Ceramic Art Workshops, Pottery Making Classes, Colleges, Guilds

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Upcoming Workshop Sponsored by The Potters Council

CENTERED IN CLAY

February 15-16, 2008 | St. Petersburg, Florida

Hosted by St. Petersburg Clay Company

Get Ready, Get Set, Get Centered! Potters Council is heading to Florida for the first time in February. The workshop will focus on the wheel and delve into surface techniques that will breathe new life into your work.

Discussion will span from clay bodies to surface techniques to firing, all in relation to throwing. Prepare to leave this workshop with a deeper understanding of the following:

Paper Clay
Throwing Large Forms - Construction and Surface Techniques Associated with Large- Scale Sculpture
Making Elongated Forms from Wheel Thrown Discs to be Assembled with Other Thrown Forms
Slip-Casting
And much more

Centered In Clay features five highly talented artists who are ready to share their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm with you. We are thrilled to have Don Reitz as a Keynote Speaker, along with John Balistreri, Matt Long, Steve Loucks, and McKenzie Smith. Each will have you inspired to get back to your own studio trying out new ideas. This event is open to professional potters, recreational potters, educators and students at any level who want to advance their knowledge and understanding of ceramics.

Attending Centered In Clay is a great opportunity to expand your clay connections with others who are interested in developing their skills and knowledge in ceramics just like you! Working in clay can sometimes be a solitary pursuit. But there are times that we need to share ideas, ask questions, and search for solutions. Center your focus by spending two full days with like-minded ceramic artists.

For more information and to register, click on a link below:

Schedule of Events | Presenters | Sponsors
Hotel and Venue Information
Registration Information | Additional Information

Schedule of Events

Friday, February 15, 2008
6-8 pm

Saturday, February 16, 2008
8:30-9 am

9 am-12 pm

12-1 pm

1-1:45 pm

2-5 pm

Sunday, February 17, 2008
8:30-9 am

9 am - 12 pm

12-1 pm

1-15 pm

1:15-2 pm

2-5 pm

The St. Petersburg Clay Co

The St. Petersburg Clay Co

Room - TBD

The St. Petersburg Clay Co

Room - TBD

Room - TBD

The St. Petersburg Clay Co

Room - TBD

The St. Petersburg Clay Co

Room - TBD

Room - TBD

Room - TBD

Registration - Opening Reception - Presenters Exhibit - Welcome and Presenter Introduction

Registration

John Balistreri - Construction & Surface Techiques Associated With Large-Scale Sculpture
Steve Loucks - To Throw and "Throw Out"

Lunch

Keynote: Don Reitz - What Do I Do Now?

Matt Long - Exploreation of Line & Gesture
McKenzie Smith - Rich Effects In Functional Ware

Registration

Matt Long - Exploreation of Line & Gesture
McKenzie Smith - Rich Effects In Functional Ware

Lunch

Pottery Exchange

Presenter Panel Discussion

John Balistreri - Construction & Surface Techiques Associated With Large-Scale Sculpture
Steve Loucks - To Throw and "Throw Out"

Presenters

JOHN BALISTRERI
Construction and Surface Techniques Associated with Large-Scale Sculpture
John, a ceramic artist for more than 25 years and currently an Associate Professor at Bowling Green State University, will share his current interest in large-scale sculpture. During his presentation, John will throw several large forms and demonstrate a variety of construction and surface techniques associated with large-scale sculpture. He will also discuss his recent discoveries using paper clay and provide a hand-out with technical information on clay, slip and glaze.

2008StPetejohnbalistreri

For more information about John, visit www.johnbalistreriartist.com .

MATT LONG
Exploration Of Line & Gesture
Matt a potter for over 22 years and currently the Assistant Professor at The University of Mississippi will do a throwing demonstration that will concentrate on exploring the gestural qualities of porcelain through functional pottery, i.e. mugs, teapots, jugs etc. He will also be making work that is thrown and immediately altered off the wheel. Through the exploration of line and gesture, Matt will be working with thick slip as a way to express yet another kind of line that highlights the material in a different way. We will cover many areas of pot making, including functional and aesthetic choices that lead to a better understanding of material, and the generation of new ideas and processes.

2008StPetemattlong1 2008StPetemattlong2 2008StPetemattlong3

For more information about Matt, visit www.fullvictory.com.

STEVE LOUCKS
To Throw and “Throw Out”
Steve, a Professor from Jacksonville State University, will discuss his philosophy on making functional pottery while demonstrating his throwing techniques. He will share his technique of taking wheel-thrown discs and turning them into elongated forms to be assembled with other thrown and altered forms to produce a serving dish, pitcher and a clock. Steve will help you to transform your imaginations and creative energies into visual, artistic expressions that you can take back to your own studio.

For more information about Steve, visit http://art.jsu.edu/faculty.htm .

MCKENZIE SMITH
Rich Effects in Functional Ware
McKenzie is a professional potter from Florida who is drawn to wood, salt/soda firing because of the rich effects these firing techniques have on his clay, slips and glazes. He will focus on the making of wheel-thrown functional ware exploring a variety of forms including thrown and altered pots. McKenzie will share a number of decorating techniques such as the use of slips, wax and glaze to produce ware that has a warm essence and is influenced by traditions.

Sponsors

The St. Petersburg Clay Company
Stan Cowen, Charlie Parker and Russ Gustafson-Hilton founded St. Petersburg Clay Company, Inc. in 1996. The St. Petersburg Clay Company focused on four areas - studio space rental, retailing of clay supplies, gallery sales and education. Originally located in a former machine shop comprising 6000 square feet, the company doubled in size in 1997. Still unable to meet the needs of an ever-growing public interest in clay, the search began for a new facility.

At about this same time, The St. Petersburg Clay Company (SPCC) was contacted by Highwater Clays, located in Asheville, N.C. and asked to become their Florida distributor of clay, supplies and materials. Two years later, an agreement was reached between the two companies that resulted in a new partnership. Highwater Clays leased SPCC's retail business, allowing SPCC to focus more time on its partners' original vision of creating the premiere ceramic facility in the United States.

Our pursuit of excellence begins with our facililites. A 16th Century Japanese-style anagama kiln, a wood-firing train kiln, soda and salt atmostpheric gas kilns, 2 Minnesota flat top gas kilns, a pit kiln, raku kilns and over a dozen electric kilns provide the member artists of SPCC a complete array of firing possibilities. Along with our kilns, our members have acess to all studio equipment including slab-rollers, extruders, work and wedging tables, clay mixers and an expansive glaze mixing area all contained in an historic 1920s train depot.

For more information on our facilities or memberships, please visit us or contact us at (727) 896-CLAY Tuesday through Saturday, 10am - 5pm.

The St. Petersburg Clay Company
420 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Telephone: (727) 896-2529
Website: www.stpeteclay.com

Highwater Clays
Retail Store located within St. Petersburg Clay Company

Highwater Clays - Florida
420 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Telephone: (727) 553-9344
Website: www.highwaterclays.com

Hotel and Venue Information

2008 St Petersburg Sirata Hotel 2

Sirata Beach Resort
5300 Gulf Blvd.
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
(727) 363-5100
www.sirata.com
$159 per night for single/double occupancy. Note there is an $8 per day parking fee. The hotel is located on the beach 9 miles from The St. Petersburg Clay Company.

Ask for Potters Council Meeting blocks to get preferred rates. Room blocks will be held until January 15, 2008.

Enjoy the gentle sounds of the surf and softly swaying sea oats along the dunes. Stroll miles of white sandy beach with cabanas, parasailing and brilliant West Coast sunsets. Recreation at the hotel includes three sparkling pools, whirlpools, fitness center and beach volleyball. Choose from a wide variety of guest rooms with refrigerator and coffee maker and family style suites. Relax in a beachfront hammock or on a beach cabana. Dining and entertainment options include cocktails at Rumrunners, The Lobby Bar or Harry's beach bars and the new Compass Grille is the perfect location breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other resort amenities include paddle boats, gift shop, concierge services and high speed wireless (Wi-Fi) Internet access on the premises of the hotel.

Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
420 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL
(727) 572-5700
www.radisson.com/stpetersburgfl
$99 per night for single/double occupancy. Complimentary Shuttle to/from airports. The hotel is located 8 miles from The St. Petersburg Clay Company.

Ask for Potters Council Meeting blocks to get preferred rates. Room blocks will be held until January 15, 2008.

Guests of the Radisson Hotel, St. Petersburg, FL will enjoy the following complimentary amenities during their stay:

Complimentary Transportation: To and from the Tampa International Airport (TPA); Outdoor heated swimming pool; Sauna; 24 hour fitness center (under renovation)
Business Center; Complimentary wireless Internet access throughout the entire hotel; On-site gift shop

Additional Information

Facility Information

Workshop Session Located:
The St. Petersburg Clay Company
420 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Telephone: (727) 896-2529
Website: www.stpeteclay.com

The Workshop Sessions will be on Saturday and Sunday, February 16-17, 2008. Saturday’s session runs from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday’s session runs from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. For more details on the sessions please see the schedule. The workshop event will be held at The St. Petersburg Clay Company located at 420 22nd Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712.

Opening Reception Located:
The St. Petersburg Clay Company
420 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Telephone: (727) 896-2529
Website: www.stpeteclay.com

The reception will be on Friday, February 15, 2008 from 6-8 pm. The event will be held The St. Petersburg Clay Company. During the reception, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with the presenters, register and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres. A presenters exhibit will open featuring John Balistreri, Matt Long, Steve Loucks, and McKenzie Smith.

Opening reception and viewing of the exhibition, Friday, February 15, 2008, 6 to 8 p.m.

Travel Information

Extend Your Stay and Visit the Beach!
Explore the beach while attending the upcoming Potters Council workshop. Bring along your family and friends. St. Pete/Clearwater is where you want to be! Close to everything, yet miles away. A beautiful peninsula located on Florida's West coast, the area is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west and by Tampa Bay to the east.

Home to America's Award Winning Beaches. Caladesi Beach, America's #2 beach in 2006 and 2007. Also home to Fort De Soto Park, America's #1 beach in 2005, we offer 35 miles of white-sand beaches on some eight major barrier islands. We're within minutes of many popular Florida attractions: just 30 minutes to Busch Gardens in Tampa and 90 minutes to Walt Disney World Resort, Sea World and Universal Studios Escape in Orlando.

Come personally experience our warm Gulf sunsets, our unique cultural heritage, our vast sporting and recreational activities, fresh seafood and great shopping. There are world-renowned museums, family fun and endless sunshine. We're everything you want from your vacation, all right here!

Link to St. Petersburg Clearwater Visitors Guide:
www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/milesmedia/stpeteclearwater08/index.php?startpage=0

Travel Information
www.stpete-clearwater.com

Map of Area
www.stpete-clearwater.com/map/

Additional Information
Friday Evening Opening Reception and Registration
The reception will be on Friday, February 15, 2008 from 6-8 pm. The event will be held The St. Petersburg Clay Company. During the reception, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with the presenters, register and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres.

Saturday Keynote Presentation | 1:00 to 1:45 p.m., The St. Petersburg Clay Company
DON REITZ
What Do I Do Now?
Don is ready to get you out of your comfort zone and follow your passion wherever it may lead. He will discuss how to give yourself time and take charge of your art. Don will share his passion and many life experiences that you will be able to draw upon for your own journey in ceramics.

Born in 1929, Don has emerged as one the most important and influential figures in contemporary studio ceramics in this century. He received his training at Alfred University in the early 1960s, and has spent his life working with salt- and wood-firing. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the field has been his technological advancements and innovations to the salt-glaze process. Don is affectionately known within the ceramics community as “Mr. Salt”, and his approach to firing has been widely influential. Don has dedicated his life to teaching ceramics and is ready to inspire you through his keynote address.

2008StPetedonreitz1 2008St.Petedonreitz2 2008StPetedonreitz3

For more information about Don, visit: www.donreitz.com

Presenter Exhibit
The CENTERED IN CLAY Presenter Exhibit will showcase the workshop presenters. The exhibit will be located at The St. Petersburg Clay Company and will be open for viewing the entire weekend. The exhibit will open in conjunction with the opening reception and registration.

Registration Information

You are invited to register online, by mail or fax, or by telephone.

To register online, click on the "Register Now!" button:

To register by mail or fax, click here for the Registration Form to download a PDF of the registration form that you can mail or fax to us at The American Ceramic Society, L-2625, PO BOX 600001, Columbus, OH 43260-2625; fax 301-206-9789.
To register by telephone, call toll free at 1-866-721-3322.

EXTENDED EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION FROM FEBRUARY 4 TO FEBRUARY 12, 2008

On or Before
February 12, 2008 After
February 12, 2008

Potters Council Member $285.00 $335.00

Non-Member 330.00 380.00
Registration fee includes the Opening Reception on Friday night, and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Make checks payable to Potters Council in U.S. Dollars, drawn on a U.S. Bank. Cancellation Policy: Full refund less $50 if cancelled on or before January 15, 2008; 50% refund if cancelled between January 16, 2008 and February 14, 2008; no refunds after the start of the conference.