A site 2 see friday – handful of salt blog

Inspiration always comes in different forms, as does motivation. To me there’s nothing more motivating than seeing the behind the scenes of how artists set up shop and hearing in their words who they are and what inspires them, their work, and how it all comes together. That’s why today’s site to see is handful of salt blog because I LOVE their Heroes and Heroines section for the above reasons. Of course there are many other reasons to read their blog…but I’ll let you find that out for yourself.

Enjoy!

handful of salt

Material Culture, Craft & Community: Call For Papers Reminder


This is a reminder that submissions to the Material Culture, Craft & Community: Negotiating Objects Across Time and Space Conference are due OCTOBER 10, 2010.

20-21 May 2011
University of Alberta
Material Culture Institute

This interdisciplinary conference will explore the varied expressions of craft – material, cultural, social – in past and present societies. Craft practice has a rich history and remains vibrant today, sustaining communities while negotiating cultures. Craft-made goods were, and are, created for domestic or institutional use, for local or international markets. They express gender roles and cultural aspirations, sustain economies, and express aesthetic values and skills of making. Craft practice has long defined communities and groups, and continues to do so in the midst of global trade networks. Moreover, the flow of ideas, goods, and peoples animate the making, circulation, and meaning of craft goods. These and other issues will be addressed over the course of the conference.

Keynote Speaker:
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Harvard University

Confirmed Speakers:
Eiluned Edwards, London College of Fashion, UK
Edward S Cooke, Yale University
Janice Helland, Queen’s University, Kingston
Laura Peers, Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford
Ruth Phillips, Carleton University, Ottawa

Call for Papers:
Paper proposals and full panels are invited on topics ranging from the history to present practice of craft, issues of production, use, and trade of craft, and the construction and interpretation of the meanings of craft, in the context of personal interactions, local communities, national groups, modes of international circulation, and forms of cultural context.

Graduate students are encouraged to apply with either single papers or panels. Three graduate proposals will be selected for a special graduate plenary session, in addition to those papers selected for concurrent sessions.

Proposals are invited from all disciplines. The proposal package should include a paper summary of 150-200 words and a two-page CV. Proposals must be received by 10 October 2010.* The program will be announced 1 November 2010. Registration will open on 15 December 2010.

Conference Organizer: Beverly Lemire, Department of History & Classics and Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta
Proposals should be sent to: [email protected]

Arrowmont to Host Figurative Clay Sculpture Symposium this Fall


Janis Mars Wunderlich

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg will host the first Figurative Association: The Human Form in Clay symposium this October.
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts has announced it will host a figurative sculpture symposium and exhibitions on its Gatlinburg campus from October 27-30, 2010. Figurative Association: The Human Form in Clay will feature nine internationally and nationally known ceramic and mixed media artists from six states who use the figure as the main theme in their sculpture. This event grew out of Arrowmont’s successful Utilitarian Clay: Celebrate the Object national symposia held every four years since 1992. Arrowmont’s rich history as a leader in art and craft education includes hosting international and national media related conferences and symposia over the past 45 years.

The symposium is being coordinated by Arrowmont’s Program Director Bill Griffith with assistance from Debra Fritts, a noted Georgia ceramic artist and Arrowmont instructor and Thaddeus Erdahl, past Arrowmont Resident Artist in Ceramics.

The artist/presenters include Tom Bartel and Janis Mars Wunderlich from Ohio, Robert Brady, and Arthur Gonzalez from California, Debra Fritts from Georgia, Tip Toland and Beth Cavener Stichter from Washington, Lisa Clague from North Carolina and Anne Drew Potter from Indiana.

A series of lectures, panel topic discussions, demonstrations and gallery exhibitions celebrating the human form will make up the three-day symposium. Additionally, each artist/presenter has invited an emerging figurative sculptor of their choice to be represented in the Invited Artists Exhibition, which will be one of the highlights of the event.

The Presenters’ Exhibition will consist of major works by the nine symposium presenters. In all, both exhibitions will showcase a total of 37 different creations by the 19 artist/presenters and the invited emerging artists. The exhibitions will be located in the Sandra J. Blain Gallery at Arrowmont and will be open for the public to view.

“One vital, educational component of this symposium is the identification of 10 emerging artists in the ceramic sculpture field and the invitation to exhibit their work alongside the highly respected national Presenters’ Exhibition,” said Arrowmont Program Director Bill Griffith, adding, “This again speaks to Arrowmont’s commitment as a leader in education and support in promoting the careers of the next generation of artists.”

Limited to 200 attendees, symposia and conferences at Arrowmont offer a more relaxed, intimate and focused setting for engaging dialogue, critical discourse and attendee interaction to occur. The unique mountain setting with galleries, studios, auditorium, housing and dining facilities in close proximity encourages ongoing conversations among artists, students, educators and collectors. Registration is on-going. Please call our registrar Cynthia Bellacome at 865-436-5860 x33.

For more Symposium details, fees and registration information visit www.arrowmontfigure.org.

VIA

Alessandro Gallo Figurative Ceramic Workshop @ Lillstreet Art Center

Alessandro Gallo Figurative Ceramic Workshop
Italian sculptor Alessandro Gallo comes to Chicago to participate in a month-long residency and instruct a 3-day workshop in figurative ceramic sculpture.

Alessandro Gallo is an Italian artist currently residing in Genoa, Italy. After studying Law at the University of Genoa, Alessandro moved to London where he studied at Central St Martin’s College of Art; followed by a BA at Chelsea School of Art, graduating in 2002. Since 2002, his work has been exhibited at Jill George Gallery and in group shows in London and Italy. His artwork has also been featured in major art fairs in the UK and the US. In 2003,2005 and 2006, Gallo exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. In 2006 his first solo exhibition was held at Jill George Gallery and the second solo show in February 2008. His work features human/animal hybrids, across many media and especially clay. Animals have biological features and behavioral patterns that can be extended to humans, lending themselves to embody humorously- the basic disposition of a person, his kernel or ‘nature’. For more information and pictures of the work, visit www.alessandrogallo.net
Alessandro will hold a workshop at Lillstreet clay studio in Lakeside, Michigan (70 miles north of Chicago). Daily sessions will focus on fundamentals of how to create a sculpture, taking an idea and making it real. Demonstrations, talks and slideshows will be accompanied by hands-on experimentation. Pieces completed by participants will be fired after the workshop and available for pickup within four weeks.
For full details see http://www.lillstreet.com/class-detail/3771
Founded in 1975, Lillstreet Art Center is a large community of artists and students working side-by-side in a friendly Chicago environment, which encourages and inspires artistic growth in the individual. Lillstreet Art Center supports the arts through an artist residency program, gallery, studio space, education, and an outreach program.
More information about Lillstreet Art Center at http://www.lillstreet.com
Lillstreet Art Center
4401 N. Ravenswood Ave. Chicago, IL 60640 773.769.4226 [email protected] Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago.

InformationDate: Friday, October 08, 2010 – Sunday, October 10, 2010Hours: 10am-6pm Site: Lillstreet Art Center – 4401 N. Ravenswood Ave. Chicago, IL 60640Organized by: Lillstreet Art Center In collaboration with: NevicaProject

Best Foot Forward Benefit Auction

Don PilcherKathryn Finnerty “Teapot”

Best Foot Forward is a fund-raiser for University of Florida Ceramics major Drew Johnson, a junior student who lost a foot in a motorcycle accident. He was hit by a driver who had no ability to pay, leaving Drew with large hospital bills. Drew has a wonderful can-do attitude, is a very promising student, and is now back at school.

Potters, sculptors and clay related businesses have generously donated 191 items to help raise money for Drew. Please show your support both for Drew and for the generous artists whose donations make this auction possible by bidding on items in this auction.

The auctions are divided into four groups that begin Tuesday, September 21st, and end in the evening on Monday, September 27th. The ending time for the auctions in each of the four groups is posted in the title, and at the top of the groups page.

To view the works generously donated please visit the Charlie Cummings Gallery Website.