Witness A Unique Experience: Ceramic Sculpture from Around the World

The Ceramics Annual of America (CAA) is an ambitious exhibition and art
fair spotlighting the quality and diversity of contemporary ceramics
from around the world including works from China, Korea, Mexico,
Australia and Italy. It is the only event of its kind in the United
States and the goal is to encourage the education and enrichment of the
public, cultivate a fertile art market, and foster dialog between
collectors and makers of ceramic sculpture.

Part of California’s continuing legacy of excellence and innovation in
ceramics, CAA is the largest exhibition and art fair that is entirely
focused on ceramic art in America and is modeled after the Ceramic
Biennials held in Europe, Korea, Japan and China. It provides a venue
for the top regional and international artists from working in the clay
medium to show their work to a broader audience of collectors.

CAA is organized by the California Ceramics Cooperative, a group of
invested regional ceramic artists, and will feature panel discussions,
lectures, tours as well as daily interactive art demonstrations all day
that will provide a greater understanding of the artistic process for
students and educators alike.  Featured artist and instructor Kevin
Nierman, author of “The Kids ‘N’ Clay Ceramics Book,” will provide
“Artistic childcare” on Saturday and Sunday from 11-3.

This year, the city of San Francisco is partnering with CAA. The
exhibition will be held at the San Francisco Civic Center. CAA expects
high attendance with over 25,000 vistiors. This is an exciting time for
 CAA, the Civic Center has not been used as an art venue since 1986.
From 1946 until the last years of the Arts Festivals in the mid-1980s,
the Arts Commission used budgeted monies from the City’s general fund to
purchase jury-selected work by contributing local artists. As a result,
the Civic Art Collection contains a number of early works by
influential artists, including Robert Arneson, Bruce Beasley and Viola
Frey. In 1978 an exhibit of Arts Festival acquisitions was held at the
Arts Commission’s gallery, followed in 1986 by a second showing in the
lobby of the TransAmerica Building, after which many of the objects were
incorporated into the Arts Commission’s interdepartmental loan program
for display in City offices. For many of the artworks included in The
Art of a City, this is the first time they have been publicly exhibited
in over twenty years.

Last years event was a huge success with over 10,000 people in
attendance. The museum quality exhibition included educational lectures
by curators such as Peter Selz and Phil Linhares and renowned artists
such as Jim Melchert. “The size and scale of such an exhibition and the
education opportunities, all under one roof, were extraordinary.”—Art
Historian, Peter Selz.

Opening Reception and Preview Party :October 18,2013, 4:30 – 6:30pm

Exhibition Dates:
Friday: 4:30pm-6:30pm
Saturday: 9am-6:30pm
Sunday: 9am-6:30pm