I've been to NCECA! Pronounced "Enseeka", that's National Conference for Education in the Ceramic Arts. It's big (nearly 5,000 people), it travels annually to a new venue (this year Rhode Island), and I hadn't gone in 14 years. And I would like to blog more about it. But it was too darn big and too much to assimilate and just la di da write up, so I'm going to have to think about that for a while.
All I can say for sure is, I came home with connection to a new friend, and having had interesting conversations with some diverse people, seen good clay techniques demonstrated by really fine artists, and bought some cool new tools and texture items for the studio. My appetite for all things and folks "clay" has only been further whetted. I should be half my age to do all the things I want to do in my field before I hand on my potter's wheel.
In any case I will go like gangbusters once I get back to work with clay, which will be another 9 days or so. This is the "busy life" time where I pre-budget a break from clay itself and pour my energies into all the things I need to do for our family life. Unlike my earlier days, though, this time is more than compensated for by longer hours and work weeks in the studio before and after the break. I have to say- it's hard to take a break after a flood of new ideas begins to germinate!
In the last week I've visited my 101 year old aunt in Massachusetts (what an impressive woman, lucid and personable), been to NCECA, and also registered for the Women Working with Clay Symposium in Roanoke, Virginia beginning June 8, 2015. Aside from that, I've made some resolutions.
The first is COLOR. Want. Lots. Underglazes to the max.
The second is PASSOVER. I'm on a roll. I can't stop figuring my way through Passover ware suddenly. I'm designing in my head till I can work with clay again. Matzah plates. Seder plates. Other Seder dishes and household vessels. I want to design like crazy and focus for a long while...and see what transpires. Most other things will wait!
The third resolution comes from the realization that working with clay is bringing me full circle to the creativity of childhood. I mean the unselfconsciousness, before undue external criticism and don't-do-that-art-thing hampered it. I am more my original art-self than I've been in years. My resolution is, go with it to the max.
There's one matzah plate left; click here. I decided that the slight line along the foot ring was a reason to lower the price from $95 to $75. It does not affect appearance or function, and you can still hang this plate on the wall! It is 19" in diameter, curved to resemble a round handmade matzah, and smooth and glossy. I made it from a slab of clay, used colored washes of underglaze and lettering on it (with clear glaze over it), and gave it a creamy coat of nutmeg glaze on the underside. People always ask, so I must add, it is food safe. All my pottery is. I want you to be comfortable using my pottery.
Enjoy the holiday!
(19" diameter Matzah Plate)