In October The Artisan Tile North West ATNW invited and paid for Josh Blanc, President of the Handmade Tile Association, to come out to Seattle to attend the ATNW 4th annual tile festival.  Josh juried their exhibit and give a talk to their members.  Josh talked to a very enthusiastic group of tile and mosaic artists wanting to learn from the ideas and concepts the HTA has been developing.  He encouraged them to colaborate with the HTA directory (some have already done so Dean Tile, Tile Restoration Centers, Convergence Design) and help them navagate some of the pitfalls of growth and management. 

The ATNW tile festival was a great show taking place in a historic building in Seattle.  They drew 400 plus people with 14 artist vendors.  They did a two day event with a Friday evening 6 - 9 opening and a Saturday 10 - 5 sale.  The similarities between the HTA's MN tile festival and the ATNW tile festival were very striking.  The same type of questions from patrons, the same issues of advertising to an audience were prevalent, similar sales, and similar group dynamics of artists getting to meet and get to know each other and become colleagues of each other.

Carol Dean and Steve Moon also took Josh on a tour of tile artists studios all over Seattle and up to Portland.  You can see photos of the work on the facebook page and see the whole trip. 

Carol Dean is working on a national tile conference with the Potters Council for June 2011. They are lining up a great group of presenters and workshop.  All HTA members should consider attending. More info will be forth coming in upcoming newsletters and in the 2011 directory.

The Artisan Tile North West located in Seattle WA has just published their first publication of a tile and mosaic artist directory!  This is big and great news that the polifiration of artisan tile groups are growing and thriving.  The Handmade Tile Association has been encouraging many tile groups to organize for years.  Every directory and organized tile group that develops helps create the sense that using handmade tiles as part of American culture is normal.  The more the public gets used to seeing handmade tile and mosaics the more they will see it as what they want in their homes and businesses.  To get a copy of this new directory contact Steve Moon.  Congratulations and we look forward to colaborating with ATNW for many years to come. 

Last month we made an error on the names of volunteers who helped at the MN Tile Festival and we wanted to thank those who were there this year not last. Thanks to the American Swedish Institutes volunteers who ran the gate, tours, food and set up and take down.  We could not have done it with out you all.

Jeanne Sielaff
Ron Hovda
Rod Erickson
Marisa Gonzalez
Deloris Anderson
Nicole Ellis
Cecelia Perry
Hanife Cakici
Harlan Widholm
Keith Elstad

Also in the mentioning of our new photographer this year I failed to say who she was.  Melissa Copon Photography took all of our great photos and has been an active part of the HTA this year as the Spotlight for Artist coordinator.  Thanks for all your work.

In October's Spotlight on Artists Sheryl Tuorila image link went to the wrong artist.  Here is the correct link