260 Fingers: An Invitational Exhibition of Ceramic Art

by | Oct 27, 2019 | Uncategorized

260 FINGERS: 26 CELEBRATED CERAMIC ARTISTS CONVERGE FOR 15TH ANNUAL INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION AND SALE

175 Third Ave. Ottawa, ON

Opening/Vernissage: Friday, November 8, 6-9pm

Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10, 10am-5pm

Just as the farm-to-table movement shows us where our food comes from and how it is grown, handmade pottery urges us to consider the story behind the objects we hold in our hands. It is a story about processes, materials, and an individual artist’s skills and creativity as they express themselves through clay.

To join in a conversation with 26 ceramic artists and learn more about their relationship with clay, come to 260 Fingers at the Glebe Community Centre from November 8 to 10!  For the 15th consecutive year, 26 of Ontario and Quebec’s most accomplished ceramic artists are converging to exhibit and sell some of the most innovative and inspiring clay work being produced in the region.  The breadth and caliber of this invitational show is recognized as unique in both provinces and features work from functional to sculptural, wood-fired to electric-fired, subtle to highly decorative.

On Friday, November 8, from 6-9pm, the gorgeous, domed atrium of the Glebe Community Center will open its doors to visitors eager to be among the first to view and purchase this year’s new work. Open to everyone, the vernissage is a vibrant celebration of ceramic work complete with music, food, drink and lively conversation. The show continues Saturday November 9 and Sunday November 10  from 10am –5 pm. The artists are always available for discussions, and, with such a wide range of work and artistic practice, visitors often have questions. There are also guided tours both Saturday and Sunday during which artists talk about their work and techniques.

In addition to the solid core of accomplished potters that have made 260 Fingers such an eagerly anticipated event, eight new guest artists will be adding to the excitement with their best new work. 260 Fingers is different every year, but there is one thing that doesn’t change: the excellence of the craftsmanship and the vibrant atmosphere of an inspired artistic community that comes together to celebrate and talk about clay.

This year, among the 26 participating artists, seven are potters who fire with wood, a laborious and risky method that can result in spectacular yet subtle vessels.  We are thrilled to welcome guest artists Bruce Cochrane and Tony Clennell, both well known teachers and veteran wood firers. Also in this group are Heather Smit, Anne Creskey, Andrew Kellner, Jen Drysdale and John Ikeda. Wood firing is part wild risktaking and part stuborness as it can take days to load the kiln with the pots in strategic places, and days and nights to feed wood into the fire to produce the complex interactions between clay, flame, ashes and salts. The results can be pure, poetic magic.

260 Fingers is a free event. For more information or high-res images, please email [email protected] or call Maureen Marcotte at 819-459-3164.

Participating artists for 2019 are members Anne Creskey, Bill Reddick, Carolynne Pynn-Trudeau, Chandler Swain, Cynthia O’Brien, Don Goddard, Heather Smit, Jen Drysdale, John Ikeda, Leta & Don Cormier, Maria Moldovan, Maureen Marcotte, Reid Flock, Rita Redner, Saskia Praamsma, Susie Osler, Teresa Wingar and guests Bruce Cochrane,Tony Clennell, Andrew Kellner, Terri MacDonald, Patrick Yeung, Michelle Mendlowitz, Marney McDiarmid, and Janet Keefe. To see more about their work visit: www.260fingers.ca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/260Fingers/

Twitter: twitter.com/260Fingers

Instagram: www.instagram.com/260Fingers

call for entry: Off Center

by | Oct 27, 2019 | Uncategorized

Since the first ceramics were created, like Venus of Dolní Věstonice, before 25,000 BCE and pottery vessels that were discovered in Jiangxi, China, which date back to 18,000 BC, people have been fascinated with clay. Northern California has a rich history of talented ceramic artists from Rob Arneson to Manuel Neri.  Blue Line Arts is excited to showcase the innovation of ceramic techniques and vision from around the world during this annual show.  Ceramic artists who want to share their vision of ceramic art are encouraged to apply.

Judge

TBD

Important Dates
Deadline to enter: March 20th, 2020
Exhibition Dates: May 2nd- June 13th, 2020
Artist Notification: March 28th, 2020
Shipping deadline of work to Blue Line Arts: April 19th, 2020
Hand deliver work to Blue Line Arts: April 26th or April 27th from 10 to 3pm
Opening Reception: May 16th, 2020 From 5 pm- 8:30 pm

Pick up unsold work from Blue Line Arts: June 14th and 15th, from 10 am -3 pm

Eligibility

  • Open to artists everywhere!
  • All artwork must be original and completed within the last two years
  • Artwork cannot have been previously exhibited at Blue Line Arts
  • All 2-D works must be ready to hang
  • All artwork must be for sale
  • Accepted artwork that differs significantly from image in online submission will be disqualified
  • No accepted entry may be withdrawn or sold outside of the exhibition prior to the closing date
  • Blue Line Arts handles all sales transactions. Non-member artists receive a 50% commission from all gallery sales and members receive a 60% commission
  • Size limitations
    • Art must be able to enter through the doors with a clearance of 94”h x 91”w
    • Ceilings in the gallery are 10 feet high
    • Nothing over 60 lbs will be accepted
  • All artwork images must be renamed in the following format:
    • LastNameFirstName_ArtworkTitle
  • The artist is responsible to pay for all shipping and should have a prepaid label from FedEx or UPS (No US Mail)  for return of artwork.

ENTRY FEES

There is a non-refundable entry fee for Off Center show of $35; there is a $5/image fee for every additional image upload.

Application Requirements: Applicants must apply using the form on the Blue Line Arts website, http://www.bluelinearts.org/call-to-artists. You must be 18 years or older to apply.

Questions: If you have any questions about submissions, please contact Blue Line Arts staff during open hours at (916) 783-4117 or email [email protected]

www.bluelinearts.org/off-center-2020

call for entry: Craft Nouveau

by | Oct 27, 2019 | call for entry

An international fine craft competition featuring handcrafted items, to include everything from furniture, elegant vases and jewelry boxes to wall hangings, pottery and sculpture made by hand from glass, clay, wood, metal, fiber and more.

Juror: Holly Jerger

Cash Award Prizes
1st Place $1,500

2nd Place $1000

3rd Place $750

4th Place: $500

People’s Choice: $350

A full color catalog of the show will be available for purchase.

Juror: Holly Jerger
Holly Jerger is the exhibitions curator at Craft Contemporary (formerly Craft & Folk Art Museum) in Los Angeles, CA. Since 2015, she has organized or co-organized numerous exhibitions at Craft Contemporary, including Chapters: Book Arts in Southern California, Gronk’s Theater of Paint, Betye Saar: Keepin’ it Clean, and Melting Point: Movements in Contemporary Clay. Prior to her appointment as exhibitions curator, Jerger served as senior curator of public engagement (2005-2014), developing 90 programs annually. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ball State University, Indiana, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she also taught. She has served on the boards of the Museum Educators of Southern California (MESC) and the Los Angeles Printmaking Society.

Exhibition Designer: Kelly Bennet
Kelly Bennett is the Chief Preparator at UC Berkley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, and the Principal and owner of Art Pro Net. Kelly brings her over 15 years of experience to designing the layout of and overseeing installation of the Craft Nouveau Exhibition.  She holds a Master of Arts in Arts Management from SUNY and previously served as the Exhibitions Manager for the Asian Art Museum.

Important Dates

Deadline to enter: November 14, 2019

Exhibition Dates: January 3 – March 7, 2020

Notification: November 21, 2019

Shipping deadline of work to Blue Line Arts: December 28, 2019

Hand deliver work to Blue Line Arts: December 29th or 30th, 2019

Opening Reception: January 18, 2020, 4 – 8 pm

Closing Reception: February 15, 2020, 4 – 8 pm

Pick up unsold work from Blue Line Arts: March 8th or 9th, from 10 am to 3 pm

Eligibility

● Open to artists everywhere: national and international

● All artwork must be original and completed within the last two years

● Artwork cannot have been previously exhibited at Blue Line Arts

● All wall pieces must be ready to hang

● All artwork must be for sale

● Accepted artwork that differs significantly from the image in online submission will be disqualified

● No accepted entry may be withdrawn or sold outside of the exhibition prior to the closing date

● Blue Line Arts handles all sales transactions. Non-member artists receive a 50% commission from all gallery sales and members receive a 60% commission

● Size limitations: art must be able to enter through the doors with a clearance of 94”h x 91”w. Ceilings in the gallery are 10 feet high. No work over 60 lbs will be accepted.

● The artist is responsible to pay for all shipping and should have a prepaid label from FedEx or UPS (No US Mail) for the return of artwork. Please mark the outside of your box with your last name in bold letters.

● All shipping of fragile art must be packed as in this link. Please visit: https://www.fedex.com/downloads/shared/packagingtips/howtopack.pdf

Entry Fees: There is a non-refundable entry fee of $45 for the By Hand show. This initial fee covers 3 image uploads; there is a $5 fee for every additional image upload.

Application Requirements: Applicants must apply using the form on the Call for Entry (CAFE) website. You must be 18 years or older to apply.

Questions: If you have any questions about submissions, please contact Blue Line Arts staff during open hours at (916) 783-4117 or email [email protected]

www.bluelinearts.org/international-fine-craft-2019