NCECA Musings

NCECA is always a wonderful time for me. I have learned over many years that regardless of the conference theme and/or content, I will always find a few things that interest me and I will always learn something from just being there! There were several high points this year:

I was honored to be a participant on the panel "The Necessity of Community with co-presenters Steven Branfman, Macy Dorf, and moderated by Doug Casebeer. A great experience working with all of you! And yes, alot of work putting together that PowerPoint!

SP Editor Mary Barringer with Ron

 As a board member of Studio Potter, I spend time at our table talking about SP to conference participants. This conference SP was honored to work with Ron Meyers and feature a book signing to celebrate the release of his new book. Thank you Ron for working with us and for your imense contributions to our field as an artist and educator. 

Finally, for me, what NCECA is really about is connection. I am reminded clearly, visually, and oh so poignantly, at the opening ceremonies when we honor those who we have lost over the past year. Many of my colleagues and contemporaries who have touched me in my carreer. It is a reminder also of my own mortality. Every year I renew friendships and make new ones. I connect with others and learn about their lives and ceramic journeys over the past year. I marvel at the incredible quality and substance of some of the work I see, yet am disappointed also at seeing work that is so derivative, so plagiarized and uninspired! I find this quite unsettling. I am pleased in partaking of dialog and conversation with my contemporaries that is meaningful and from the heart.

Thank you NCECA, Dori, Kate, Candice, Marko, Josh, for another great conference! And before I forget, a huge shout-out to the great AV staff that made our Power Points look great and work flawlessly!

Jonathan's Pottery Lottery

 

Plinth Gallery and Property Before and After

The original building around 1980 is the in the upper left, all cinder block painted blue! When I purchased the property it had 4" of foam board covered with brown stucco, the upper right image. And finally, the center image is the  completed project, much as you see it today. Plinth Gallery is quite adequate to showcase a featured ceramic artist in the front area as well as exhibiting work of the many other artists whom we represent in the back area. We have become quite good at editing work and understanding that at times, fewer pieces are better. The tag line of "a pristine exhibition space" really speaks for how the gallery is set up. We make use of the natural light from the many windows as well an extensive  LED low voltage cable lighting system that can be adjusted to highlight the work. The gallery courtyard, to the right of the building is a wonderful space for our guests to enjoy the outdoors on warm days and evenings. It also provides an overflow space during openings when the crowd far exceeds the capacity of the gallery spaces. The courtyard also serves as a lunch retreat for the participants of our weekend workshops. Currently, the courtyard is home to a wonderful train kiln designed by Jim Cooper (Cooperworks Kiln Company) and built by art students from the Kent-Denver School, and members of the Boulder Pottery Lab. The kiln was part of Flashpoint, our 2 month juried International Wood Fire Exhibition. I'll post more soon about some of our previous exhibitions, and other interesting topics and events that are ceramic-related. We are so lucky to be able to work with such wonderful artists for the past 5 years, and look forward to the new year and beyond! -Siramic Top: the Kiln Construction Crew.  Right: The Kiln on Fire!!  Bottom:  Watching the fire.