by Carole Epp | Sep 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
The Ceramics area at University of Manitoba is pleased to announce Tamura Shizuo will be our visiting artist for Fall, 2009.
Tamura will present a studio workshop in the ceramics area of the School of Art at University of Manitoba from September 21-25, 2009.
At the conclusion of the workshop, pots made by Mr. Tamura will be fired in the wood-burning kiln at the U of M from September 28-30. The kiln will be opened on October 5 at 10:00 AM.
The workshop and demonstrations will take place in room 115 of the Ceramics/Sculpture building at the University of Manitoba from 9:30 to 3:30 each day. Mr. Tamura will produce traditional and contemporary pottery from Shigaraki using locally-available materials.
Mr. Tamura will also present a public lecture on his work and on the famous Shigaraki region of Japan on September 24 at 3:30 PM in room 207 of the FitzGerald Building at the University of Manitoba. Following the lecture, a public reception and potluck will take place in the ceramics area.
During the workshop, an exhibition of Mr. Tamura’s ceramic artwork from Japan will be on display at the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery on the campus of Canadian Mennonite University. There will be an opening reception and slide presentation at the gallery on Wednesday September 23 at 7:00 PM. Traditional Japanese refreshments will be served during the reception. The Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery is located at 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., south of Grant Avenue, on the south campus of Canadian Mennonite University. The gallery is open from 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday and Noon to 5:00 PM Saturday.
All events are free and open to the public.
We hope to see you in the ceramics area!
For more information please contact:
Professor Stephen Grimmer, Chair of Ceramics
University of Manitoba
Winnnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
(204) 474-9560
[email protected]
http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/blogs/grimmer
by Carole Epp | Sep 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
Medicine Hat –Robert Harrison, the man behind the Historic Clay District’s easily-recognizable sculpture – the Medaltarch – will be speaking at the Medalta Potteries National Historic Site at 5:30pm on Saturday, September 19, as part of Medicine Hat’s celebration of Alberta Arts Days. The Canadian-born artist has gained international attention as a ceramic artist and sculptor. Over the course of his career, Harrison has held many prominent positions in both Canada and the United States. He is the Past-President of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), was President of the Board at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana and served one year as Head of the Ceramics Department at the Banff Centre for the Arts. Harrison’s sculpture at the Medalta Potteries National Historic Site – the Medaltarch – was created during his time as an artist in the Medalta International Artists in Residence (MIAIR) program in 1999 and is an example of his site-specific sculptures that can be found in Hungary, Italy, Taiwan and other locations around the world. Les Manning, the Artistic Director of the MIAIR program from 2001-2009, is thrilled to have Harrison in Medicine Hat. “As an artist, Robert works outside the norm in that his installations are historic sculpture. Not many ceramic artists challenge this area as much as he or have been as successful in taking it to an international audience.” He encourages people to take the opportunity to hear him speak. “Whenever artists of this magnitude visit Medicine Hat – especially someone with the connection he has [with the Medaltarch] – they are worth hearing.” Saturday, September 19 is a busy day for the Historic Clay District as it celebrates Alberta Arts Days. In addition to Harrison’s talk, the Historic Clay District is also offering free, two-hour pottery classes and a museum open house with hourly demonstrations in the Working Pottery. Anyone interested in hearing Harrison speak or participating in the classes are encouraged to contact the Historic Clay District at 403.529.1070. The Historic Clay District is one of eight tourism attractors in the Canadian Badlands, featured in AMA’s “Alberta 100 Journeys” and is Western Canada’s largest National Historic Site. The museum – in the Medalta Potteries National Historic Site – provides visitors a unique opportunity to visit a restored 1912 pottery factory, which once produced three-quarters of all stoneware in Canada. It is operated under the stewardship of the Friends of Medalta Society. The Medalta International Artists in Residence (MIAIR) program is a world-class ceramic arts residency operated out of the Shaw International Centre for Contemporary Ceramics in Medicine Hat’s Historic Clay District. MIAIR will begin offering year-round artistic programming in 2010, is twelfth year of operation. The program has brought international attention to Medicine Hat and continues the city’s rich clay tradition through contemporary ceramics. For more information, interviews or visuals, contact:
by Carole Epp | Sep 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
Exploring Ceramic Glazes is the first of a number of short courses in ceramics planned at the University of Johannesburg . This course is aimed at the ceramist who wants to increase his or her knowledge of glazes and glaze development. It will take place over 6 weeks in weekly 3hour sessions. Program runs September 23rd – 28th of October. If you would like more information on this please contact John Shirley at [email protected] http://johnshirleyceramics.blogspot.com
by Carole Epp | Sep 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
[kuh-nek-tiv]
October 1 and 2, 2009
In collaboration with Nebraska Wesleyan University 
Polly by Jason Briggs, AFC Presenter A biennial conference presented by LUX Center for the Arts and the Department of Art at Nebraska Wesleyan University. The conference provides an opportunity for students, educators, artists, collectors and the public to connect, learn and explore. The conference features lectures, demonstrations and exhibitions by Sonya Clark, Jason Briggs, Victoria Goro-Rapoport, and Jess Starkel. Registration is open through Sept. 19.
Special rates for college and high school students available.
College group rates available.
Register Now
Learn more about the presenters
by Carole Epp | Sep 12, 2009 | Uncategorized

Harbinger Gallery is excited to present a feature of new ceramics by artist, Becky Webster. Webster’s work fleshes out her interests in showing both the raw beauty of natural, unglazed clay and the layers of patterns and images juxtaposed on her clay works. The thick, drawing-like transparent glazes found on parts of Websters works is part of what gives them “personality”, while “…keeping in focus with the functionality and craftsmanship” of each piece.
Becky Webster graduated in 2001, majoring in ceramics in the Craft and Design program at Sheridan College, in Oakville, Ontario. Upon graduation, Webster set up studio practice and also began a managerial position at S&S Pottery Supplies, a position she maintains today. In addition to being included in a Harbinger group exhibition of clay in 2008, Becky has recently had a solo exhibition and has been featured in the “Canadian House and Home” magazine. Her work can be found in galleries all over Ontario.
by Carole Epp | Sep 11, 2009 | Uncategorized

September 11 – 13
Northern Clay Center announces its annual fundraising benefit and celebration of the art of the pot: the 2009 American Pottery Festival, September 11 – 13. If you like pots, potters, and other people who like pots, this event is for you. The three-day Festival draws together collectors, artists, students, and clay buffs, providing everyone with an opportunity to share their love of clay, and also bringing in much needed revenue for both the participating artists and for NCC exhibition and artists’ support programs.
As always, an outstanding roster of potters will be featured, including Minnesota’s own Warren MacKenzie. Festival-goers will enjoy a rich variety of work—some by established potters who have achieved a high level of excellence in the ceramic arts, and some exciting, new work by emerging artists. Participating potters include Chuck Aydlett (MN), Wayne Branum (WI), Sam Chung (AZ), Naomi Cleary (PA), Steven Colby (CO), Josh DeWeese (MT), Paul Eshelman (IL), Marty Fielding (VT), Marlene Jack (VA), Julie Johnson (NY), Gail Kendall (NE), Forrest Lesch-Middleton (CA), Warren MacKenzie (MN), Matthew Metz (NY), Sequoia Miller (WA), Joseph Pintz (OH), Kari Radasch (ME), Davie Reneau (KY), Steven C. Rolf (WI), Hide Sadohara (NY), Albion Stafford (NY), Shoko Teruyama (NC), and Betsy Williams (NM). Walter Ostrom, who recently retired from his long-time position at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, will be the special featured guest, who will deliver a lecture on Sunday morning.
For all the details check out the Northern Clay Center website.