I managed to finally finish a piece that I started a year ago when I moved here. I entered it into two shows, got rejected from one, and accepted into the other. The show that it will be in is called River2River, and it is part of the Iowa Clay Conference this fall, from September 16-18, 2011 in Cedar Rapids, IA.
I am pretty stoked about this conference, because I probably can't afford to go to Seattle for this year's NCECA conference. I don't know if it is the first Iowa Clay Conference but it features artists from the Midwest region with a keynote address by Clary Illian, and demos and slide lectures by Brad Schweiger, Pete Pinnell, Jen Rogers and Susannah Biondo-Gemme.
There also is a Pre-Conference Soda Firing with Brad Schweiger that I signed up for. I don't know how many people are doing the firing but I know that it is full, so I am excited to meet people and see what people are making. I am still under the impression that most of the ceramic work in Iowa is all atmospherically fired pots, so I am hoping to figure why people love to make them so much or prove my theory wrong. It is most likely that my work is what does not fit in here, but I had that going for me in Hartford too, so I am prepared to feel uncomfortable.
Here is the schedule for the soda fire:
" You will discuss glazes and techniques with Brad Thursday morning and get your work glazed. Thursday, prior to loading, he will have a couple 20-30 minute presentations about both historical and contemporary practices in soda to show you.
Thursday afternoon you will load the kiln and start it, candling it overnight.
Friday morning, the kiln will be turned up and Brad may have another presentation or may do a demo for you in the morning while the kiln is bumped up.
· Once the kiln is in “cruise” mode, arrangements have been made for you to visit Clary Illian’s Studio, AKAR Gallery, and possibly the permanent ceramics collection at the U of Iowa.
· You will return to the kiln to fire it off and add the soda.
The kiln will be unloaded Sunday during the conference and be put out for everybody else to ooh and ahhh over."
To the workshop I have to bring approximately 1.5 to 2 cubic feet of bisque-fired CONE 10 work, which is currently being made and/or drying. I am excited for my first workshop out of HAS and would like to thank my momma for her monetary contribution to this activity as well as conference fees and my hotel.
