Winter's Florifertum

I am excited to be included in Winter's Florifertum, December 2-23, 2011, at Red Lodge Clay Center. According to the exhibition card, Molly Hatch will collaborate with other elaborately ornate varietals of function including: Jenni Brandt, Michael Kline, Melody Tiemann, Julie Johnson, Diana Fayt, Elizabeth Robinson, Sanam Emami and Michelle Miller. The loft gallery will bloom in excessive, celebratory holiday abundance.

Winterfest 2011

These salt and peppers are an example of the work I sent to Baltimore Clayworks for their Winterfest 2011 exhibition and sale. The show runs from November 19, 2011-January 6, 2012. Other invited artists include:  Lorna Awalt (MD), Ingrid Bathe (ME), HP Bloomer (TX), Jeff Campana (VT), Josh Copus (NC), Marty Fielding (VT), Janelle Gang (MD), Daniel Garretson (CO),  Andrew Gilliatt (LA), Lynne Hobaica (NY), Mike Jabbur (VA), Tom Jaszczak (MN), Brian Jones (OR), Christopher Melia (TX), Sebastian Moh (KY), Lindsey Oesteritter (KY), Debra Oliva (MI), Doug Peltzman (NY), Melody Tiemann (MS), Jeremy Wallace (MD).

It's Been Awhile

To keep it brief a lot has happened since my last post over a year ago.

I moved to Mississippi to take a teaching position at Mississippi Valley State University last Fall after my time at the Appalachian Center for Craft was over. I had three fabulous and enriching years as the Resident Artist in Clay at the Craft Center, and miss it still.

I am currently teaching five courses a semester ranging from foundation classes to art history. It has been a wild ride, but so worth it. In addition to teaching, I've been making work. Most recently for group exhibitions and sales at Red Lodge Clay Center in Montana, Balitmore Clayworks, and the Appalachian Center for Craft.

I am also in the process of updating my website so until that is complete please excuse the down site. I will keep you posted, a little better this time.

Decals

I've been thinking about decals for a while now, and wondering how to incorporate them into my work.  In trying to eliminate a few steps of the process, namely a third firing, I've played with the oxide decals you can buy from Chinese Clay Art. I like the process and results of using the oxide ones, but am limited by the types of designs commercially available.  So in order to create decals of my own designs/motifs, I dusted off my rusty screen printing skills (a big thank you to my fellow AIR, Jess, who made sure I was doing it right) and made my own. The results are not too bad (see mug above). I think I might need to put a binder in the oxide mix so that it doesn't flake off the paper once it's dried. Other than than, I won't know until I fire the mug if it will be successful.

A Friendly Fellow

This morning I had a visitor to the studio.  He appeared over by the mailbox and slowly kept walking up to the studio sidewalk.  I've noticed him before, but this is the closets he's ever come to the studio and to me. I think we were separated by about 15 yards. The campus shuttle pulled up and he dashed off back into the woods.

Upcoming Events

Evening Workshops:  Tonight the eight-week evening workshops come to an end.  We will have potluck and ohh and ahh over the finished work.  This is my favorite part of the workshop, when the students see the rewards of their hard work.  I am so proud of them. 

NCECA:  Next week, March 31-April 3 I, along with several thousand other ceramics professionals, professors, students, hobbyists, wholesalers, and enthusiasts will descend on Philadelphia, PA for the Annual National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Conference.  The city's galleries, store fronts, coffee shops, etc. will be filled with ceramic art.  In addition to all the art on display, the conference center will host demonstrations, lectures, panel discussions, video screenings, and a huge room filled with vendors, schools, and non-profits.  Throughout the conference an atmosphere similar to a family reunion will prevail as old relationships are renewed and new ones are made.  I can't wait!

AIR Opening:  Just a reminder that applications for the Clay Artist-in-Residence position are due at the Craft Center April 1, 2010.  You can find the particulars here.  It is a great job in a beautiful place.

Summer Workshops:  The Appalachian Center for Craft has released their Summer Workshop Calendar.
They have a new schedule for this Summer.  In May the workshops are weekends (Fri-Sun) only.  They will be taught by Marc Barr, Nancy Jacobsohn, myself, and Susan Smith.  June will be a three-week intensive that can be taken for college credit.  In clay, Suze Lindsay will be teaching! July will consist of three one-week (Sun-Fri) workshops featuring classes taught by Gay Smith, Kristen Kieffer, and Aaron Lee Benson.  I hope you can join us for a lot of workshop fun.

Clay AIR Job Opening

My time here at the Craft Center is coming to an end in August and the search is on for the next clay Artist-in-Residence.  I believe the deadline for applying is April 1, 2010.  So if you are interested or know of anyone who might be, please send in your applications.  Full details can be found at https://www.tntech.edu/jobs-cs/artist-in-residence-clay-appalachian-center-for-craft-684010/.