June-July 2005

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the woman one day by the stream: "Old Woman, I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The woman smiled and replied, "Cracked Pot, did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on Perfect Pot's side? I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house

-Author unknown

OPA GENERAL MEETING: Friday, July 8 at the Multnomah Art Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy in Portland. Please note that, due to increased rental fees for holding meetings on holidays, the November General Meeting date has been changed from Nov. 11 to Nov. 4. The Sept picnic date has also been changed, from Sept 11 to Sept 18. Mark your calendars!

6:30pm: General Meeting: If you have items for the agenda contact President Larry Nelson in advance at , nelson@chehalemmountainpottery.com. Bring items for the swap table and snacks to share.

7:30pm: Program: Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to learn how to make tools for texturing clay. Janet Buskirk will demonstrate how to make a variety of bisque clay, wood & wire and bamboo & wire tools, all very low-tech to make. If there's time, she will also demonstrate brush making.

OPA BOARD MEETING: Tues, Aug 2nd at Ginger Steele’s New Leaf Greenhouse, 3285 NW Susbauer Rd in Cornelius. From Portland take Hwy 26 west, take the 5th Hillsboro exit (#57), turn left (south) on Glencoe Rd, go one mile to intersection with stoplight, go right on Zion Church Rd, go 1.6 mi to flashing yellow light (sign at intersection says “Cornelius”), turn left, go two miles, nursery is on right. Please note, this location is different from what has previously been published. The October board meeting has also been changed, it will be Thurs, Oct 6 at Julie Asbury’s house. She says she may actually have her scaffolding removed by then! The Dec meeting will be Tues, Dec 6 at Anne Stecker’s.

OPA BUSINESS

OPA BEACH PIT FIRE: If you want to go camping on the beach and do a pit-fire with other OPA members, now is the time to let James DeRosso know.   Dates will be August 5, 6 & 7, Friday 4pm through Sunday 1pm at Cape Lookout State Park, 12 miles Southwest of Tillamook. Fee is approx. $12 per tent or $7 per person, plus $10 per vehicle for both nights of camping. Yes, there are hot showers and bathrooms. You should also now be making 2 to 5 ceramic pieces in low-fire clay, burnish and bisque them. You’ll be given more details once you have signed up.

OPA ANNUAL PICNIC: The date of the picnic has been changed from Sept. 11 to Sept 18. It is still at Larry & Debi Nelson’s place in Hillsboro. Yes, there will be sparklers, there will be a Mt. St. Helens cake, there will be live music, and there will be beer. This will be a BBQ Pot-Luck and all are asked to bring their own meat and side dish. Each member is invited to prepare a dish that you do exceptionally well, and serve it in one of your own beautiful/interesting ceramic dishes. We will be photographing these dishes for an article in the Oregonian, so please bring your recipe along with the dish. Get to making a piece for the pottery exchange, and also start collecting terra cotta seconds for the Catapult. If you have questions or would like to volunteer to help set up or clean up, call James DeRosso.

SUMMER STUDIO TOURS: The OPA Mentor Program has scheduled a series of Studio Tours for this summer. These tours are specifically aimed at new members, but no one should miss this great opportunity to visit with OPA members and tour their studios. OPA members Nao Tajiri, Ginger Steele, Michael Fromme and Ellen Currans have graciously agreed to open their studios for our delight. Each will be available to talk about their work, their process and their approach to a life in clay. The Tour Schedule is:

Nao Tajiri: Cone 06, Sunday, June 26, 1pm, 2127 N Albina, Portland. Directions: N on Interstate Ave to Tillamook. Left at signal over bridge, right on N Lewis, right on N Loring, left on N Albina. The studio building is on the left. Buzz #311 at the front door.

Ginger Steele: High temp salt glaze, Saturday, July 2, 1pm, New Leaf Greenhouse, 3285 NW Susbauer Rd, Cornelius. Directions: Take Hwy 26 west from Portland to exit 57/North Plains ( the last Hillsboro exit about 15 mi from Portland). Exit and turn left (south) at the top of the ramp. Travel south for about 1 mi to the Zion Church Rd intersection (there’s a light), turn right and travel 0.6 miles to the flashing light. Turn left on to Susbauer Rd. and go 2 miles to New Leaf Greenhouse (on your right) where the studio is located. The studio is on your left as you go down the drive.

Ellen Currans: Cone 10, Saturday, July 9, 1pm. 19855 Trunk Rd in Dundee. From Portland take Hwy 99 to Newberg and continue on through to Dundee. ¾ of a mile south of Dundee, where the highway divides and becomes 4 lanes again, turn right off of 99 onto Trunk Rd. Ellen’s mailbox is the 3rd box on the right side. Take the long driveway down into the woods. You will emerge at the studio. Coming from the South, take 99W from Dayton or McMinnville. Where the highway going north merges from two lanes to one lane, staying to your left, slow down and turn into the median strip. Cross the other lane onto Trunk Rd. when you can't see any cars coming up the hill. Sometimes it is safer to go on into Dundee, turn around and come back by the directions above. Since Ellen will be preparing food for the occasion, she asks that you call the week ahead and let her know you are coming so she can plan accordingly.

Michael Fromme: Cone 6. More information to be announced. Check the OPA website for dates, time and directions or contact the Mentor Chair, Shirl Lipkin,  cedarrowstudio@ados.com.

NEW OPA WORKSHOP CHAIR: Victoria Christen has graciously volunteered to be the new OPA Workshop Chair. If you have any great ideas for future workshops or other questions, contact her at  victoriachristen@msn.com.

MISSING CLAY IN EDUCATION POSTERS: We are looking for a set of 12-15 laminated posters that Clay in Ed purchased showing various stages of clay work progressions. Last time we saw them was Art in the Pearl two years ago. If anyone knows the whereabouts of these posters, we would like them back to use.

LOOKING FOR POTTER: Someone called the OPA voice mail looking for “Sandy River Pottery.” They bought a bowl that is now broken and they would like another. Contact OPA Voice Mail person, Patricia Hoffman.

NCECA IN PORTLAND: The National Council for Education in Ceramic Arts will hold their conference at the Oregon Convention Center, March 8-11, 2006. The OPA is planning to have an “OPA host presence”. Many ideas are being considered. We are thinking about having a really fun opening at our shows in the Skutt warehouse. A simple idea that the board had is that local people could wear buttons that say “I live here. Ask me where to eat” or “I live here, ask me directions”. There could be many different themes, with the idea that lost potters from all over the country would know who they could ask questions of. We may also rent a non-profit table in the exhibit hall. An OPA/NCECA committee has been formed, there will be many volunteer opportunities there. Our hard-working NCECA liaisons, Ted Vogel and Thomas Orr also will have many opportunities for volunteering. It is really fun to volunteer at NCECA, you get to meet ceramic artists from all over the world.

OPA & SHOWCASE TREASURER JOBS: At the June Board meeting, the Co-Treasurers brought it to the Board’s attention that their jobs have become very cumbersome. The Treasurers feel that the amount of work that is necessary is not possible on a long term, volunteer basis. The Board is examining ways to re-arrange the workload so that the Treasurers do not have such large jobs in the future. Perhaps some new Bookkeeping Committees will be formed to assist them. This will be examined and discussed at future meetings.

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If you have not already told an OPA Board Member how you would like to receive your future Newsletters, please fill out this form and mail it to: Janet Buskirk, 4614 SE Salmon St, Portland OR 97215. You may also email this information to Janetbuskirk@yahoo.com. If we have not heard from you by August 1 and we have an email address for you, you will automatically begin receiving the Newsletters via email.

Name: ______________________________________

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EMPTY BOWLS

EMPTY BOWLS IN PORTLAND will be at the Waterfront Blues Festival, July 1-4 (Fri-Mon). Set up will be Thursday starting at noon and break down will be after the fireworks Monday at about 9:30. This is a really fun event, as well as a great cause. Proceeds go to the Oregon Food Bank. Last year we sold over $24,000 and $19,092 of that went to the Food Bank. You can drop off pots at PCC Sylvania, Stark Street Studios, Georgies, Kristin’s house, or call Kristin for other drop off locations.

If you have pots to donate, want to volunteer, or would like to sell your own pots on Sunday and Monday please call 503-231-5752 (Kristin Yount). She will get back to you asap.

CERAMIC SHOWCASE

SHOWCASE KUDOS: “Brilliant!” is the review we got from our visiting gallery owners from Asheville, North Carolina, John Cram and Matt Chambers, from award winning New Morning Gallery, Bellagio and Blue Spiral galleries. While they visited our show, they placed about 20 wholesale orders with our artists and were very impressed with the quality of our work and the way our show looks and functions. They loved that we self-produce the show and cooperate to do all the work during the show. The only thing they suggested is that we do more training so that our artists are prepared to do business when a gallery owner wants to talk wholesale. –Cynthia Spencer

AWARDS: At Showcase 04 the First Place winner was Babette Harvey, second place was Charles Gluskoter, third was Terry Inokuma. Runners up were: Michelle Rigert, Dennis Meiners, Glen Burris, Donna Cole, Ron Linn, Ken Standhardt, Amy Swanson.

Bennett Welsh Award for Best Surface Decoration went to Kathryn Finnerty. Runners up were Donna Cole, Cindy Roach.

Best Booth Award went to Ron Fenter. Runners up were a tie between Lyn Sedlak-Ford and Jim Stephens.

THE MONEY: Showcase did pretty well. The tags totaled $454,217, with $211,406 on Fri, $154,610 on Sat and $88,201 on Sun. Accounting errors, after the reconciliation committee finished their detective work, were incredibly low with only $256 difference in the money we should have vs. what we actually have. 276 artists participated in the show with a booth or a piece in the gallery. Of these, sales broke down as follows:

Booth participants Gallery participants

$0 sales 3 64

$0-899 35 34

$900-1999 49 1

$2000-3999 59 0

$4000-5999 22 0

$6000-7999 5 0

$8000-10,000 2 0

$10,000+ 2 0

Many thanks to our heroic Treasurer, Deb Bouchette, and all of the people who help her with the Showcase accounting. They had to check and double check (sometimes triple check) over 15,000 pieces that we sold, but they still managed to mail the checks one week before their three week deadline.

COMMITTEE CHAIR POSITIONS OPEN FOR SHOWCASE 2006: The following are Showcase committees that need Chair persons. These positions need to be filled for 2006 Showcase, and in many instances work begins soon, so please submit those applications! To apply for any of these positions, write down past experience and credentials for the specific job. Include any information that would help the Steering Committee in their selection. Applications are reviewed by the Steering Committee, who in turn selects the chair. Mail or email applications to Audrey Graham, 32493 SW Juliette, Wilsonville, OR 97070, agraham@centurytel.net.

AWARDS: 6 points. Arrange PA system for Friday night award event. Have the awards made. Count the Best of Show ballots for gallery voting, determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place plus the Bennett Welsh Award and the best booth. Present Awards. Arrange for winning pots to be photographed. Contact Dulcie Lindsoe-Johansen for more info. Dulcie will also serve as co-chair to train the new chair.

GALLERY DISPLAY CHAIR: 6 points. This is the placement of the artwork into the gallery space. Setting up the gallery show.

CASH SALES TREASURER CO-CHAIR: ? points (the points for this position are being decided as the Newsletter goes to press. Contact Audrey if you are interested). To assist the Cash Sales Treasurer. Contact Susan Whitham for more information.

EQUIPMENT RENTAL TRAINEE: No points, would be training to take chair position the next year. Job description: The procurement of the required equipment and overseeing the set up and tear down of the equipment. Contact Doug Hively, current chair, for more information

FLYER POSTING: 6 points. Distributing posters and tear sheets to businesses within the greater Portland area and throughout the state and SW Washington by establishing a regional boundary for each poster route, targeting high exposure location and assigning committee members to post these areas.

INSTALLATION PROJECT: 6 points. Create, organize, and assemble an Installation Art Project for Showcase using pieces made and contributed by OPA members. The purpose of the Project is to create an opportunity for playful experimentation. Deborah Shapiro, initiator and chair of this project for the past two years will be happy to answer any questions the new chair might have – “The new person needs to be someone who can inspire, cajole, and outright nag people to follow through while still smiling! “

WORKSHIFT CO-CHAIR: 6 points. Work with Chair Carol Lebreton to train for chair position.

WRAPPING, 2 Co-Chairs needed: 6 points each. Organize and manage wrapping area before and during Showcase. Order supplies. Contact Shirl Lipkin  cedarrowstudio@ados.com for further information.

POTTERY NEWS

KILN SHELF BUY: Geil Kilns is importing Chinese made nitride bonded silicon carbide kiln shelves. These shelves are a less expensive, slightly thicker alternative to the Advancers that many OPA members have been using. There are 5 sizes available, the most useful being 12x24 ($107.30) and 14x28 ($123.20). Depending on the quantities we order we can receive a 15-20% discount off these prices. Prices do not include shipping and handling. Anyone interested should contact Charlie Piatt  or Susan Roden susanroden@jeffnet.org.

VIRTUAL CLAY MODELING SYSTEM: SensAble Technologies have developed ClayTools Version 1.0, for use with Robert McNeel & Associates Rhino software. This system enables designers to use their sense of touch to create organic shapes and add sculptural details. Model virtual clay just like real clay. www.sensable.com.

CERAMICS MAGAZINES: There are some new ceramics publications available and one has left the world of print. Kerameiki Techni, the Greek English-language magazine of international ceramics, will no longer print it’s magazine. They will print an annual yearbook, send out an annual panorama CD and they will have a website journal. Theoretically, if you are a current subscriber you will have the password for the web journal emailed to you. This subscriber noticed that they do not have my email address, nor do they seem to have a way for me to get it to them. They also offer current subscribers the option of receiving 3 back issues instead of the web journal and yearbook, but again there is no obvious way to tell them what you want. Their current name is kerameiki techni Clay Art International. $45 per year for subscriptions to their new service. www.kerameikitechni.gr.

Fired Arts & Crafts is a new magazine of ceramic techniques and project ideas. $32.95 for 12 issues, www.firedartsandcrafts.com

Ceramics in America is an annual journal that specializes in historical American ceramics. They have a big ad in the recent issue of Ceramics Monthly. Sample articles at www.chipstone.org, subscriptions at www.upne.com.

CERAMIC PAPER: Pred Materials is making various types of ceramic papers for industry use. They are designed as separator material for firing glass and powdered metals. There are alumina papers, alumina-acrbon paper, and zirconia papers. They are light and durable at high temperatures. They sound interesting (and expensive…)  www.predmaterials.com.

GROUP RATES FOR CONCERT TICKETS: Solo Flamenco will be presenting it’s first ever Flamenco Festival this summer. They are offering group rates for tickets for members of other arts’ organizations. The closing concert on July 23 at the Newmark Theater in Portland will have tickets available for as little as $10 per person for groups of 8 or more. www.portlandflemencofestival.com,

FELDSPAR ANALYSIS: The June/July/Aug Ceramics Monthly has an article about common feldspars that includes a current chart of their chemical analysis, molecular weights, etc.

KILN REPAIRMAN: Ellison’s Kiln Works came through Showcase and spoke to people about their service. Mitch Ellison repairs wheels and kilns. He is located in Lake Oswego, ellisonm1@peoplepc.com.

CRAFTS PHOTOGRAPHER: Dan Kvitka is an experienced crafts photographer and craft artist. OPA member Jan Edwards has hired him. Call him to see samples of his work.  dankvitka@yahoo.com.

ELECTRONIC SHOW APPLICATIONS: As many of you know the digital age is coming to our jury process. ZAPPlication is a new online digital application system that is becoming common. Are you curious what your images look like on the ROKU and LCD projectors used by ZAPP for jurying? The National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA) has a representative coming to the Portland area around Aug 17. She will give a viewing of ZAPPlication images and you can view yours through their system. There will be a small fee. The NAIA is a membership organization of artists who participate in art and craft shows, fairs and festivals around the country. They serve as a collective voice to promote artists' needs and viewpoints in matters that impact their professional and economic success.  NAIA was instrumental in representing artist interests in the development of ZAPP, and they are now assisting artists with the transition to digital through educational seminars and image viewings. If you are interested please contact SallyJBright@naia-artists.org.

INEXPENSIVE COLOR POST CARD PRINTING: A couple of local companies offer affordable rates on printing color postcards for artists. One is Colormation, http://www.colormation.com, 800-327-6613, they offer 1000 postcards for $125.They also do business cards. Another company is Redkat, they also do postcards and business cards, they are run by artists, 1000 4.25x6” cards for $150, 2000 color business cards for $150, includes one scan, type set, email proof, local delivery. Printing twice monthly. www.redkatimaging.com.

MEMBER NEWS

MATTHEW LYON: On Friday June 3rd, OPA Member Matthew Lyon was killed in a traffic accident. Matthew was on his way to work when a driver who did not see Matthew’s motorcycle made an error that caused the collision.

Matthew was a fine artist and a good friend to many of us. He has served on the OPA Board, but his main contribution has been his dedication to teaching art. He taught art at the Oregon Episcopal School for twenty years, where he was considered to be a favorite teacher. He has been very involved with groups of art teachers who shared information with one another both in formal and informal settings.

Matthew is survived by his wife, Patricia Timberlake and her daughter Shane. A memorial service was held at Oregon Episcopal School on June 11th.

Donations in Matthew’s memory may be sent to the OES Endowment Scholarship Fund, Oregon Episcopal School, 6300 SW Nicol Rd, Portland OR 97223.

DOROTHY SCHWAB, beloved wife of Wally Schwab, passed away on May 3rd after a three year struggle with cancer. Wally and Dorothy were married over 50 years and she has been an integral part of his pottery life. He has been a member of OPA since January l986, and a potter in Portland for much longer. His many potter friends and students knew Dorothy and will miss her at his side.

A private family burial service was held on May 6 and the Memorial Service for Dorothy was Monday, May 23rd. The family wishes to express their gratitude for the warmth and love that so many OPA members sent with the cards Dorothy received while in the hospital. They read them all to her and she appreciated them very much. Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers.

Donations in Dorothy’s memory may be sent to the OHSU Cancer Institute, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, CR 145, Portland, OR.

PAMELA MATTSON MCDONALD will show her new carved porcelain work at RiverSea Gallery in Astoria, June 11-July 9.

WALT BENSMAN has been invited to show one of his stoneware and wood teapots in the "National Teapot Show VI" at the Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor, North Carolina. June 11-Sept 4, 2005.

TED VOGEL has a show of his sculpture at Contemporary Crafts, June 18-Aug 7, reception Fri, Aug 17, 5:30-8pm

RICHARD ROWLAND received the Governor’s Arts Award for making a significant contribution to the cultural life in Oregon

SAM HOFFMAN wrote an article about woodfiring in the June/July/Aug Ceramics Monthly. It includes 3 pages of formulas for woodfire clay, slips and glazes (steal all his ideas here!)

PEARL WRIGHT is having a sale of her paintings, both framed and unframed. Fri-Sun, July 8-10, 11am-4pm each day. Sunday will also be a celebration of her 88th birthday. At the Wright Art Farm in Manning. For info call Maureen,  keystrategies@comcast.net.

FAIRS

NEW ALL-CLAY SHOW IN BEND: A group of local potters and ceramic artists in Bend have been getting organized this year. They have started a new ceramic association, Clay Guild of the Cascades, and they are planning a new show that will be a smaller version of Showcase and ClayFest. “Wildfire: A Pottery Showcase” will be Labor Day weekend, Sept 2-4 in the historic Boys & Girls Club building near downtown Bend. It will be a cooperative show, with workshifts and committee work. There are full booths and half booths ($80 and $50 booth fees, respectively, plus 15% commission), a group booth and a gallery ($30 and $15, respectively, both are 25% commission). Application deadline June 15 (they may allow late applications if you act fast). For more information, contact Susan Adams (Registrar), Bob Sant (Show Chair, bobsant@thebluesprucegallery.com), or Linda Heisserman (linheiss@msn.com). They can email an application.

MARY S YOUNG PARK FESTIVAL in West Linn, Aug 20-21, $75 booth fee, juried from photos, emailed pictures or other arrangement to see work. Contact Sandra Kaufman, 503-697-6982

GARDEN ART SHOW: at Blooms N More in Oregon City, looking for artist with garden related art for two shows: June 18-19 and Sept 24-25. Vendor fee $25, call Joleen.

OPPORTUNITIES

CALL FOR ARTISTS: We are accepting submissions and ideas for the Justice Center Windows.  Display windows are available for solo or group exhibitions Aug/Sept. 2005, and again in Jan 2006. There are also two upcoming theme exhibits that need artists to submit work. Sept/October 2005: Masks & Monsters; Nov/Dec: The Decorated Table. Contact Michelle Gallagher, michelle@thefunnything.com for further information. These windows are in downtown Portland, they are about half a block long and are very visible. The OPA manages the art that is displayed in these windows but the windows display work from all artists, so please encourage others to submit work for this.

WORK IN THE OPA BOOTH AT ART IN THE PEARL: The Clay in Education Committee is looking for OPA members to work in the Art in the Pearl Clay Education booth. Monday, Sept 5, pay is $10 per hour. The OPA also occasionally gets requests from programs at child care facilities and other locations asking for teachers. We have funding to pay people, but we need to have a list of OPA members who would be interested in these teaching jobs. If you are interested in having your name on this list, contact Nancy Hart, nancyjohart@yahoo.com or Kay Irish,  kayirish@softhome.net. You may also submit proposals to them if you have a place you would like to teach and would like the OPA Clay in Education Committee to fund this teaching.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “Good Bird/Bad Bird” at Contemporary Crafts. Deadline Aug 1, show Nov 18-Jan 9, open to ceramic, fiber, wood, glass or metal. Theme open to interpretation, but should reference birds. $10 jury fee for 3 slides, $500 awards, jurors Marcia MacDonald, Namita Wiggers & Mary Lou Zeek. PDF application at www.contemporarycrafts.org/bird or send SASE to Good Bird/Bad Bird, CCMG, 3934 SW Corbett Ave, Portland, OR  97239. 503.223.2654.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “Sidney Myer Fund International Ceramics Award,” Sept 1 deadline, show March 2006, juried from slides, $15,000 awards, Shepparton Art Gallery, Locked Bag 1000, Shepparton, Victoria 3632, Australia, www.greatershepparton.com.au/artgallery.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “Cup:The Intimate Object,” deadline Sept 14, show Nov-Jan, juror Linda Arbuckle, $25 fee for 3 entries, $800 awards, 50% commission, send SASE to Charlie Cummings Clay Studio, 4130 S Clinton St, Ft Wayne IN 46806, www.claylink.com.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “Salt Glaze 2006,” deadline Oct 31, show April-June 2006, open to salt glazed ceramics, 3-5 photos or digital images, $13,000 awards, Galerie Handwerk Koblenz, Service et Messe GmbH der Handwerkskammer Koblenz, Rizzastrasse 24-26, Koblenz 56068, Germany, galerie@hwk-koblenz.de.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “In Our Cups,” deadline July 8, show Aug-Sept, open to ceramic drinking vessels, juror Ron Meyers, $25 jury fee for 3 slides, send SASE to In Our Cups, Art Dept, SUNY Geneseo, 1 College Cir, Geneseo NY 14454, reinholt@geneseo.edu.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “Functional Earthenware,” deadline July 13, show Oct-Nov, juried from slides, $25 fee, purchase awards, send SASE to Charlie Cummings Clay Studio, 4130 S Clinton St, Ft Wayne IN 46806, www.claylink.com.

CALL TO ARTISTS: Newly opened Union Ave Fiber & Art Gallery in Pueblo, Colorado is looking for artists. 30% consignment, 719-583-0183, 719-240-0339.

CALL TO ARTISTS: Submit proposals for a new donor plaque for a large wall in the entry of the Beaverton City Library. Deadline June 24. Must have a surface suitable for engraving (wood or metal). Total budget must not exceed $10,000. For more info contact Beaverton Arts Commission, jscott@ci.beaverton.or.us

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “Stoke!” an exhibition of woodfired ceramics from OR, WA, MT, ID, WY and NV. Functional, sculptural & conceptual work. Juror Jeanette Rakowski, deadline July 27, $25 jury fee for up to 4 slides, label slides w/ artist name, title, “top”, slide #. Attach slide list w/ same information & retail price if applicable & include SASE. 25% commission. Show Sept 13-Oct 15, they are producing a catalogue and are looking for galleries through the Northwest to display this show during the winter. For catalogue purposes please also include quality images of the kiln and perhaps of the artist with kiln. Contact Bill West, College of Southern Idaho Art Department, 315 Falls Ave, Twin Falls ID 83301  bwest@csi.edu

ENTRIES SOUGHT FOR BOOK: Paul Lewing is writing a book China Paint and Overglazes. If you have suitable images, send original (not duplicate) slides, large format transparencies or high resolution digital images (tiff, 300 dpi, on a CD). Any overglaze techiniques: luster, china paint, decal, raised paste, enamel, etc. Vessels, tile or sculpture. Include name, technique, title, materials, dimensions, date. Paul Lewing, 4315 Burke Ave N, Seattle WA 98103, 206-547-6591, deadline July 1.

GLAZE COMPETITION: Coyote Clay & Color is looking for work glazed with their Coyote Glazes to feature in their Ceramics Monthly ads as well as their website and fliers. Deadline unknown. Prizes $100-150 or $50 worth of glazes. Go to www.coyoteclay.com and click on "contest", 866-344-2250

WORKSHOPS-LECTURES-CONFERENCES

CARA MOCZYGEMBA: “Clay Collage,” July 8-10, $160. Explore texture, mystery, archaeology and love recycling found objects. Learn to incorporate figurative handbuilding techniques with slip casting and the use of found objects to create collage-like surfaces. See work at http://www.thefigurative.com/tf_home.htm. Contact ClaySpace, PO Box 1339, Suquamish WA 98392, 360-596-3688, mtimes@telebyte.net.

VICTORIA CHRISTEN, JOSH DeWEESE, GAIL NICHOLS: “Soda Masters,” September, at Pottery Northwest in Seattle, www.potterynorthwest.org, 206-285-4421

PETER KING: “Architectural Ceramics,” Intensive hands on. Aug 1-5, $395, Clay Art Center in Tacoma, workshops@clayartcenter.net, 800-952-8030

The following workshops are at Oregon College of Art & Craft, 503-297-5544:

KRISTINA MASTHEM: “Low Tech Printing Techniques on Clay,” June 27-July 1, $325 ($425 for 1 credit)

BETH CAVENER STICHTER: “The Wilderness Within,” Aug 1-5, $450 ($550 for 1 credit) + $65 fee.

SHAMELESS ADVERTISING

FREE: Electric Potter's Wheel, homemade, works great. Call Sharon or Jack

FOR SALE: Skutt Kiln 1227 ZC, 28.13" wide, 27" deep, w/ computer & zone control, fired maybe 20 times altogether, cones 06 and 6. $1,400  Ann, (Tillamook), annkelly@oregoncoast.com

FOR SALE: Skutt 1027 electric kiln, 7 cu ft, w/ posts & shelves. Brent wheel, probably model B, lots of pottery books, lots of clay and glazes. $2300 obo for everything. Martha, 503-240-4720 (Portland)

FOR SALE: Skutt 1027 computerized electric kiln, very lightly used, $900. 10 ½ shelves, 5/8” thick, used ten times, $15 each. Pugmill, Australian, 4” barrel, 240 volts, 11.5 amps, call for details, $1500. 2 roll-around ware carts w/ shelves, $75 each, Julie or Michael. 

FOR SALE: 350 good used soft fire brick. $1.25 each obo. Debbie Dean, .

FOR SALE: Robert Wolchock (in Sweet Home, near Eugene) is quitting pottery. Electric kiln, Skutt 1227, virtually new, w/ kiln sitter, shelves, perfect condition. Gas kiln, sprung arch, downdraft, all soft brick, 50 cu ft loading space, the bricks alone are worth $4000, asking $2300 obo. Also has shelves & accessories for this kiln for nominal prices. Scott Creek Extruder as well as other odds & ends. For info check his website, http://www.hypertype.com/pottery/kiln/, Robert@hypertype.com,

FOR SALE: Lehman Slip-O-Matic Slip casting machine, Model-M30 $275. Pours & drains molds. Good for pouring small items with porcelain like body. Fair condition. Located in So Oregon, John Dodero, dodero@charter.net.

FOR SALE: Two rolling ware carts. Each hold at least a dozen 1'x3' ware boards. $100 each obo. Dave Enna , ennas@ennapottery.com

FOR SALE: Booth: $350, includes 12 panels of 2'X6'-8" hollow core doors (10 lbs ea)  covered w/ black wall-scape fire resistant carpet & shelf brackets w/ 9 black melamine 9" deep shelves. Low volt light bar with 10-50w halogen spots. Two pieces of carpet, 4'6"x10' . My cost was over $500 + two weeks to construct. Makes good 5x10, 10x10 & 5x15 layouts. Poor Health forces me to quit pottery. Sam Sloan

STUDIO SPACE WANTED: Ceramic artist moving from Northern California & looking for studio space either alone or to share. I work in cone ten reduction fired porcelain & have worked as the kiln technician in a cooperative studio for three years. Am more than willing to do studio maintenance, etc. in exchange for work/living space. Tabitha Buzby, tabbybuzby@yahoo.com

VACATION RENTAL: Traveling to southern Oregon?  Sweetwater Cottage is located in Applegate, Oregon, 5 ½ hrs south of Portland. Private 160 acre ranch, home and studio of Nancy Y Adams, Clay Artist. Quiet retreat, spectacular views, graze in organic gardens, hike adjoining national forest, visit local art studios and wineries. 2 br house w/ hot tub. $125 per night, 2 night min,  www.sweetwatercottage.com.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

July 8: OPA General Meeting

Aug 2: OPA Board Meeting

Aug 5-7: OPA Beach Pit Firing

Aug 10: Newsletter Deadline

Sept 18: OPA Picnic (new date)

OREGON POTTERS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: Established in 1980, this newsletter is sent to OPA members, educational institutions and ceramic-related businesses. It is published in February, April, June, August, October and December. Submissions should be sent, in writing, to Janet Buskirk, OPA Newsletter Editor, 4614 SE Salmon St, Portland OR 97215 or janetbuskirk@yahoo.com. Both editorial and advertising submissions are free of charge and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions are due on the 10th of the month during which the Newsletter will be published. Changes of address or email address should be sent to Peter Meyer, OPA Membership Chair, PO box 7012, Bend OR 97708 or pmeyer@cocc.edu.

Membership in the OPA, a 501(c)(3) organization, is open to any serious studio potter living in Oregon or southwest Washington. There is no jurying for membership, which costs $40 per calendar year. Membership is not pro-rated, it is Jan-Dec, although you may join at any time. Membership includes 6 newsletters per year, 6 meetings per year, and the opportunity to apply for Ceramic Showcase. If you live over 100 miles from Portland and do not plan to use other membership benefits, you may subscribe to the newsletter only for $10/year. Please send a check, name, address, email and phone number(s) to OPA Treasurer, Romaine Harris, 4119 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland OR 97214.

OPA President: Larry Nelson,  nelson@chehalemmountainpottery.com

OPA President Elect: Mark Heimann, markmann@ccwebster.net

OPA Secretary: Julie Asbury,  jasbury@jpns.com

OPA Treasurer: Romaine Harris, romaineharris@hotmailcom

Ceramic Showcase Chair: Natalie Warrens, nw2x@comcast.net

Ceramic Showcase Co-Chair: Ginger Steele,, gingersteele@insomniapottery.com

Ceramic Showcase Secretary: Anne Stecker,  annestecker@comcast.net

Ceramic Showcase Treasurer: Deb Bouchette, 

Oregon Potters Association, 19855 NE Trunk Rd, Dundee, OR 97115,  www.oregonpotters.org