Do you remember the "Members Only Jacket," a fashion staple in the 1980s, which was marketed under the tagline "When you put it on, something happens"?
The stated mission of the IPCA is "to educate the public about polymer clay and
to study and promote an interest in the use of polymer clay as an
artistic medium."
With this mission in mind, the IPCA in 2009 achieved several goals to make "something happen" for our members. We convened a strategic planning meeting, published a 3-year retrospective catalog of Progress & Possibilities, hosted a retreat, sponsored a competition to assist members in entering the wholesale market, and redesigned and expanded the e-newsletter. This month we will host Synergy2 and kick off the fourth Progress & Possibilities juried exhibition.
In the day-to-day busyness of pursuing these tasks, it's always important to reflect on the central question, "What are the benefits of membership?" When you become a member does something valuable happen?
In our 2009 survey, IPCA members said they value on-line member galleries and the information the Association provides about classes and workshops, calls for entry, and on-line resources. Access to events and competitions were also considered member benefits.
Members requested increased responsiveness including new-product promotions, members' discounts, informational packets, and the use of national/international guild members as liaisons. Unity and the need to acknowledge all members were stressed, along with mentoring, juried shows, and ongoing connections with art centers and galleries.
Specific initiatives to address these requests in 2010 will include providing current data on health and safety issues associated with polymer clay, a beginner's guide to polymer clay, and the conversion of the NPCG slide banks to DVD. Potential future projects include a traveling display of polymer clay art, a speaker's bureau, and sponsorship of master classes.
Certainly each of the activities of the last year has, in its own way, contributed to the pursuit of our
mission. The officers of IPCA remain dedicated to making sure that when
you become a member something great happens! Benefits of membership will be
the keynote of the 2010 agenda.
As always, we rely on you, our members, to let us know what the "members only" label means to you and how we can better provide you with benefits of membership.
Suzanne Ivester
IPCA President
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Arrowmont's
Future Secure
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Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a nationally renowned arts center where many IPCA members have studied and taught the art of polymer clay as well as other fine-craft media.
The
Pi Beta Phi Fraternity founded Arrowmont in 1912 as their
Settlement School and owns the land on which it stands. Arrowmont's Board of Governors announced this week that the fraternity has
agreed to extend the current lease through August, 2012. This assures that all planned
workshops, exhibitions and other programs will continue without interruption.
However, there will be no further extensions of the current lease beyond 2012.
The Executive Committee of Arrowmont has appointed a task force to further explore alternative sites for the school and will examine the viability of
purchasing the acreage occupied by
the school in Gatlinburg.
Arrowmont Executive
Director David Willard, stated, "Each of these options provides
unique and exciting possibilities for Arrowmont. I've never beenmore
excited about our future."
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Hamsa by Naama Zamir, Israeli Guild
Classes & Events
For a current list of classes and workshops, visit the IPCA website often. And be sure to enter information about your events on our calendar. We rely on you to keep us up-to-date!
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Volume 3, Issue 2
February 2010
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"Five of the Best" DVD Available at Synergy2
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 "Five of the Best: Individual Evolution in Polymer Clay" was produced for the NPCG in 2004 by members Carol Simmons and Lynne DeNio as a slide presentation. It showcases the work of five American polymer clay pioneers: individual artists Celie Fago, Gwen Gibson, Victoria Hughes and Cynthia
Toops, and the team of Stephen Ford and David Forlano. These
six artists were invited to participate in this show because of the
excellence of their cumulative bodies of work and the importance of
their contributions to the advancement of polymer clay as an
artistic medium over a period of many years.
Each of the contributors to this show was asked to provide approximately twenty
slides and text describing:
- their studio/work environment,
- important influences on their work,
- different stages in their evolution as artists.
Since slide projectors are
n0 longer in common use, it was decided to digitize the Association's
slide banks. Elise Winters graciously undertook this task, and thereby
made these important resources accessible to current and future
members.
Denise Graham, Manager of the
Slide Bank, did a masterful job in creating a DVD presentation from the
digitized images and related text. The DVD
can be viewed on your computer or television and would be ideal for sharing with guilds and hobby groups.
"Five of the Best" will be offered for sale on-line and at Association
events beginning with Synergy2. This DVD is sure to be popular with
individual artists and clubs or guilds.
Thanks again to Carol and Lynne for producing the slide show and to Debi, Elise, and Denise for bringing our resources into the twenty-first century and preserving them for current and future members!
Plans are also underway to produce a DVD of the 2001 slide show "Illuminating a Medium: A Retrospective on Polymer Clay."
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Synergy2 Auctions Need You!
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Once again, Synergy
will include a silent and a live auction of attendees' work. This is an opportunity for you to
display your art and support the IPCA and the important programs it continues
to provide to the polymer community.
So bring your auction art donation with you and let us know if you want
it in the live auction during the banquet, with Tracy Holmes as our auctioneer
again this year, or the silent auction, where bids are secret and the highest
bidder is the winner!
Details of both auctions will be in your welcome packet and on the
website. Start thinking
about that special piece and look for the donation form in the January
Synergy newsletter and on the website.
Donations are tax deductible.
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| New Members Join the IPCA Board |
January marks a time of transition for the IPCA officers. We welcome enthusiastically our new board members, Christy Minnis, Vice President for Membership, and Pete Rumbaugh, Member-at-Large from Virginia.
From Pete Rumbaugh:
Hi everyone.
Suzanne asked me to write a couple paragraphs about myself and told me
to behave while I did it, so that should tell you something about me right off
the bat!
I'm a transplanted Yankee from NW Pennsylvania living in
Bristol, VA., with my boyfriend (at my age is boyfriend really an appropriate
term?) and our two dogs.
In "real life," I'm the clinical director for a residential
substance abuse treatment center and love my work. I've introduced several of my female clients to clay and
have set them on the path of a new, but much less destructive, addiction!
As the new member-at-large from Virginia, I'm very excited
to be part of the IPCA. I'm a member of the Blue Ridge Polymer Clay Guild, the
best guild around!I've only been
claying for a few years and find it very rewarding. I'm a fan of mokume gane and use this technique in a lot of
my pieces. I typically make
jewelry--or I should say "pieces for jewelry," 'cause I'm great
out of the gate but not so much on the last lap.
I'm looking forward to serving on the board and hope to
meet many of you soon, either face to face or on-line. If you're ever near Bristol, give me "a holler"!
From Christy Minnis: Hello to all the great polymer clayers and supporters who are members of this fantastic organization! As your new V.P. for Membership, I hope to help everyone get the most out of their membership. Already this year, we've had lots of international members j oin, and our U.S. members are going strong.
I live in Texas but grew up in Colorado, where it seemed everyone we knew was crafty. I tried several different crafts (and I'm trying to get my mom to get rid of most of my early efforts--Mom, the cross eyed lamb has got to go!) before discovering that I really love all the things polymer clay can do. I want to share the enjoyment I find in working with polymer clay with everyone. I have an adolescent daughter, a very supportive husband, a ginormous golden retriever, and an arrogant black cat. Everything but the husband is available for adoption on any given day.
Hope to talk to everyone this year. If you have questions or problems with your membership, please let me know. I'll either fix it or direct you to someone who can.
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Progress & Possibilities 2010 Announced
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The IPCA is proud to announce Progress & Possibilities 2010, the fourth in a series of juried exhibitions for members only, and the first since the formalization of our international scope.
Several new facets have been added to P&P this time. As before, members will enter their work in one of three categories: Art Jewelry, Functional
Objects, and Sculptural Objects. But for the first time, each applicant will declare his/her level as Beginner,
Intermediate, or Professional.
A Beginner is defined as an artist who has worked with polymer clay for less than five years, who has never entered any competition, and whose interest in the medium is primarily as a hobby. An Intermediate clayer has more than five years experience with polymer, and/or is technically experienced in additional craftwork, who has entered competitions before but not the most prestigious competitions ones, such as the Nice Awards. Professional entrants include previous competitors for major awards, artists at the top of their game who earn a significant portion of their livelihood by the sale of their work. Entrants will select their own categories; however, committee members may reallocate entry category before judging begins.
This time, all IPCA members will be able to view all the entries to P&P on-line and will vote to select a "Members' Choice" award at each level of each category.
Submissions will be accepted on Cafe: Call for Entry beginning March 15,
2010. The entry deadline is April 16. Photos will appear on-line by May 3. Finalists will be announced by May 31, and winners, including the Members' Choice Awards, will be announced by June 11.
Final details will appear in the March IPCA newsletter.
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IPCA to Be Represented at Annual CODA Leadership Conference
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 The Craft Organization Development Association (CODA) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening craft
organizations by providing topical and innovative information and
resources to their leaders. It conducts research to provide advocacy tools and resources; hosts peer
group discussions and list serve on the CODA website, and strives to
increase visibility and public appreciation of fine craft.
The IPCA has been a a member of CODA for several years (previously
participating as NPCG). Our president, Suzanne Ivester, will represent the
International Polymer Clay Association at the annual CODA leadership
conference
in Savannah, Georgia, April 6-9. CODA's conference provides opportunities for professional development, communication, networking,
and collaboration among peers.
The theme of the this year's conference will be "Aspects of Identity." As organizations struggle to market themselves, grow memberships, expand services, and attract customers and funders, establishing a clear understanding of each organization's identity is a critical step toward successfully reaching its goals.
The CODA Peer Groups are representative organizations and individuals with similar needs and concerns who join together to facilitate communication, networking and collaborations during and after the annual conference. IPCA will participate in the "Guild and Member Organizations" Peer Group. One set of peer sessions is held at the beginning of the conference so organization leaders can begin connecting and networking. Another set of sessions is held at the end to afford participants a chance to touch base again and discuss plans for future communications.
The goal of our participation in these planning and networking opportunities is to focus and enhance the Association's marketing and development efforts with an eye to defining and increasing the benefits of membership.
Our participation in this valuable opportunity is made possible by scholarship grants from CODA and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
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Voila Hosts New Weekly Competition
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To encourage artists at all levels, every week, Voila! will spotlight
one member in each of four categories: Beginners, Intermediate, Proficient
and Advanced. The artists will be selected every Friday by editor's
choice on the basis of work submitted in the photo gallery. The selected artists will be featured on the
homepage next to their star piece.
Continue to upload your pictures on Voila! To participate in the run for a
particular week submit before the Friday of that week.
Reminder from Christine Dumont, Voila owner:
"Those of you who are just beginning, don't hesitate to put up pictures, even if
it's work in progress. We are here together to help each other."
"Cibola" pendant, by Polypammie, Polymerista of the Week, Jan. 30, Advanced category.
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In Memory
Mary Lee Forsythe
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IPCA member Mary Lee
Allen Forsythe of Hendersonville, NC, died suddenly in her home on Tuesday, January 26,
2010. Mary Lee was an enthusiastic and talented polymer clay artist who attended many retreats and conferences across the United States and will be remembered fondly by countless in our community. A valued member of the Blue Ridge Polymer Clay Guild in Asheville, NC, and a friend to all, she was memorialized eloquently by BRPCG president Teresa Haynes:
"Mary Lee was a light in a
sometimes dark world. The hole she has left in our guild and in our personal lives is profound. If the workings of an artist's hands is a
reflection of the soul within, then we should feel honored that we
were able to witness a truly joyous, gentle soul through the
beautiful creations that she made and shared with us. We should count ourselves blessed to have been a
part of her life and her art. She has moved to greater things than can be offered on this plane of existence. This world is a more wonderful place for her having touched it."
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Polymer in Print: What's New?
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 New Books
- IPCA. Progress & Possibilities A three-year retrospective catalog containing 115 color photographs, 2009.
- Friesen, Christi. Steampunkery: Polymer Clay and Mixed Media Projects, Jan. 16, 2010.
- Pavelka, Lisa. The Complete Book of Polymer Clay, Feb. 2, 2010
- Rodgers, Carole. Beyond Beading Basics, Nov. 29, 2009.
Books Coming Soon
- Haab, Sherri. Jewelry Inspirations: Techniques and Designs from the Artist's Studio, March 9, 2010
- ------. The Art of Metal Clay, Revised and Expanded (with DVD), July 27, 2010.
- Kimle, Patricia. Perfectly Paired: Designing Jewelry with Polymer and Metal Clays, April 1, 2010.
E-Books
Barton, Diane Dobson. Artist: How-to.com. Polymer People: An Artist's Method of Sculpting the Adult Head in Polymer Clay.
------. Polymer People: An Artist's Method of Sculpting the Adult Torso in Polymer Clay.
-----. Polymer People: An Artist's Method of Sculpting Hands and Feet in Polymer Clay.
Magazines
Polymer Cafe, Feb. 2010
Easy Snowflake Cane Earrings - Beth Curran Wrapped Hearts - Jeannie K. Dukic Elegant Necklace - Anke Friedland Alaskan Canned Red Salmon - Karen Ottenbreit Faux Jasper Cabochon Bezel Necklace - Marilyn Ray Knopic The Flower Power Challenge Winners Snow Lady - Elizabeth Frum Alcohol Ink Mokume Gane - Michelle Herren A Lovely Heart Coaster - Laurie Lecomte
Bead & Button, Feb. 2010, "Put It in Reverse: Make a Reversible Polymer Clay Pendant," Sheryl Yanagi
GreenCraft, Feb. 2010, "A Handle on Elegance ," Suzanne Ivester (mixed media, no polymer clay)
Bead & Button, April 2010, "Customize Your Jewelry for Less with Polymer Clay and Metal Clay"
Bead Unique, Spring 2010, "Wildflowers," Laura Timmons
Congratulations to Lindly Haunani, Carol Simmons and Maureen Thomas, winners of the Step-by-Step Beads Colorworks Challenge 2009.
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Calls for Entry
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Exhibitions
Arts on Fire Juried Exhibition, Pacifica, CA,
deadline Feb. 9, 2010
Liberadores/Liberators, Denver, CO, deadline Feb.
12
Sculpture in the South Show & Slae, Summerville,
SC, deadline Feb 15
Vail Arts
Festival 2010, Vail, CO, deadline Feb 22
Fine Arts on
the River 2010, Savannah, GA, deadline Feb 22
Telluride
Festival of the Arts 2010, Telluride, CO, deadline Feb 25
CityArts
Dallas 2010, Dallas, TX, deadline Feb. 26
CraftTexas
2010, Houston, TX, deadline March 1
Polymer Revolution, Lexington, MA, deadline March 30
Juried Guilds & Associations
Piedmont Craftsmen 2010, open to artists who live or
work in
Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia or
the
District of Columbia, deadline April 16
Artspace Artists Association, Raleigh, NC, deadline
April 1
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Forget Something? Check Our Archives
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 If you can't remember something interesting you saw in a previous issue of The
International Polymer Clay Association News,
don't despair! Just go to our website,
log in, and click on the IPCA Newsletter Archive button in the
left-hand column. All issues of the News since April 2009 are available
for your convenience.
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