Call for entry – 12th Tokyo-New York Friendship Ceramic Competition

by | Jan 3, 2010 | , , , , , , , | 0 Comments

Entry Deadline: March 31, 2010
 Ceramic Artist Friendship Association, Inc. (“CaFa”) announces the 12th Tokyo-New York Friendship Ceramic Competition for the year 2010. CaFa was organized in 1997 to further the cultural ties between the sister cities of New York and Tokyo by encouraging and honoring the creativity of their clay artists. All ceramists from New York and Tokyo are invited to enter the competition. Eminent judges including Toshio Ohi, the 10th Generation Ohi Potter; David McFadden, Chief Curator of Museum of Arts & Design; Shinichi Doi, former conservator, The Metropolitan Museum; Cora Rosevear, Associate Curator, Museum of Modern Art; Halsey and Alice North, renowned collectors will select 100 of the finest works, 50 from New York and 50 from Tokyo.

An exhibition of the winning pieces will be presented at the Nippon Gallery from April 23 to April 29, 2010. The reception and award presentation ceremony will be held on Friday, April 23, 2010. Prizes will be awarded for outstanding works. Each entry will be judged for its aesthetics, creativity, originality, and technical skill. First Place Grand Prize winner will receive a round trip ticket from New York to Tokyo contributed by All Nippon Airways. We look forward to seeing you and your artwork that will bring New York and Tokyo’s sister city affiliation even closer. Application deadline is March 31, 2010. For more information visit http://www.cafaceramiccompetition.com/

Artist of the Day: Julie Lovelace

by | Jan 1, 2010 | | 3 Comments

Well I can think of no better way to ring in the New Year than with some thought provoking ceramics! Today is the official end to the Artist of the Day Month, and I sincerely thank each and every artist who participated. Thank you for generously sharing your work with me and the readers of musing. It has been a glorious month here at musing and here’s to a even better new year!

Today’s featured artist is Julie Lovelace, who I think I should maybe do a show with someday in the future as I think our works speak very similar dialogues, yet through their own individual voices. Julie’s work is meticulous, kitschy, and thought provoking. A great recipe for great ceramic work. Enjoy and all the best for the New Year.


“Artist Statement
The aim of my studio practice is to celebrate the duality of make believe and reality. I find particular interest in working with nostalgic images, as the past is often idealised and revered. My work has a strong ties with the innocence of childhood juxtaposed with current world situations. In the work I contrast the objects (moulded using commercial moulds) with columns and cubes, which act as plinths, giving the objects their individual space to occupy. Later these plinths become canvasses for decoration with layers of glaze, air brushed colour, transfers, and lustres.”
For more info about Julie check out her website and facebook page.

Artist of the Day: John Pickelle

by | Dec 31, 2009 | | 2 Comments

I can’t believe it, the last post of 2009! Thanks to everyone of you for such a great year.

Just a reminder that if you want to increase your chances of winning a piece in the giveaway you have limited time to add some comments to the “artist of the day” posts. You’ve got until midnight on the 1st of January to get your comments in.

Well we end this year with some incredibly beautiful and contemplative work by Jim Pickelle. Since I just received a website link as Jim’s submission I’ve chosen a few of my favorites to share with you, and today we’ll just let the work do all the talking…


You can find out more about Jim and his work through his website and blog.

Artist of the Day: Eva Gallagher

by | Dec 30, 2009 | | 2 Comments

There is something about this small creature inside of Eva’s pot that is so compellingly sweet to me. All I want to do is curl up inside of a gorgeous object like that and see the world from the inside out. Enjoy today’s pots


“BiographyIn 1968 when a painting course was cancelled I ended up taking a substitute – Raku. Clay, I discovered, had much more potential for creative expression. Through the 1970’s and 80’s I worked with stoneware and electric kilns, and sold my functional work at craft shops and fairs in the Ottawa Valley in eastern Ontario.After a 15 year hiatus, I returned to ceramics in 2002 with a renewed vigor to explore more varied work. Today I work mostly in cone 10 reduction, in porcelain and stoneware, focusing mostly on one-of-a-kind functional pieces. Working with gas has made me re-evaluate my work and I find techniques such as stamping, carving and appliqué the most satisfying.In 2008 I signed up for the year-long journey workshop with U.S. potter Steven Hill. As a result of studying with Steven I find my work is becoming more focused and contemporary. He has given me the courage to freely transfer my ideas and emotions into clay.After decades of work I feel that maybe my pots are finally beginning to talk and sing to me – and truly satisfy me.”

“Artist’s StatementThrough my ceramic pieces I strive to give outward expression to my inner feelings about various issues facing us today. At times it feels we are in an irreversible death spiral of consumerism, conflict, over-population, and environmental degradation.I trace my enjoyment of clay appliqué back to childhood when my teacher would illustrate stories with felt board cutouts and I would spend hours cutting out paper figures. Now it is my turn to tell a story about what moves me, using clay, glazes and my creative and artistic expression. I find that the exacting detail required in working with appliqué challenges my skills. The design has time to evolve as it is being constructed, giving me time to explore my feelings, with the end result frequently surprising me.Life is not always happy and cutesy as illustrated in children’s stories. There is always an opposite dark side. As in my ceramic works, we may choose not to look at it unless we deliberately make an effort to do so.”
CV 1967 – B.Sc. Zoology – McGill University 1968 – 1982 – member of the Deep River Potters Guild and self-directed learning with workshops Bob Bozak, Ken Cumberland, Sam Moligian, Keith Campbell and others. 1980 – 2002 – Public Affairs Assistant, Atomic Energy of Canada 2002 – returned to ceramics 2005 – Deep River Library Arts Juried Show – 2nd prize and Hon. Mention in 3-D 2006 – Valley Arts Council Professional Juried Show – 1st prize and Hon. Mention in 3-D Media 2008 – Valley Arts Council Professional Juried Show – 1st and 3rd prizes in 3-D Media 2008 – 09 Taught children’s pottery workshops at the Killaloe Youth Group, the Golden Lake Algonquians Cultural Centre, and the Arnprior Recreation Department. Workshops were sponsored by a Ministry of Culture grant via the Deep River Potters’ Guild and focused on aboriginal pottery. 2008 – 09 Steven Hill Journey Workshop – currently halfway through this year long study with Steven Hill. Work available at: From the Valley Artisans Co-op in Deep RiverThe Red Canoe Gallery in Wilno.

Make sure to check out check out Eva’s blog, if anything to have a look at the fish plates, which I think are my favorites.
http://stevenhilljourneyworkshopjuly2008.blogspot.com/2009/11/journeys-end-oct-24-25-celebration-part.html

NCECA – 2010 International Residency Programs

by | Dec 30, 2009 | , , , , , , , | 0 Comments

NCECA announces International Residency opportunities for all NCECA members. In 2010, NCECA will support three International Residencies. The first residency program is in Jingdezhen, China at the Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute. The second opportunity is in Skaelskor, Denmark at the Guldagergaard – International Ceramic Research Center. Our third partner is Zentrum Fur Keramik in Berlin, Germany. All residencies are approximately one month in length, to occur between July 2010 and June 2011. Deadline to apply February 15, 2010.

Artist of the Day: Robert Young

by | Dec 29, 2009 | | 1 Comment

I can hardly believe that artist of the day month is almost over…so sad! What are we going to do without our gorgeous daily dose of ceramics? I’m just not sure…
Well lets not dwell on it yet and instead enjoy today’s treasures by Robert Young. I love the carved lines in the first image.



Robert just graduated this month from the University of Guam with a double BA – Secondary Education, and Fine Arts/ Ceramics. Congratulations!

He says; “I am not what you would call a traditional student, as I started my freshman year at the young age of 50. Here I am 3 years later, ready to start a career as a certified teacher for high school, in ceramic arts. I started with painting and drawing, and still love doing them, but really had to work at it to produce anything worth looking at. Then I took a ceramics class, and discovered that I could get lost in time at the wheel. Several times I missed a whole day of classes, thinking I was just taking advantage of a two hour break between classes!”
Ha, I know that feeling all to well. I missed many a class in college distracted in the clay studio, and spent many a late night ignoring the clock, my hunger, the security guards and any common sense to fuel my clay addiction. It’s completely worth it in the end!
Make sure to stop by Robert’s website for more of his great work. The address is http://robertyoung.mosaicglobe.com/

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