20 gallons of Georgies Terra Cotta slip. 1st $20 takes all. Vintage Bluebird PUGMILL, $400/OBO, best suited for iron-based clays. Matt Lyon, 503-234-0272, SE Portland

FOR SALE: Four TR-8 eclipse burners w/ Stick Tight tips, valves, gauges, regulator & automatic shutoffs, $600 for all, Ken 541-758-0889 (Corvallis)

STUDIO & LIVING SPACE AVAILABLE: Georgies is planning to open a group studio in the building next door to their Portland store. See information in Pottery News section.