Southern California Potters

It's A Plaid Thing..

2010-02-21T17:01:00.000-08:00

Giveaway that is! I stopped by the NighBluey Herald, because it packages life in easy-to-swallow caplets, and they are having a plaid tumbler giveaway! the tumblers are from JD Wolfe Pottery and are pretty nice I must say. So head on over to NighBluey and enter to win!

Covert Potters Thinking Outside The Box

2010-01-19T20:44:00.000-08:00

The Covert Potters Association and Amy's Patio Cafe in Altadena invite you to Soup's Up! on Saturday March 20th. There will be three seatings offered starting at 11:30 am then 1:00 pm and the last seating will be at 2:30 pm. All of the Covert Potters are hard at work creating beautiful bowls for the event. Amy's will be offering three different soups in addition to thier famous zuchinni bread and french rolls. Try one, try them all, it's all you can eat! As usual the guests will select a bowl that will then be thiers to keep to enjoy for years to come. The Covert Potters will also have additional bowls and select items available for purchase.

The cost is $35 per person in advance, $40.00 per person on the day of. Amy's Patio Cafe is located at 900 East Altadena Dr. Altadena CA, 91001. Reserve your spot today! Click here for Soups's Up!

The Covert Potters Association is a group of potting friends who are banding together to promote thier work. In these tough economic times we as artists need to think outside the box. The Covert Potters are thinking outside the box in coming up with ways to for promote thier craft. Check out the Covert Potters website

Architectural Ceramics Workshop With Travis Pellerin

2010-01-01T20:47:00.000-08:00

Architectural Ceramics have embellished interiors and exteriors of buildings for centuries. From Entrances, fireplaces, fountains, bathrooms and gateways. This January 23 & 24 you can learn how to make a custom fireplace surround. Ceramic Artist and teacher Travis Pellerin is giving a workshop. Limited to 10 people, the cost of the workshop is $175.00 for two days of hands on instruction and breakfast and lunch is included! It is an incredible deal! If you are in the Southern California area don't miss it! The workshop will be in Winchester, close to Temecula. For more info email Travis. The workshop is in just a few weeks located at 32498 Saint Martin Street, Winchester CA, 92596 on January 23 & 24 from 9 am to 4 pm both days, breakfast and lunch included for the bargain price of $175.00. Email for more info today! Or give him a call at 951-443-7677 And be sure to tell him you found out about it here!

A couple years ago I attended an architectural ceramic workshop with Peter King and Xinia Marin in Pensacola Florida. I had been looking for local workshops when I came across Peter. Check out Peter Kings book, but sign up for Travis's workshop! Much closer and a lot less money!

Folk Art Pottery At Clay, Art & Fire

2009-12-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

Clay, Art and Fire will be held in Big Rapids Michigan and will be bringing together "Folk Art Potters" from all over the country. But one potter in particular hails from Southern California. Karl Kuehn is one of the featured potters at the event that focus's on face jugs. Face jugs can be found throughout history, in this country they became popular when used to scare children away from their contents, most notably moonshine! Face jugs have been used to scare away evil spirits and can be found as far back as the ancient Egyptians.

Karl has set up a page on his website dedicated to Face Jugs, be sure to check it out. And if you are in Michigan next June go check out the show, sounds like it will be fun!

Covert Potters Association And Ricky Maldonado

2009-12-02T21:17:00.001-08:00

The infamous Ricky Maldonado will be joining the Covert Potters Association this coming Saturday for thier first annual Handmade Holiday Sale in Burbank California. The Covert Potters is a small group of potter friends who have banded together to promote thier pots. We are covert because we all have day jobs and secretly want to play in the mud full time!
The sale is at 348 West Elm Street in Burbank CA, 91506 from 12;00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Ricky will be showcasing his new jewelry, hope to see you there!

If You Are Heading Out To Palm Springs...

2009-11-22T18:49:00.000-08:00

Be sure to go to Silica Studios for thier Bowl-A-Rama and Chili Cook Off! And do some holiday shopping at thier Open Studio sale! Remember, A handmade gift is better than a store bought gift. It is more personal and shows you care!

More From Muddy's Wood Fire Classic

2009-11-18T18:50:00.000-08:00

Here are the rest of the images I took at the Muddy's Wood Fire Classic. Be sure to check out the Muddy's Website for more info!

Do You Know The Way To Santa Fe?

2009-11-14T19:14:00.000-08:00

Then get there in the next week! My friend Carol Aronowsky will be in the New Mexico Potters and Clay Artists Contemporary Clay Fair next weekend, November 21 & 22. If you happen to go, be sure to say you read about it on So Cal Potters!

NBC Promo For The ACS Clay Fest 2009

2009-11-11T16:58:00.000-08:00

View more news videos at: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video.

2009 ACS Clay Festival This Weekend!

2009-11-09T16:44:00.000-08:00

Come on out this weekend, Friday night November 14th is the opening reception with free admission at the Arboretum. Saturday and Sunday the admission is $8.00 to enter the Arboretum. Shop an incredible selection of ceramics then wander through the gardens at the Arboretum! What a way to spend a day! I will be there selling my stuff, hope to see you too!

The festivities start Friday night at 6 with appetizers by the artists! Then the show continues all day saturday and sunday.

Muddy's Wood Fire Classic

2009-11-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

Last night my friends and I ventured deep behind the orange curtain to the Muddy's Wood Fire Classic at Muddy's Studio, Orange County's Premier Ceramic Studio. I hadnt been out there and was excited to see it. Kevin Myers started Muddy's and has done an incredible job. Seems like a great space to foster the ceramic arts. The Wood Fire Classic was juried by T Robert and John Pacini. I have never participated in a wood firing but was very inspired by the work on display and look forward to developing a body of work for a possible firing next year. Enjoy the pictures! Will post more in a couple days.

For Those Into Wood Fire, Get To Muddy's This Weekend!

2009-11-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

Muddy's is located in Santa Ana California @ 2610 S. Halladay St. 92705. Check out their site www.muddystudio.com. I will be there and will post pictures!

If In The LA Area, The Xiem Sale Is Coming

2009-11-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

Meditations On The Apocalyptic

2009-10-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

"Meditations on the Apocalyptic is an exhibition of recent works by five California artists who deal with the potential catastrophic consequence of human folly. As an artist the theme of ultimate destruction via the nuclear has been a long time personal concern for me. As a curator I selected these five artists because their diverse yet collective voices approach the broader theme of ultimate annihilation from many directions, allowing in the curatorial practice a far greater voice than is possible as a single artist. Each artist has contributed new work to this exhibit. While expecting answers is a romantic, utopian notion, we must ask the questions, both of ourselves and the world we live and die in."
Patrick Merrill, director, W. Keith and Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery

Featuring artists: Sierra Pecheur, Christopher Hinton, Mark Bryan, Robynn Smith, Duncan Simcoe

Sierra Pecheur was interviewed here on So Cal Potters last year. I am going to be talking with her about the work for this show and will post more images of it soon!

More From the American Museum of Ceramic Art

2009-10-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

I went back out to AMOCA to see the Harrison McIntosh exhibit. This time Mr. McIntosh was there and signing copies of his new book Harrison McIntosh, A Timeless Legacy which is available fom AMOCA. That is Celeste Iida, President of the American Ceramic Society, Southern California Design Chapter getting her copy signed. I decided to tak a bunch more pictures and post. There are so many beautifull pieces on display I wanted to share. Below is one of the large platters on display and a few images of the sculptural work that he did.

Many fine examples of his work are on display, from platters to lidded vessels to chalice shapes and bottles. As I have said before, the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona California is a great place! If you are in the area be sure to check it out, better yet become a member! Check out the member page of AMOCA's site and support ceramics in America!

Art From The Ashes

2009-10-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

Saturday October 10th I took a drive up to the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens to see the "Art From The Ashes" show.

Art From The Ashes is a non profit organization formed to create artwork to benefit those devastated by the ravages of fire. "ART from the ashes is a collaborative of independent artists and volunteers, founded by native Californian Joy Feuer, who contribute talent, time and energy to create art for resource. Artwork is crafted from materials collected from fire site locations after personal items have been removed. Debris that would otherwise be cleared and dumped into landfill is gathered and transfigured into one-of-a-kind works of art through the unique vision of each artist. ART from the ashes then hosts a charity exhibition showcasing the art that has been created from the reclaimed fire site materials. A portion of the proceeds from each exhibition is donated to a local or national charity chosen by the business or individuals impacted by the fire."

The show was placed along a pathway surrounding a wildflower filled meadow. Although the gardens were not totally destroyed and are making a comeback you can see the devastation the fire caused. The piece above is by Evan Vieser who used ash from the fire in his work. Below is an assemblage piece by Celeste Iida, she chose a blob of aluminum that had been a garden tool and the plates on the right below are from Peter Gee who also used ash from the fire in his creations.

The piece above on the left is from Joy Feuer, Joy placed a chunk of charred wood on her piece creating a different effect than using ash in glaze.

More Harrison Macintosh

2009-09-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post the rest of the images i took the other night of the Harrison Macintosh show at AMOCA. Enjoy!

Also At The Armstrong ~ Clay Street

2009-09-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

"Throughout history, many civilizations have used the ceramic medium to record their existence. From these artifacts, we can form an understanding and various interpretations of their social, political, and religious structures. My work reflects some of these aspects of contemporary society, with an aesthetic uniquely related to the street culture of Los Angeles." This is how Los Angeles based ceramic artist Gerardo Monterrubio describes his work. My pictures dont do it justice, should have taken my camera. Be sure to follow the link to his website.

“Hello Chimera” At The Armstrong

2009-09-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

Molly Schulps work is currently showing at the Armstrong Gallery in the Pomona Arts Colony. Her work is strangely familiar in a dream-like Dr. Moreau way. She combines various parts to create the inhabitants of her world, she "investigates creation, evolution, and science with an added humorous and kitschy commentary". Her use of color enhnaces the surreal quality of the work. Even if this isnt your cup of tea you can appreciate the creativity of her work. I am fascinated by it and enjoy seeing ceramic art moving beyond function and exploring boundries of reality.

Harrison Macintosh At AMOCA

2009-09-13T08:17:00.000-07:00

On saturday September 12 I went out to Pomona for the monthly Art Walk and to several ceramic openings. The first was the opening of the Harrison Macintosh show at AMOCA. As usual the folks at AMOCA have put together an incredible show. One of the leaders of the Southern California post-World War II crafts movement his work boasts of beautiful precise lines and decorative graphic elements that accentuate the perfect proportions of his timeless pottery.

More to come from the opening at the Armstrong!

Do You Cerf?

2009-08-27T16:42:00.001-07:00

CERF, or the Craft Emergency Relief Fund is a great orginization helping artists in need. There is nothing else like it in this country. The info below is from thier website, check it out and help support if you can!
The mission of CERF is to strengthen and sustain the careers of craft artists across the United States. CERF is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization and is the only one of its kind in the United States.
CERF accomplishes its mission through direct financial and educational assistance to craft artists, including emergency relief assistance, business development support, and resources and referrals on topics such as health, safety, and insurance.
CERF also advocates, engages in research, and backs policy that supports craft artists’ careers.

The Next Show At AMOCA

2009-08-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

I am really looking forward to this one! I will be at the opening and will post pictures. Not only is the show for Harrison McIntosh but it is also his birthday. And it is also the 5 year anniversary of AMOCA!

More From Diversity In Clay At AMOCA!

2009-08-12T18:22:00.001-07:00

I wanted to post the rest of the pictures I took at the Diversity In Clay opening, I absolutely love the tea pot above by David Cuzick. Below on the left are sculptures from Nina de Creeft Ward, the grouping on the right has work from Celeste Iida, Frank Massarella and Cathy Reichel-Clark.

On the left below is a sculpture from Kelly Berning titled "The Spectacle" and on the left a detail of a wall installation titled "Buta Pairing" from Karen Koblitz.

Below is a sculpture titled "Double Horse" by Stefani Gruenberg.

Click any image to enlarge.

Diversity In Clay at AMOCA

2009-08-09T19:40:00.001-07:00

Last night I went to the opening reception for the American Ceramic Society, Design Chapter's community exhibition and fundraiser featuring Southern California Ceramic Artists, at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. It was a great show! So much incredible work to see. My friend Celeste Iida is the President of the ACSDC and did an incredible job as did the judges. Above is William Shin, extruder extraordinare, his work is incredible.

From left to right above is work from David Cuzick and Marc Hoar, my FaceBook friend Patti Hallowes won an Honorable Mention for her sculpture "A little bird told me". Next is a sculpture by David Gilbaugh and a giant egg, "Ceramasaurus" by Charles Sherman.

Above is work from Heather Rosenman with Twyla Wardell in the background and Heidi Ulbrich. Below is Christy Johnson, the director at AMOCA. Christy does a fabulous job bringing in amazing work, hats off to you Christy! thank you for all your work!

You can click any image to enlarge. The show runs through August 29th, see it if you can!

Not Your Grandmothers Tea Party ~ Pictures

2009-08-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

Linda asked about the tea party, it was a great success! The first seating was completly sold out and the second seating was almost full! The restaurant owner was happy as we all the participating artists. There was alot of activity and sales going on at our tent in the parking lot!