OPA NEWSLETTER: APRIL-MAY 2006

NEXT OPA GENERAL MEETING: Friday, May 12 at Multnomah Art Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy in Portland.

6:30pm: General Meeting: If you have items for the agenda, contact OPA President Mark Heimann in advance, 503-631-8686, markmann@ccwebster.net, bring items for the swap table and snacks to share.

7:30pm: Program: “JSI: Jury Slide Investigation. Good, Better, Best: Dissecting a Jury Photo.” Courtney Frisse will be showing slides of OPA members' work and discussing everything that goes through her brain when she shoots a piece: background choice; framing; angle of view; lighting and reflections; etc. Before and after shots of a Barb Campbell piece will show how attention to these details can make the difference between simple documentation and a lively, eyecatching jury shot. Other jurying considerations: which pieces to choose; use of groupings; what makes a strong set of slides; etc will be discussed. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity for members to show their own slides and get feedback.

NEXT OPA BOARD MEETING: Thurs, June 8. 6pm potluck dinner, meeting begins at 6:30. At Deb Bouchette’s, 9465 NW Old Cornelius Pass Rd, 503-690-2448 (The next Board meetings are Aug 10 at Marilyn Wood’s, Oct 5 at Larry Nelson’s, Dec 7 at Julie Asbury’s).

NEXT SHOWCASE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING: The next meeting will be the post-Showcase wrap up meeting, May 17th, at Mark Heimann’s home/studio (write Mark for directions: markmann@ccwebster.net). 4:30 potluck and social, meeting begins at 5:30pm. There will be no Steering Committee meeting in June.

OPA BUSINESS

OPA VIDEO LIBRARY: OPA Video Librarian Marilyn Woods has purchased two new videos: Paul Soldner and MC Richards. She has also ordered the new Karen Karnes. She has prepared a master list of all of our current videos and will soon give it to our webmaster to update the web site.  Teresa Knight has added all of her 2005 videos of Showcase demos to the library which should be popular. After Showcase, we plan to institute a waiting list for the more popular videos, so that when one is returned it can go to the next requester rather than waiting until another meeting. The requester will have to pay postage.

“I am still trying to retrieve a number of very overdue videos from some of our members.  We also have some missing videos: Shoji Hamada: A Potters Way and Work, Toshiko Takaezu, Throwing Large Forms, and Virginia Cartwright: The Art of Making teapots.  I am hoping the other overdue videos are not lost. Please look in your video cabinet for these.” We will soon assess fines for lost videos.

Procedures for Waiting List for Videos: (Video list is on OPA website): Give information about desired video to Video Librarian either via the website or in person/email, limit two videos per person. When called/emailed that the video is available, send $3 to Video Librarian within 7 days. The librarian will then ship you the video. You have 2 weeks to view it, and then send it back to librarian or give back in person. If you do not send in the $3 in the 7 days, the video will go to the next person on the list (if there is someone).

OPA/NCECA SHOWS: “Thank you to the OPA Board for their generous gift to me for my work on the OPA-NCECA shows. The shows went very well, we had great response from the public and we sold over $5000 worth of work. Thank you also to Skutt for the many, many things they helped us with (donating a space for the shows, poster printing, return shipping, hiring security guards, the list goes on). Thank you to Stash Tea for printing the posters for the teapot shows. And, of course, thank you to all of the volunteers who helped set up, break down and staff the shows. Everything went very smoothly. We do still have posters left from all of the shows. I will bring them to Showcase.” -Janet Buskirk

NSF CHECKS: OPA occasionally takes in checks from members that we are unable to collect funds for. The Board has decided that all fees for these bad checks will be passed on to the originator (writer) of the check. This will include any checks written to OPA, whether related to Showcase or to OPA.

COPPER CARB, COBALT CARB & TIN OX are still available from the last group buy. Please see the last Newsletter for prices or contact Victoria Shaw, 503-331-0950

CLAY IN EDUCATION: “A group of OPA members, interested in Clay in Ed, met for a half hour before the OPA general meeting on March 17th. Many participants have art ed degrees and a great deal of experience teaching arts, especially clay lessons. We had lots of ideas and suggestions to most prudently use the clay in ed funds. At one time the clay in ed funds were only available for out of school programs. The board changed that last year, as art programs are almost non-existent in the elementary schools. It is my experience that even in middle and high schools there are art teachers who are uncomfortable with clay. OPA members can teach a clay lesson that can become a part of that teacher's repertoire and encourage his or her exploration of clay as a medium for students in class.

“ We are planning to create a training program for OPA clay artists without teaching credentials or experience teaching in a classroom setting, but with a desire to share their love of clay. We have lots of talented teachers that could be paid to share their teaching expertise to train other OPA members.

“We also discussed using our master teachers to prepare a “clay in the classroom” teacher inservice to present to school districts.

“We have set a date to meet for an extended time on June 4th at 1pm at Annie's Stecker's house in Salem, Oregon. Clay in Ed will be taking donations of pots for sale at showcase. We would appreciate any donations. Thank you.” -Anne Stecker

 

SHOWCASE

SHOWCASE COMMITTEE CHAIR AND TRAINEE POSITIONS AVAILABLE: There are a few positions available for this year’s Showcase. If you are interested in applying for these, please contact the current committee chair to ask what the job entails. Then contact the Committee Placement Chair, Audrey Graham, write or email her a letter of interest, please include your pertinent experience and expertise. agraham@centurytel.net, 32493 SW Juliette Dr, Wilsonville OR 97070

SHOWCASE CO-CHAIR: Train in current Chair of Show, Ginger Steele to assume the Chair position. The Chair of Showcase oversees all aspects of producing and operating the show. Interested persons should contact Ginger for fuller job description. 503-693-7721

SHOWCASE 2006 will be May 5-7. SHOWCASE 2007 will be May 4-6.

UPS AT SHOWCASE: The UPS Store is now a Showcase sponsor and will have a table near the exit by the Sales area where customers can come and pay to have their purchases packed and shipped directly from the show. Make sure that you let customers know this, since this new convenience may influence (and increase) buying decisions! We will have informational “tent” signs available to place in your booths

SHOWCASE PACKET: If you are participating in Showcase, you should have received your packet already. If you have not, please contact Cynthia Spencer, 541-753-4606

SHOWCASE INTERIORS DISPLAY: The interior display is a part of showcase where we re-create 3 rooms with walls and furniture to show the public how they can use ceramics to decorate their homes. Parker Furniture of Beaverton is providing some beautiful furniture as our “canvas” to work with. We are looking for potters to display (and yes, sell) their work in this area. We are looking for functional and decorative items, also wall pieces and perhaps a few big planters. Even if you are gallery only, this is a great way to increase your exposure during the show.

Please e-mail Susannah Lints slints1@comcast.net and let her know what you will be bringing so we can plan our display harmoniously. A jpeg image or a good verbal description is fine. She will accept 3 items from each potter. Pots are rotated daily so as many as possible are displayed. Deliver to the show during the same hours and to the same place as gallery only drop off, tell them it's for interiors and they will have a sign in sheet for that. Pick up work at end of Showcase directly from interiors display on Sunday at 5pm.

During the show, potters may be asked for additional work as initial stocks get sold. Do not just leave pottery in the interiors display. Last year, by Sunday we had many pots magically appear resulting in a helter skelter appearance. Please drop off work ahead of time. Questions? Contact Susannah Lints, 360-260-9083, slints1@comcast.net

FISH INSTALLATION: Please deliver your fish on the Wednesday during Showcase setup. Questions? Contact Colleene Little, litlcreations@kalama.com, 360-274-4312

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BOOTH AT SHOWCASE: An excellent opportunity to increase your exposure and earn extra karma for good works. Donate a pot (or sculpture, show quality) to the Habitat for Humanity Katrina house fundraiser at Showcase. They are our special guests, help them feel welcome and successful. We will need a solid participation from members for them to raise the necessary funds. They are running an ONGOING SILENT AUCTION in a 5'x20' space along the back wall by the Gallery. Pots will be placed for bids on a rotating basis throughout the weekend.

Deliver your donation to the Habitat for Humanity booth on Wed or Thurs of Showcase. Include your piece and an extra business card. There will be a typewriter there for you to type up a tag for the piece. All proceeds from sold work will go to Habitat for Humanity. Unsold work can be picked up 5- 7pm on Sunday.

CLAY IN EDUCATION DONATIONS: If you would like to donate work to be sold for Clay in Education at Showcase, we are asking that the Clay in Ed donations be mugs. This will avoid confusion with the Habitat for Humanity donations, which will be other types of work. We encourage anyone with some spare mugs to donate them to the OPA’s ongoing Clay in Ed program. Please give them to Anne Stecker at Showcase.

SHOWCASE PHOTOS: We need good digital pictures of Showcase for Publicity. We are creating a Digital Image Library for Showcase. If you plan to be at Showcase and you have a digital camera, we need fresh shots of: High School Gallery; Demonstrations; Gallery Display; Interior Display; Garden Display; Lobby Display; Installation; Adult Clay; Childrens Clay; Educational Booths; Sponsors & Wine Tasting; Habitat For Humanity; Celebrity Throwing; Awards Ceremony; Sales; Wrapping; Holding; Information; Massage Table for Artists; Booths with Artist & customers and their work; Set-up; Tear Down; Anything else to document our show and the elements that surround it. Please bring your camera and help us establish a data base of images that will benefit our entire organization. You can e-mail or snail mail your digital images to: Teresa Knight, PO Box 325, Columbia City, Oregon 97018, knight@artnphotos.com

 

EMPTY BOWLS

EMPTY BOWLS in Portland will be June 30-July 4 at the Waterfront Park Blues Festival. We are, as always, looking for donations of any type of work. We also need volunteers to help at the booth. This is a really fun event, we sell work to benefit the Oregon Food Bank while listening to great music all weekend. Volunteers who donate enough work and volunteer enough hours may also sell their own work during the second half of the festival. Work may be dropped off at any OPA meetings, at Georgies Ceramic & Clay Company, at the home of Janet Buskirk (4614 SE Salmon St in Portland) or Ginger Steele (3285 NW Susbauer Rd in Cornelius). They may also be dropped off at any regional Food Bank in the state (please pack them well, label them “Attention Briana Winterborne, Empty Bowls, Oregon Food Bank in Portland)), and work will be collected at the end of Showcase. Other questions? contact janetbuskirk@yahoo.com or gingersteele@newleafgreenhouse.com.

 

POTTERY NEWS

NEW THERMAL CAMERA: The new high-tech MikroScan 7400 (by Mikron) thermal camera has the ability to see through flames. It has three selectable temperature ranges, including a high-temperature range (400-1600°C) needed for infrared imaging inside furnaces where combustion temperatures can exceed 1100°C. This is probably too expensive for studio potters to use, but perhaps future technology will be in our price range. (888) 506-3900, jon@mikroninfrared.com

SAVING LEACH POTTERY: A group of people are trying to raise money to save the Leach pottery cottage. For more information, go to www.theleachpotterystives.co.uk/Appeal-1.htm  

WILD ARTS FESTIVAL: The Audubon Society is re-evaluating this show. They will not hold the event next fall, but plan to make some major changes and hold the show again in 2007.

LIGHT WEIGHT KILN FURNITURE: The March issue of Ceramic Industry had an article about new ultra light-weight kiln furniture made by the Israeli company Cellaris. This furniture, marketed under the name Lite-Cell, can be used up to 3200 degrees F. They say it has excellent refractoriness and extraordinary low mass. Most of it is around 98% alumina. Cellaris makes a variety of high-refractory foam products, which they say are a viable alternative to the potentially carcinogenic fiber products on the current market. Www.cellaris.com.

WEB HOSTING SERVICES: Aftosa, the Bay area ceramic supply company, offers web hosting services for $14.95 per month. You create the site using their “simple site builder template.” You get a domain name and email address as well as technical support. 800-231-0397, www.aftosawebhost.com.

HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF: CERF (The Craft Emergency Relief Fund) says that the outpouring of support from the crafts community has been tremendous. CERF has two phases: Phase One is “Quick loans and grants,” these cover basic expenses (rent, groceries) and are up to $3500. Phase Two are “Recover and rebuild” loans. These are business loans, up to $8000. CERF is also actively coordinating support for craft artists affected by the hurricane with people who can help them by offering equipment, supplies, housing etc. This is www.craftemergency.org. CERF is always looking for your tax deductible donation to help them with their valuable work.

OPPORTUNITIES

SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE: Ellice T Johnston Scholarship. $1500, for the study of ceramics, applicants must be a resident of or student in Oregon or northern California. Deadline June 15, contact Ellice T Johnston Scholarship, c/o Clayfolk, PO Box 274, Talent OR 97540

POTTER SOUGHT TO DESIGN NEW TEACUP: How often does a local potter get to influence American culture?  Participate in the "American Tea Cup Competition". This is a once in a life time opportunity. teasandtonics@hotmail.com, 541.387.0114 for details/guidelines/deadlines. 

CUPS WANTED: Open to all potters and ceramicists all around the World. Potters are asked to send us 1 handmade cup and saucer to organize the biggest ever exhibition in the world. The Shambles, Market Place, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, CV36 4AG

ARTISAN SHOW: Benefiting Swallowtail School (a non-profit arts based elementary school), in new Hillsboro Civic Center, 150 E Main St, Hillsboro. Features Pacific Northwest Artists, coincides with the Hillsboro Farmer's Market. Contact Vicki, Swallowtail School, POB 3753, Hillsboro, OR 97123-1948, 503-846-0336, swallowtailartcraftshow@gmail.com

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “History in the Making,” open to ceramics relating to historical forms or traditions, deadline May 1, $20 for 3 slides or digital, jurors Julia Galloway & Rick Hirsch, send SASE to Genesee Pottery, 713 Monroe Ave, Rochester NY, 14607, www.geneseearts.org.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “Patterns in Clay,” in conjunction with All Fired Up, Potter’s Council Conference. Deadline May 15, $15 for 7 slides or CD, Contact Art League of Long Island, 107 E Deer Park Rd, Dix Hills NY, 11746, www.artleagueli.org.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “Ceramics Biennial Exhibition,” $25 jury fee, digitals, juror Mary Barringer, deadline Aug 1, send SASE to New Hampshire Institute of Art, Sara Zela, 77 Amherst St, Manchester NH, 03101, www.nhia.edu.

WORKSHOPS-LECTURES-CONFERENCES

The following workshops will be held at Oregon College of Art & Craft, 8245 SW Barnes Rd, Portland OR 97225, 503-297-5544, http://www.ocac.edu/Academic_Programs/Extension_Programs.htm

GEOFFREY WHEELER: “Porcelain: Color and Form,” June 19-23, 9am-4pm, $375 + $65 studio fee + $100 (optional) for 1 credit. This will focus on development of colorful glaze palettes for cone 6 porcelain. Emphasis on how to use glazes to extend ideas, not merely decorate the surface. Explore simple soft manipulations with porcelain, mixing color tests, and firing finished work with the new glaze palette.

JIM KOUDELKA: “Mold Making: Basics and Beyond,” June 26-30, 9am-4pm, $375 + $65 studio fee + $100 (optional) for 1 credit. Learn how the valuable and versatile skill of mold making can expand your creative range. Focus on making a variety of bisque clay, plaster, latex, and rubber molds for use with clay press molding and slip casting techniques. Simple to complex molds.

LINDA ARBUCKLE: “Investigating Form & Surface with Majolica,” July 10-14, 9am-4pm, $350 + $65 studio fee. Majolica adds rich colors and lustrous surfaces to earthenware. This workshop will focus on working with a series of similar forms to develop strategies for effective surface decoration. Research expressive personal surfaces, color, and form-surface relationships.

RAIN HARRIS: “Decals and More,” Aug 7-11, 9am-5pm, $400 + $65 studio fee + $100 (optional) for 1 credit. Delve into the extraordinary possibilities of ceramic surface decoration that can be done after the initial glaze firing. Create sepia colored computer generated decals using black and white images which are then fired onto glazed tile blanks, then add colorful layers of china

paints and lusters.

CHARISSA BROCK: “Fused Glass Design,” June 10 & 17, 10am-4pm, $140 +$34. Learn the basic techniques and concepts of glass fusing in this 2 day workshop.

BIODEISEL-SODA-WOOD KILN FIRING: May 18-22 or Nov 2-6. Help load, fire, reduction cool and unload the kiln. Dinners provided, as well as self serve lunch and breakfasts. Workshop limited to 4 participants. $400, includes 8 cu ft of space. Send $200 deposit to Ogawa Pottery, 1264 Wells Rd, Elkton OR 97436, 541-584-2857, ogawa@rosenet.net.

STUDY IN CHINA: Summer and fall programs available. Contact Bob Anderson, 304-293-2140, x3135

DAN STEVENS: “Green woodfire salt glaze,” 2 week campout, Aug 14-28, 2nd week includes raku with Michael Simmons, Dig native clay, supplies included. OPA members $350, others $375. All levels welcome. Sponsored by Georgies, contact westiesrus@msn.com, 503-663-5535.

The following workshops are at Pottery Northwest, 206-285-4421, www.potterynorthwest.org, 226 1st Ave N, Seattle WA 98109:

DEBORAH SCHWARTZKOPF: May 27-28, 10am-4pm (slide talk May 26, 7pm), $100, Deborah makes pots that combine the best elements of the handmade object with the intelligence of the 21st century potter. She makes work using the plasticity of the medium played against geometric lines and planes.

TERRY SIEBERT: July 8-9, 10am-4pm (slide talk July 7, 7pm), $100, her majolica work combines historical traditions with influences from nature. She uses pattern to engage the eye and enliven the pot.

MORE WORKSHOPS are listed in the April 2006 issue of Ceramics Monthly. This annual list of workshops includes both national and international listings.

 

MEMBER NEWS

FRANK GOSAR had a “Comment” published in the March 2006 Ceramics Monthly about “A Production Potters Advice.”

FRANK GOSAR, MICHELLE GALLAGHER and JIM KOUDELKA are some of the OPA members who will have work published in the upcoming Lark Book: 500 Animals in Clay, scheduled for release in winter 2006

KATY McFADDEN, KICKI MASTHEM, STEVE GARDNER, MARY HARDIN, INGRID HENDRIX, LILLIAN PITT, WATERU SUGIYAMA: The May 2006 show at ArtCentric, 700 SW Madison in Corvallis, is "Figurative Ceramics Northwest", presented by the Willamette Ceramics Guild. Reception May 11, 5:30-7:30pm

DAN STEVENS installed a display of early Oregon Pottery from 1848 to 1920 at Georgies in Portland. It will be on display through May. An accompanying book, 100 Years of Willamette Valley Pottery, by B. Schmeer, is also available.

SHAMELESS ADVERTISING

FOR SALE: Lockerbie flywheel, nicely balanced, ready for your homemade kickwheel, $50 obo. Rustic-looking wood shelving for displaying pottery, 3-4 sections, each 3-4 tiers high, $50 obo. Nice woodstove, make offer. Beverly, 503-492-7757 (Gresham).

FOR SALE: Must sell West Coast updraft kiln, 16 cu ft, 3400#, 1991, gently used, 432,000 btus @ 8# pressure, exterior dimension: 51x54x82”, stack dimension 24x24x28.” Extras: large ball mill; 2 pyrometers; 16 12x24” ceramic shelves; large steel dampbox/ work station. $5000 includes delivery. Photos available libran3@excite.com, 541-490-5376.

FOR SALE & FREE: Items for sale: 5 ˝ lbs zircopax plus, $10. 7 ˝ lbs tin oxide, $50. Skutt model 10F kiln w/ metal stand, fires to cone 6, $50. 2 white shantung lampshades, 5x8x10”, new, still in wrapper, $8 each. Free items: 35 bags of glaze materials, ranging from 1 to 20 lbs, must take all. 50 lb bag of minspar 200 (soda). 25 lb EPK. 1 gallon cone 6 white slip. 5 gallons cone 04 white majolica glaze, fits Georgies earthenware clays. Roll of brown paper, 48” wide. Call Margie, 503-235-0586 (Portland)

FOR SALE: 600 fire brick (soft). Make offer, Rebecca, tellulah@gmail.com.

 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

May 5-7 Ceramic Showcase

May 12: OPA General Meeting

May 17: Showcase Wrap Up Meeting

June 8: OPA Board Meeting

June 10: Newsletter Deadline

June 30-July 4: Empty Bowls in Portland

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 Sian Alexander, Membership Chair, 4707 NE 68th Ave, Portland OR 97218, moonmoth@netzero.net

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 $45 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 $12/year. Please send a check, name, address, email and phone number(s) to OPA Treasurer, Deborah Bouchette, 9465 NW Old Cornelius Pass Rd, Hillsboro, OR 97124.

OPA President 2006: Mark Heimann, , markmann@ccwebster.net

OPA President 2007: Natalie Warrens, nw2x@comcast.net

OPA Secretary: Julie Asbury,  jasbury@jpns.com

Ceramic Showcase Chair: Ginger Steele, gingersteele@newleafgreenhouse.com

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

OPA & Showcase Treasurer: Deb Bouchette, bouchette@yahoo.com

Oregon Potters Association, 19855 NE Trunk Rd, Dundee, OR 97115, 503-222-0533, www.oregonpotters.org, www.ceramicshowcase.com