CANCELLED: Unbound, The International Studio Practice Ceramics Conference

by Carole Epp | Apr 13, 2011 | Uncategorized

This May Red Deer College was planning to host: Unbound, The International Studio Practice Ceramics Conference. I was one of the presenters scheduled to give a workshop and a talk. It’s will a lot of sadness that I’m passing on the news that the conference has been canceled due to low registration.

I’ve been meaning to mention it earlier as I heard the news at the end of last week, but i’ve been busy with the set up of my upcoming exhibition and well to be honest sorting out my thoughts about the cancellation. I’m pretty bummed to say the least. Obviously this would have been a great opportunity for me as an artist, plus reconnecting with some old friends and making new ones. But let’s get past how it impacts me personally shall we.

I’ve been trying to sort out a reason as to why something such as a well organized, well packed conference such as this can’t seem to fly in Canada. Was the timing too close to NCECA? Are we always the little sister to that conference? But wait, we’re not trying to host a conference for thousands, we are trying to organize a meaningful yet much smaller event, so the question I beg to answer is why isn’t the community supporting this? I realize the cost involved with travel and attendance at such conferences. But they only happen in our neck of the woods so often, why not make it a priority? I’m just curious. I’m not trying to stir anything up, or to place blame. I’m actually just honestly interested in a dialogue about this, and about the larger issue of community in Canada (specifically) and internationally. I’ve been working on musing for almost 5 yrs now, my aim to connect community, to offer a space and a voice for ceramic arts, regionally to internationally. To me it goes beyond musings main service as a bulletin board of calls for entry. I want to connect people and build community. Some days I feel genuine excitement about how the internet fosters this, other days I wonder what more I can do, what more we all can do to better meet the needs of our own practices, our local communities and our international community of makers, clay lovers, supporters, and organizations.

I know musing is normally a site for stopping by to pick up some info about upcoming events, maybe check out a new artist or two. But today I’m asking for a bit of conversation. What do you as a maker, as an artist, want/need to see more of in your local/national/international community? I want to help build it, what ever “it” is. I know what I want it to be, what about you?

Below is the write up from the conference publicity in case you missed it:
“In the 21st century we find ourselves increasingly globalized through the food we eat, the clothes we wear, goods we purchase and the images we consume through TV and the Internet. In this conference we will look at the internationalizing of the ceramics studio practice and the effect that it has on us as makers.” Presenters include: Elaine Henry, Paul Scott, Ginny Marsh, Jeremy Hatch, Ian Johnston, Carole Epp, Robin Lambert, Koi Neng Liew For more information: www.rdc.ab.ca | [email protected] | 403.356. 4900