Call for Entry: the American Craft Exposition

by | Mar 7, 2013 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

One of the country’s premier fine craft shows, the American
Craft Exposition, presented by The Auxiliary of NorthShore University
HealthSystem at Evanston and Glenbrook Hospitals, brings together 164
superior artisans exhibiting one-of-a-kind, museum quality work.

This important art event is also a major fundraiser supporting critical breast and ovarian cancer research and care
at NorthShore University HealthSystem. Artists support ACE’s funding
goal by participating in the voluntary Craft for a Cure program and
donating a percentage of a designated sale.

A highly competitive juried show, ACE features hand-crafted work in
12 media—baskets, ceramics, fiber decorative, fiber wearable, furniture,
glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper and wood.

 2013 Application Information
The 29th annual American Craft Exposition (ACE),
a juried exhibition and sale presented by The Auxiliary of NorthShore
University HealthSystem (NorthShore) at Evanston and Glenbrook
Hospitals, will be held at the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion on
Northwestern University’s campus in Evanston, Illinois. The jury will
accept approximately 150 craft artists.
Preview Party: August 22, 2013
Show: August 23 through August 25, 2013
Proceeds from ACE will support ovarian cancer research at NorthShore.
Deadline for Applications
Deadline for Applications: March 1, 2013
Deadline for Late Applications: March 15, 2013

APPLICATIONS AND FEES
When submitting credit card payment please click pay only one time and wait 24 hours. Then check “manage applications” to see if payment posted.
Applicants must
use the electronic application system to submit their information and
five (5) digital images. A nonrefundable fee of $50 for applying
electronically is payable online by American Express, Discover,
MasterCard or VISA from December 1, 2012 through March 1, 2013. The fee
will increase to $75 for applications submitted March 2 through March 15, 2013.                                
Emerging Artists
To encourage the participation of craftsmen who are beginning their
careers, an Emerging Artist category is available. This option is open
only to those who have been practicing
their craft for less than six years and who have never exhibited at
ACE. If you choose to apply as an emerging artist, you must do so
exclusively. The application procedure and fees are the same as for
other applicants. However, those who check the emerging artist category
will be juried separately from the other applicants. Those who are
accepted will share a large booth space with other emerging artists, thereby reducing their booth expenses.

Apply here for ACE 2013

Find out more: http://americancraftexpo.org

International Ceramics Festival Aberystwyth, Wales June 28-30th 2013

by | Mar 4, 2013 | Uncategorized

 

The
International Ceramics Festival is a biennial ceramics event,
organised by Aberystwyth Arts Centre and North and South Wales
Potters Associations at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, on the campus
of the University of Wales. The festival takes place over
three days and attracts about 800 participants. As well as
demonstrations by invited guests, there are illustrated talks,
international exhibitions, lectures, kiln building
etc.
For more
information about our festival please visit:www.internationalceramicsfestival.org
 
If you would like to join our mailing list please
email: [email protected]
 
International Ceramics
Festival
Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth
University, Ceredigion SY23
3DE
Tel:
01970 622338 (to leave a message please wait to be transferred
to the mobile number
below)
Mobile:
07531146638

Great Bowls of Fire – tickets still available – don’t miss your chance to support a great cause.

by | Mar 2, 2013 | Uncategorized

Yes, we still have Great Bowls of
Fire tickets to offer you, and they are now being sold in three
locations, $45 each. Cash please! This is the 8th year that the Ottawa
Guild of Potters volunteers are oganizing this event with proceeds going
to the Ottawa Food Bank.

Il Primo Ristorante, 371 Preston St.
Allium Restaurant,   87 Holland Ave.
Thyme and Again, 1255 Wellington St. W. 

Remember
the action takes place this Saturday, March 2nd at the Glebe Community
Centre, 175 Third Ave. starting at  5pm. Check our blog for the 14
delicious soups and fresh baked breads that are in store for you.  And
admire the variety of handcrafted pieces that will be auctioned during
the evening.

Also, don’t forget that after you have tasted these wonderful soups, you keep your handcrafted bowl for future dining.

www.ottawaguildofpotters.ca

Guest Writer: Melissa Monroe – Taking Handmade Pottery to Wholesale Markets

by | Mar 1, 2013 | Uncategorized

When Melissa contacted me about a guest post about wholesale markets I was thrilled. This is an area of business growth I’ve glanced at only to shy away and figure I was no where near close enough in my practice to even consider. But at the same time I’d like to move away from consignment shops towards wholesale orders. Maybe someday I’ll be orgazined enough. Thanks Melissa for this insight. You make it feel less intimidating!
I encourage everyone to comment on the post with their advice and experiences. Would be great to have a bunch of perspectives added to the discussion. 
Thanks Melissa for sharing your experience and your beautiful work with us.  
   
When I started making and selling pottery five years ago, it
was easy to grow my business one local show at a time.  I started out with farmers markets and
grew into doing larger juried shows around the Chicago area. These shows have
been great and I have been very happy to be successful and profitable.  While attending the art shows, my work
was seen by various store owners who were interested in selling my
pottery.  When I was first
approached for a wholesale order, I was completely unprepared and unsure of how
to handle this type of marketing.  After
a year of thinking and planning I decided to attend my first wholesale show
last January.

I attended the Beckman’s Handmade Market at the Merchandise
Mart in down town Chicago. This is a market runs in conjunction with the other
wholesale shows within the Merchandise mart.  I was excited to wholesale and also completely nervous.  I really wanted to have a successful
show.
Most of the work I create is one of a kind and based on a
theme.  I knew I had to limit my
selection of pottery for a whole sale event.  I selected pieces from my most popular sellers on my Etsy
site and best sellers at my shows.  I then I started narrowing down my color combinations and creating
sets for ordering.  I needed to make
things that I would be able to reproduce easily with consistent results.  After settling on the pieces to bring
to whole sale, I made a catalog of the work to hand out. Then I created the
hardest part, a price sheet.
It is hard to cut retail prices in half. I have a very good
idea of what price point my pieces will sell and I knew doubling my retail
would not work.  When I consider
show fees and time spent and fairs (rain or shine), I knew I could accept half
of the retail cost and still make a profit.
The wholesale show itself is an entirely different event
from a regular art show.  The
crowds are smaller and the pace is much slower. Buyers want you to be ready to
point out best sellers and write up the order (bring a clip board).  Payment for work is usually collected
when the items are shipped out, not when ordered.  Some artists take half up front and collect credit card
numbers at the show. It is up to the artist how they choose to take payments.
The show went well and I made my personal goal of finding
retail stores that want to sell my work. 
I feel comfortable that I can fill these orders within reasonable amount
of time. I am hoping reorders will continue to help me grow my business and
maintain a steady income throughout the year.  Wholesale may not be for every artist, but for myself, I am
glad that I tried this method of selling my work.

Melissa Monroe is an artist living and working in Mokena IL.

She sells her work through her Etsy store Melissa Z Monroe Pottery and at shows around Chicago.

You can see her work at www.melissazmonroe.com