Make and Do + National Clay Week want to see you working!

We all know that being an artist is an incredibly rewarding job but it’s also a lot of grueling hours and hard work. One of the most successful ways in which we as artists can help educate the buying public about the value of handmade objects is to share our stories and our processes with them. 

Make and Do and National Clay Week want to share these unique stories and processes with the world. We’re asking you to share with us little peeks inside your studio to help share the “behind the scenes” of what goes into each mug, bowl, sculpture, and work of art.

It’s easy to participate:
Step one – go to work on Monday morning (October 10th)
Step two – take a picture of what you’re working on in the studio that day.
Step three – tag it with #mondaymorningmaker and @nationalclayweek and @make_and_do_ceramics
Step four – upload it to your instagram account.

The rest is up to us!
So sit back and follow @make_and_do_ceramics to see into the studios of artists around the world.
Some submissions will also be shared on @potsinaction on Monday so send us your best photos.

And as always please help us spread the word by sharing this post. Maybe even send it to a few artists who you’ve been dying to see what they’ve been up to!

Thanks
xoxo
Carole + make & do members: Mariko Paterson, April Gates, Krystal Speck, Lesley McInally, Marney McDiarmid, Heather Braun-Dahl, Robin Dupont, Cathy Terepocki, Shane Weaver, Russell Hackney, Sarah Pike, Jenna Stanton, Katy Drijber

call for entries: Hard + Soft

about the exhibition

The Greater Denton Arts Council proudly
presents the 30th annual Materials: Hard + Soft International
Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition. Recognized as one of the
premier craft exhibitions in the country, Materials: Hard + Soft began
in 1987 and was originally initiated by area artist Georgia Leach Gough.
The exhibition celebrates the evolving field of contemporary craft and
the remarkable creativity and innovation of artists who push the
boundaries of their chosen media. In this anniversary year, we are
thrilled to be partnering with the National Endowment for the Arts to
expand this national exhibition to now include international artists.
Approximately 70 works will be selected by an esteemed juror for
exhibition at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center in Denton, Texas.

Full details here: http://dentonarts.com/materialshardandsoft

MUST SEE: The Democratic Cup

What Can Happen Over a Cup of Coffee?

The Democratic Cup is a political fundraiser that aims
to stimulate dialogue, energize individual voices, and raise money for
seven progressive causes. The cups have been collaboratively made by
ceramic artists and illustrators based in the US who want to counteract
the divisive and hateful rhetoric of this year’s presidential election.
The Democratic Cup believes that these cups will act as agents of social
change by generating positive political discourse. On Tuesday,
September 20th, we’ll launch the shop and open up for pre-sales of cups. 
 

Our Mission

The mission of The Democratic Cup is twofold: raise money for
progressive nonprofit organizations and create a more genuine and
respectful dialogue in American political discourse. A democratic and
familiar object, the coffee cup, will act as a catalyst for social
change and true dialogue.

The Organizers

The Democratic Cup is the brain-child of Ayumi Horie in Maine and Nick Moen
in North Carolina. Makers with an interest in social practice, they
joined forces as a way to make a positive contribution to the political
dialogue in this year’s presidential election. Ayumi has gathered
together 26 of the best ceramic artists and illustrators in the US to
collaborate on cups and Nick is heading up the fabrication team at his
new design production studio, The Bright Angle.

Social Engagement

The Socially Engaged Craft Collective will continue in the long tradition of conversations over coffee by using the cups in a series of public and private acts.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to Anna Metcalfe and Janine Grant for their research on this project and Laurie Harris for her photographs from The Bright Angle.

 
CONTEST:

What

A graphic illustration that speaks to progressive values and opens the door to conversation.

Technical

The drawing should be:
-one color
-at least 4″ high and a maximum width of 8″
-300 dpi, preferably larger
-the original art should be drawn to scale, no substitutions if you are chosen

How To Submit

Submissions will only be accepted through Instagram and Facebook.

Deadline: Tuesday, September 27, midnight EST

Voting

Voting continues until Tuesday, October 4th, midnight EST. You can vote
for multiple submissions, but not vote more than once per entry. You
need not submit to participate in voting.

Winners

Winners will be notified on October 5th. One top winner will be chosen
by popular vote and five with be chosen by The Democratic Cup.

Rules

Lewd or inflammatory images will be removed.
 

 
Find out more about the project on their website: www.thedemocraticcup.com