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Handmade Tile Association Newsletter

July

2009

10th Year


Greetings!

Our meeting in June took place at Minnesota Clay.  Owner Mike Myers gave us a full tour of the facilities showing us how clay mixers and glaze making process they utilize for their customers.  Mike said that Minnesota Clay mixes over 1 million pounds of clay a year.  Entry to MN ClayMuch of the clay mixed is for schools and for artists. Most of their clients are regionally based but they do have people ordering large sums of clay as far as South Carolina.  This came as a surprise to everyone in attendance.  Mike says that many times people might be from the Midwest and take classes in school and get use to a clay body and as them move to start their careers the clay bodies they have tried have not worked out as well as the ones they used in school and continue their relationship with Minnesota Clay. 

Minnesota Clay was established in 1957.  Mike has been running the business for the past five years.  They specialize in Olympic and Skutt Kilns and carry a large selection of tool and glazes.  They also dedicate two kilns for glaze renting. 

Clay mixer at MN ClayIn the meeting we talked about getting ready for the tile conference by submitting artwork for the juried shows and participating in the tile conference itself. 
We started to brainstorm on the ideas and goals people wanted to the HTA pursue over the coming years. It was a lively discussion with concepts of creating connections with other organizations that have similar missions or connections to the HTA's.  Ideas ranged from working with Tile Partners for Humanity.  Having a presence at Art A Whirl, a community project like a large tile mural, to talking about how to hang tiles and how to make a mold. At the next meeting we will prioritize our goals and start making a overall plan that lots of people can participate in. If you have ideas please submit them on the HTA Facebook page and have a lively discussion!

hta banner for websiteAttendance
Host- Mike Meyers
Ione M Roland
Leann E Johnson
Nancy Froseth
Roger Mayland
Linda Taylor
Susan Piazza
Josh Blanc
In This Issue
Tile Conference Bio of Presenter
2009 Commemorative Tile Unveiled!
A reminder for the Bloomington Art Center Show Info
Twin Cities Tile Tour.
Next Meeting
Welcome New Members
Last Days No Clay Feet* Here.
National Juried Tile Show
Things that HTA needs
Tile show of Pacific Northwest
Tile Conference Bio of Presenter
As we prepare for the National tile conference here is a bio of one of the artists presenting to wet your appitite on what is coming

CARRIE ANNE PARKS
Carrie Anne Parks of Alma College, Alma, MI, has taught tile making is a regular part of the 3-d design curriculum since 1982. Carrie Anne's figurative drawings and ceramic sculptures are exhibited nationally and have been included in numerous books on contemporary ceramics.

Carrie Anne Parks will be presenting on "Taking Tiles to School"
Based on Carrie Anne's experience in designing, building and installing ceramic tile murals in school settings, her presentation will cover practical aspects of working with teachers, administrators, school carpenters, parents and students. Seeming constraints such as climate, architectural structures, budgets and academic calendars can also serve as important design criteria that inspire tile projects that fill the special needs of schools and communities for which they are made.

Carrie Anne will demonstrate forming and glazing techniques appropriate for working with students in various grade levels and will discuss installation considerations including mounting, grouting and maintaining tiles. She will also show examples of a number of completed projects.

For more information about Carrie Anne, visit: http://othello.alma.edu/~parks/resume.html


The national tile conference is now open for registration
HANDMADE TILE & MOSAICS
Conquering the Challenges
September 18-20, 2009 | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Hosted by Handmade Tile Association and Potters Council
 tile conference web image for your website
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.
2009 Commemorative Tile Unveiled!

Karin Kraemer of Duluth Pottery designed our 5th commemorative tile for 2009.  A vibrant and expressive commemorative tile that we are sure will be a great fund raising tool for the Handmade Tile Association.  Only 25 will be made so make sure you reserve yours today.  Members can receive from 10% to 15% off depending on you level of membership. 
2009 Commemorative Tile image
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.
MN Tile Festival postcard image
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.
A reminder for the Bloomington Art Center Show deadline August 17th

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!

Please send the following
no later than 5 p.m.
on Monday, August, 17 2009:

Click here for more detailed information

If you're interested in participating you must commit to be an artist advertiser of the 2010 directory.  The 2010 directory will be the utilized as the exhibition catalog  (If you're not listed currently, please contact Josh at [email protected] or 612-781-6409 to be included in the 2010 directory.)
Twin Cities Tile Tour

Norma Hanlon tile and art enthusiast extraordinare has put together a Twin Cities Tile Tour. 
Saturday, October 10, 2009
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
St. Kates tile imagePlease join us for a day-long bus tour of beautiful handmade tile and mosaic installations that have been created and installed by artists and craftspeople in public spaces throughout the Twin Cities. Proceeds from this tour will help to create a scholarship fund for new and emerging tile and mosaic artists. More information available on the Registration Form (PDF).
Next HTA Meeting

When
Thursday August 6th
Time: 6- 8 pm

Where
David Aichinger Studio
1680 Edgerton St
St. Paul MN 55130

Agenda
BBQ!!!  Please bring some great food to grill.
Prices for the 2010 directory will be available.
Show and tell - Bring a new tile work to show us what you have been up to.
Last chance to sign up for the MN Tile Festival
Updates on the National Tile Conference
PR update of the MN Tile Festival
Other
Potluck
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. [email protected]

If 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
Quick Links
Welcome New Members

Business Members

Baer Designs, Inc
Marianne Baer

Martha Enzler Designs

Friend Members

Ginkgo Studios
Kathleen Allen

Susan Shaughnessy

Thank you!
Last Days to enter
No Clay Feet* Here
CALL FOR ARTISTS: Crossings is organizing an August 2009 exhibit
A Tile Exhibition
No Clay Feet* Here
Deadline: Saturday, July 18

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION CLICK HERE
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All finished art works must not exceed 18" x 18" x 8" or 20 pounds. Only wall art with suitable hanging devices will be accepted. Submissions must be postmarked by July 18.
ENTRY FEE
$15 per entry. If space allows, we will accept more than one piece per person.

For more info click here

National Juried Tile Show
DEADLINE AUG. 1, 2009 FOR ENTRY FORM & IMAGES

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.


Call For Entries Link

Things that HTA needs

Three tents for the tile festival - If you have an extra tent to donate for the MN tile festival please contact the HTA

Eight volunteers for the MN Tile Festival

Data entry

Pick up tile festival postcards and directories and hand them out all summer long
 
Join or start a committee to improve on projects you feel need to be accomplished.

Consider joining the HTA board

Tile show of Pacific Northwest tiles at Clay Squared to Infinity
Clay Squared to Infinity presents nineteen tile artists from the Artisan Tile Northwest organization of the Pacific Northwest.

postcard image and link

This show will be the first ever tile show focusing on tiles of the Washington and Oregon in Minnesota. Highlights will include comparisons of arts and crafts tile styles, flora, sex and fauna, color choices and cultural phenomna of the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest styles.

Gallery Show runs: July 1st through September 30th

Opening reception with the artists: Thursday September 17th 2009


ASI logo
 

potters council logo

Tile Heritage Foundation logo and link

Edina Art Center logo and link