Help Rebuild The Peters Valley Noborigama Kiln

March, 2014

Dear Friends,

We need your help. Our Noborigama Kiln has been damaged after the structure that shelters it collapsed due to the weight of this winter’s extreme snow. We are in critical need of funds to help rebuild the collapsed structure and repair the kiln damage.

We ask you to please consider making a donation towards this effort.

Time is of the essence as we use this kiln not only for our regular workshop season, but also for special firings that help bring in critical funds to the program in our off-season..

We are firmly committed to rebuilding and repairing the damage.

The Peters Valley Noborigama kiln was built by the famous duo of Will Ruggles and Douglass Rankin during a Wood Kiln Construction and Firing workshop that they taught on our campus in 1992. It was then featured in an article they published in Studio Potter, Volume 22, Number 1 titled ‘The Rock Creek Climbing Kiln Part II’ and has become a huge draw for our program.

We estimate that we need to raise $20,000 to properly rebuild and repair the damage.

“In the few weeks since the collapse of the roof over our two-chamber wood kiln I have received many phone calls and messages of support. Needless to say, I’ve been struck by the generosity shown toward the School and the Ceramics Department in particular. Please know that we truly appreciate whatever amount you’re able to give.” Bruce Dehnert, Ceramic Studio Department Head

Any donation of $75 or more will receive a Peters Valley T-shirt as a thank you.

Your donation will go a long way to helping us restore this critical piece of our ceramic studio. With your support, our unique kiln can continue to benefit a diverse and inspired group of people from students, to artist instructors, studio assistants, artist fellows, resident artists, and Peters Valley visitors.

With Sincere Gratitude,

Kristin Muller Executive Director
Peters Valley School of Craft,
19 Kuhn Rd.,
Layton, NJ 07851
(973)948-5200
www.petersvalley.org

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HSQEFX8EMHLXQ

Sunshine Cobb “Jeans and a T-shirt” @ The Plinth Gallery

Join us on First Friday April 4th, 6-9pm for a reception with the artist. Exhibition runs through April 26th

Sunshine Cobb‘s
show title “Jeans and a T-Shirt” is drawn from a conversation with a
friend and references the, “…everyday, comfortable, and ultimately
utilitarian type of pots…” that she makes. 
 

Sunshine is coming to Denver from Helena, MT where she is currently a long-term resident at the Archie Bray Foundation. 
She received her BA from Cal State Sacramento, and MFA from Utah State
University.  Sunshine has been recognized as an “Emerging Artist” by
Ceramics Monthly in 2012, and the National Council for Education in Ceramic Arts (NCECA) in 2013. 

Sunshine
uses a red clay body and hand builds most of her pieces using soft
slabs, coil and pinch techniques. She is known for her distinctive
shapes and finished surfaces, which she creates by sanding, or often
sandblasting, to show decay, “…wear and tear, a kind of broken-in look”.
The combination of how the surface looks as well as feels is important
in her work, it is the relationship between the visual and tactile.
Sunshine says, “I always use the favorite T-shirt idea, I want my work
to have the worn in feel to it, loved and used to the point it has your
own personal history embedded in its surface.” Enthusiasm and fun are
major parts of her studio practice and we
are excited to have Sunshine and her work at Plinth. We look forward to
this casual and fun exhibition and we hope you will join us, wear your
comfortable jeans!

 Sunshine Cobb Workshop
SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE!!
 
On April 5th and 6th,  Plinth Gallery will host a two-day workshop with Sunshine Cobb.
This hands-on workshop will encourage experimentation with new forms
and methods of construction. Geared toward creative expansion,
beginners, intermediate and advanced students will use hand-building
techniques such as coil and pinch methods and soft slab construction to
generate a variety of vessel forms. Collaboration and fun is the goal. 
 
Price
for the workshop is $250 per student which includes most materials and
lunch both days. College credit is available through Adams State
University. Space is limited so early registration is encouraged. For
more information and to register, contact Plinth Gallery or call  303-295-0717.
3520 Brighton BLVD
Denver CO 80216

plinthgallery.com

job opportunity – The Clay Studio

The Clay Studio is looking for a summer grad intern to complete a
10-week paid Fels internship that will involve updating the records for
our permanent collection. We’ll be photographing, researching and
tagging works that have entered the collection since 2006–mainly from
International Guest Artists and Clay Studio Residents.

The Clay Studio is a non-profit educational arts organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the ceramic
arts and the work of new clay artists. As Philadelphia’s only arts
organization dedicated exclusively to the ceramic arts, our mission is
to provide diverse audiences with a unique learning environment in which
to experience the ceramic arts.

The Clay Studio seeks a
graduate intern to research, inventory and catalog our relatively small
permanent collection of ceramic artwork for uploading onto The Clay
Studio’s database and website. Responsibilities will include producing
condition reports for each art object, tagging and photographing each
piece, conducting research on the artist, provenance and significance of
each work, and transporting research files and images into The Clay
Studio’s database for publishing online. This project will help The Clay
Studio develop an accurate catalog of the permanent collection and will
develop an online educational tool for sharing the collection with the
public.

The successful applicant will be a graduate student
interested in the arts, archives, and research. A general knowledge of
the field of ceramic art is preferred but not required. Strong
organizational skills and intellectual curiosity are ultimately the most
important factors in the success of the project. To apply, please
submit a one page cover letter and resume to Garth Johnson at
[email protected] with “Fels Intern Application” in the subject
line.

This 10-week internship is to be completed in summer
2014. The Samuel S. Fels Fund has provided a $6000 stipend for the
successful completion of the project.

www.theclaystudio.org

Coalescence by Brenda Danbrook

Coalescence

by ceramic artist Brenda Danbrook
March 29 – May 3, 2014

Opening Reception: 2-4 pm, Saturday, March 29

This
body of work developed out of a passion for functional ceramics and
interest in work that explores the ceramic narrative. The imagery and
pattern used as an embellishment not only fits decoratively, but is
placed intentionally to increase the sense of vitality.  
In
a domestic setting a ceramic vessel has the opportunity to express a
visual experience beyond the very useful and tactile qualities. This
series honours the individual user and embraces the family by evocating
groupings intended to be used to serve a specific function and to
enhance a special event such as Sunday breakfast.  

“In my daily practice, I strive to find a balance between form,
function and imagery that come together in unity to heighten an object’s
utility, which placed in the hands of the user, brings an experience or
connection to their daily life.” 
Danbrook owns and operates a pottery studio in Opal, Alberta. In 2006,
with support from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Brenda began to
pursue an education in visual art as a means of expanding and deepening
her existing artistic practice in clay. She studied in Jingdehzen, China
with the Australian National University, where she received a Diploma
of Art (with high distinction). Brenda also received a Diploma in Visual
Art from Red Deer College (2010), and a BFA (with distinction) from the
Alberta College of Art + Design (2013). She has exhibited ceramics both
nationally and internationally. 
Brenda’s work is included in the ACC’s group exhibition Potworks which
has travelled to the Yuill Gallery, Medicine Hat, and will be at Red
Deer College during SERIES this summer. Brenda’s work is represented in
various private and corporate collections including the Institutions she
attended, the Canadian Consulate (Australia) and the AFA (2010). Brenda
has also been the recipient of numerous awards, scholarships and
grants, including the Illingworth Kerr and Louise McKinney Scholarships.

Coalescence runs
in the Alberta Craft Council’s Discovery Gallery, 10186 – 106 Street
from March 29 – May 3, 2014 with an opening reception on Saturday, March
29 from 2-4pm.  

 
For more information on this exhibition contact Joanne Hamel
(780) 488-6611 ext 221  |  [email protected] or visit www.albertacraft.ab.ca
ACC Discovery Gallery | 10186 – 106 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 1H4