Greetings!
In April we meet at Gary Erickson's studio in Minneapolis. Gary has been traveling to China's ceramic city Jingdezhen and learning how the Chinese have been making ceramics for over 1000 years. He showed us a very intriguing video of the practices of how the ceramic workers make large scale pottery and tiles. Starting from pounding down the feldspar to make the clay to the process of throwing, assembling and glazing monstrous 15' pots and large scale tiles. Some of the tiles Gary showed on the video were 4'x 8' the size of sheetrock! They were flat and flawless.
All of us watching were surprised at the working conditions of the ceramic factories where the workers trimmed pottery in the greenware stage instead of the leather hard stage. Lots of dust and no standards for safety seem to be applied. Gary told us that the clay workers did not see themselves as artists more as workers. They did not go home and work on their clay sculptures after there 10 hour workday 6 days a week. A different mentality then western thinking.
Gary has been going over for the past two years to Jingdezhen and is preparing to go back in a couple of weeks. His big find that he gave us a demo on was ceramic underglaze decals. He said the U.S. has overglaze decals but he has not found any underglaze until his trip to the ceramic city. Gary has been experimenting with the decals to see how he can apply them to different forms and distort their original intent to make his artwork. Gary is working to find galleries to show his new tile work. It was a great presentation and showed a different side of the Chinese ceramics then what we see and read about.
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Registration open for tile conference
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The national tile conference is now open for registration!
HANDMADE TILE & MOSAICS
Past Present and Future
September 18-20, 2009 | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Hosted by Handmade Tile Association and Potters Council
SPACE IS LIMITED
Featured Ceramic Artists
Learn From the Experts
This
conference will bring together a diverse group of presenters and
artists to discuss and work on issues surrounding handmade tiles and
mosaics for the 21st century. As the tile community becomes more of a
national community, we have a need to continue to engage each other and
help develop new talented artists to the field. The tile conference
will focus on the main challenges many tile artists face in developing
their tile art, as well as developing new skills. Read More click here.
The past two conferences have been sold out.
Register early and Save $75 ends June 26, 2009
Don't delay Register Today!
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MN Tile Festival registration filling fast
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The
2009 Minnesota Tile Festival registration forms have been sent to over 200 artists and the applications are coming in fast and furious. We have only 4 outdoor spaces left and 20 inside table spaces left. This is good from the HTA perspective but for those who like to procrastinate we advise don't do it this year. With the national tile conference going on at the same time we are getting a lot of new artists so if you have plans to do the show register today! Click here to download an application.
The show is a first come
first serve basis. The Minnesota Tile Festival will be held Saturday,
September 19th, 2009, from 10 - 5 at the American Swedish Institute.
Deadline for applications is August 20th.
The 8th annual
Minnesota Tile Festival is a one-day event for those who love tiles,
make tiles and collect tiles. in the building and on the grounds of the
American Swedish Institute. The ASI is centrally located in
Minneapolis. The MN Tile Festival attracts 1000 tile and mosaic
patrons annually.
The 2009 MN Tile Festival will be held in conjunction with the National
Tile Conference "Tile and Mosaics, Past, Present, Future" presented by the Potters Council and
the Handmade Tile Association.
List of partnering groups
Potters Council - Tile Heritage Foundation - Edina Art Center
Mosaic on a Stick - American Swedish Institute
Handmade Tile Association - Christien Nelson Design
Next month we will detail the marketing plan and how you can be a
part of it. Early details will be on the MN Tile Festival facebook page.
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Bloomington Art Center Show Info
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Submited by Leann Johnson To all Handmade Tile Association members:
The Bloomington Art Center (BAC) has confirmed that HTA is part of the
"Art in the Home" show in their Inez Greenberg Gallery. A big thanks
to the members who submitted photos and information that went into the exhibition
proposal!
We'll be sharing the space with a woodworking group. This is considered a home
show, so decorative tiles, fireplaces, tables (or other furnishings), trays as
well as formal art are all good pieces for consideration.
Each artist can submit
up to 2 pieces up to a 6 x 6 x 6 foot space; if you need more space, please
contact Rachel Flentje at rachel@bloomingtonartcenter.com or at 952-563-8570 to
discuss options.
If you're interested in participating, here's what you need to do
and send
no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, June 1: Completed Exhibition
Contract (attached). Each artist gets 50 postcards. Be sure to include a check
if you want more postcards (at 20 cents a piece). Be listed in the 2009 HTA
Directory. (If you're not listed
currently, please contact Josh at josh@handmadetileassociation.org
or 612-781-6409 to be
included in the 2010 directory.)
Please
send the following no later than 5 p.m.
on Monday, August 17:
Completed Exhibition
Program-Promotional Photos
sheet (attached) Images of work that
will be in the show.
(Do not send images of work that will not be in the show.)
The images can be slides, photos, or digital files. If sending digital files,
they must be 300 dpi (resolution), 3 x 5 inches (physical size) and in either
JPEG or PDF format.
These images will be used
for promotion. BAC will send press releases through their newsletter, Sculpture
Magazine and Ceramics Monthly. If you have newsletters, local newspapers or
other publications to whom you want press releases sent, please include with
your images:
Name of the
publication
Press deadline
Department or editor name
Publication address
By submitting these
images, you grant BAC permission
to use them for promotion.
Please
deliver artwork to BAC at 12:00 noon on
Saturday, January 9, 2010 with:
Completed Exhibition Loan
Consent Form (attached).
If you're a BAC member,
there's a 25% commission.
(BAC isn't charging us to be in the show; if you're
interested in supporting BAC by becoming a member, go to http://www.bloomingtonartcenter.com/Pages/Membership &
Donation.htm.)
If you aren't a member,
there's a 35% commission.
If the piece is not for sale, BAC still needs a
value (minus a commission) for the sake of insurance.
Updated resume
(unstapled)
Artist statement
Calendar
summary:
Monday, June 1: contracts are due (and
indicate if you
want additional postcards)
Monday, August 17: images, and additional press
release addresses are
due
Saturday, January 19: deliver artwork to BAC with
loan consent form,
resume and artist statement at 12:00 noon
January 15-March 12, 2010: exhibition dates
January 15: Opening Reception from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
March 13: Pick up artwork from BAC starting at 9:00 am
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Northern Clay Center Sales Gallery Opportunity
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Sales Gallery Jury in June Northern Clay Center will conduct its biennial review of the artists in
the Sales Gallery this June 2009. The review allows for both a
consideration of work by new artists, and a reevaluation of work
presently in the Sales Gallery. Three to six clay artists may be added
to the roster of artists represented by the NCC Sales Gallery during
the year and/or for the Holiday Exhibition. A panel of NCC staff and
one or two non-staff individuals who are knowledgeable about ceramics,
art, design, and retail will jury the work. Interested artists should
visit the NCC Web site for detailed application requirements,
deadlines, and the Sales Gallery Application Form.
Applicants must submit the following materials to the Clay Center by 5 pm on Wednesday, June 24, 2009:
· A completed Sales Gallery Application Form
· A current resume or vita (no more than two pages)
· An artist statement (no more than one page)
· Information about other sales representation
· Up to but no more than ten digital images of current work, with detailed information about the work including dimensions, materials, firing method or finish, and price
The application materials listed above may be submitted electronically, to salesgalleryapplications@northernclaycenter.org.
Click here for the entire prospectus and application
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Next Meeting
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Our next meeting will be at Minnesota Clay
7429
Washington Ave S Edina, MN 55439
http://www.minnesotaclayusa.com/location.html
952-884-9101 x104
Agenda
A tour of the facilities
Show and tell - Bring a new tile work to show us what you have been up to.
Updates on Bloomington Art Show
Updates on the National Tile Conference
Registration of the MN Tile Festival
Pot Luck
Directions
Coming from the
East & 35W: Take 494 W to 169 N. Follow 169N to
Valley View Road (Valley View is the first exit traveling North on 169). At the
stop light take a left on to Valley View Rd. At the second set of stop lights
turn left on to Washington Ave. We are located on the left hand side of the
street, look for the white brick building between the buildings that have the
red roof covering their docks.
Coming from the West:
Take 494 S/E to 169 N. Follow 169N to Valley View Road (Valley View is the
first exit traveling North on 169). At the stop light take a left on to Valley
View Rd. At the second set of stop lights turn left on to Washington Ave. We
are located on the left hand side of the street, look for the white brick
building between the buildings that have the red roof covering their docks.
Coming
from the South on 169:Take
169 N to Valley View Rd. (Valley View is the first exit after passing 494). At
the stop light take a left on to Valley View Rd. At the second set of stop
lights turn left on to Washington Ave. We are located on the left hand side of
the street, look for the white brick building between the buildings that have
the red roof covering their docks.
Coming from the North
on 169: Take 169 S to Valley View Rd. (Valley View is the last
exit prior to 494) At the stop light take a right on to Valley View Rd.
You will take an immediate left on to Washington Ave. We are located on the
left hand side of the street, look for the white brick building between the
buildings that have the red roof covering their docks.
Time: 6- 8 pm
Potluck
Studio Tour
Presentation on Chinese Ceramics
Marketing Plan of the MN Tile Festival and how you can participate
Tile Festival registration
Tile Festival Postcards will be available
early registration for Tile Conference with updates
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We are looking for venues to have meetings for 2009 and 2010. If you would like to host a meeting please contact the HTA to set one up. info@handmadetileassociation.orgIf you are not in the Minnesota region consider creating a meeting of tile and mosaic artists in your area. The HTA can promote your meeting through this newsletter and on the website, Facebook, and Linked in. It is a great way to learn and promote tile ideas.
Sincerely,
Josh Blanc
Handmade Tile Association.LLC | |
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Art A Whirl
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 The 14th annual Art A Whirl is upon us on May 15th, 16th, and 17th. Over 600 artists participate and a dozen of the HTA members are part of the show. The HTA would love to mount a HTA show for 2010 if you are interested in being part of that go to Art A Whirl this year and see how it works and contact the HTA with ideas. We will discuss them at the next HTA meeting.
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Mosaic Tree
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Stacia Goodman completed this huge mosaic tree is finished and was installed last week at Kenwood
Elementary School. The part from the floor to the
yellow banner is about 7 feet high. The students made the leaves. The kite in the tree ties in
with other actual kites that hang in the school's atrium.
The snake at the bottom is made from erasers and dominoes; the owls are
crayons and pencils; the inch worm is coffee mug handles; the
butterflies have track and field medals in their wings; the kite has
pencils and glue stick caps; the bunny has earrings for eyes, etc.
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Two Perspectives Intertwined
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Gallery Show runs: April 25th through June 20th
Clay Squared to Infinity hours: Mon. through Sat., 11am - 5pm.
Admission is FREE.
Clay Squared to Infinity will showcase the mother daughter team of Norma Hanlon and Kirsten Walsted-- tile
artists who have been collaborating since 1996. Both have evolved from
making individual fish tiles to a complete array of handmade Bas Relief
tiles as art and for installations. 
Two Perspectives Intertwined will
show the growth of these two women and how they are taking a
traditional craft and pushing the boundaries of how to view tiles as
art through abstract conceptual imagery and story telling about Mother
Earth.
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Thank you to our volunteers
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Thanks and keep up the great work. If you have time we have projects. Please contact the HTA
to get the scoop.
Thanks to Josh Blanc for handing out directories at the Living Green Show visitors attended the show and over 300 directories were handed out.
Sandra Shaughnessy, Sharon Neff, and the Potters Council handed out HTA directories at NCECA
In May the HTA is looking to have someone enter all the people who have requested directories into the mailing list.
We are looking for eight volunteers for the MN Tile Festival
We need four volunteers for Arts and Crafts show the following weekend. It seems early but we need to start getting people on the list and get more help marketing the show. Please contact the HTA if you can commit to help.
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National Juried Tile Show
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The Edina Art Center is pleased t.o announce a special exhibition in
celebration of the National Tile Conference and the eighth-annual Minnesota Tile
Festival, which takes place this fall.
The exhibit, titled "The Nature of Tile," is calling for entries for a National Juried Tile Exhibition to be held at the
Center from Aug. 31 through Sept. 19.
Submissions are due Aug. 1. Contact Sandra Shaughnessy at 952-903-5788.
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