New class alert
Coffee & Clay Weekdays scheduled
 | Intent Coffee & Clay student
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Our Saturday Coffee & Clay hand building class has been so popular that we decided to offer a second section beginning on March 20. Coffee & Clay Weekdays will run on Wednesday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. It will be taught by Sue Woestehoff, a long-time ceramic artist and member of the Ann Arbor Potters Guild. If you're interested in this class, sign up now. Enrollment is limited and we expect the class to fill quickly. |
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Field trip to UMMA
Chinese Folk Pottery:
The Art of the Everyday
From time to time this newsletter will take a field trip to look around and see what's new (or old) in ceramics on display. This month we go to the Shirley Chang Gallery of Asian Art at the University of Michigan Museum of Art to view a Chinese folk pottery exhibit that was part of a symposium sponsored by the Confucius Institute at the University of Michigan.
When you think of Chinese pottery, what do you visualize? Delicate, translucent celadon ware, elaborately decorated Ming vases, or snarling porcelain foo dogs? It's natural because those are the sorts of works of Chinese ceramics customarily displayed in museums. But most of the ceramic wares produced in China during its long history have been practical items made for everyday use.
 | At the exhibit reception
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Folk pottery has a long tradition in China, a tradition that is
now disappearing as ceramic wares are replaced with mass-produced utilitarian wares of other materials such as metal and plastic. The number of pottery making communities in China has fallen significantly. This trend troubled noted local potter Marie Woo and her colleagues John and Susanne Stephenson, also esteemed potters, so they set out to collect and preserve examples of the folk pottery still being made in China. You can see some of the results of their collecting in the Chinese folk pottery display at UMMA, which runs through March.
 | Viewers and wares at reception
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Woo and the Stephensons made it their goal to choose items showing "how traditional forms are reflected in modern work." The collection includes teapots; water vessels; a rice steamer; storage jars for pickles, wine, and other goods; captivating water droppers shaped like vegetables; an intriguing and clever shallow bowl created for use as a vegetable grater; a head rest; a decorative roof tile ornament shaped like a cat; and a spectacular white jar with an iron painted design. Additional items in the collection that are not on display can be viewed in an accompanying slide show.
To see the Stephensons' photos of their collecting trips in China, scroll down to the section "Ceramic Images from Travel" on their Travel page. But don't hurry past their other photos on the way! |
Drying attached handles: A potter's quick tip from Kay
Whenever you attach handles or other pieces to a pot, they will be wetter than the rest of the pot. For successful drying, it's important to let every part of your pot reach the same moisture level. To do so, cover the pot well for 24 hours. This will equalize the moisture level in all the parts of your pot. Then loosen the cover and let your pot slowly dry for a few days.
Got a pottery question for Kay? Ask away.
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We're looking for a few great pottery videos
The first Sunday of every month we have a free showing of an informative video featuring famous potters discussing and demonstrating their work; how-to techniques for throwing, hand building, and decorating pottery; or the history of pottery and potters. These showings are open to everyone who is interested.
The next two videos we will show have been provided by one of our Community Studio members. See the Studio Calendar in this issue for more details about the upcoming April video. And, if you have a pottery video you would like to share with your studio mates, let us know. We'd be delighted to arrange for a Sunday showing.
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Cone 10 firing scheduled for March 15. You can help!
A cone 10 reduction firing is planned for Friday, March 15. Wares for the firing will be loaded on Thursday, March 14, so get your cone 10 glazing done soon.
If you're a Community Studio member or an advanced student, get involved and expand your knowledge of studio procedures by signing up a shift firing the gas kiln on March 15. Please let Kay know if you can help out. Email Kay or call her at 734.662.4914
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Free pottery wheel and tools seek good home
The following set of items is available free from Heiju Packard's studio:
1) A treadle operated pottery wheel, made by JT Abernathy, metal frame, ht 37", table 38 X 26.
2) Drying bats, throwing bats, wedging table, scales, tools.
The wheel and the rest of the items go together as a package and are not available separately.
Heiju says the package includes "everything but a kiln and clay" that a potter would need. She wishes it to go to an aspiring or established artist who will love and appreciate this quality equipment.
Whoever claims these items must also have the resources to move them.
If you are interested, email Laura Strowe or call her at 734.665.8980 (between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm, please).
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Studio calendar
First Sunday VideoSunday, April 7, 2013, at 4:00 pm. Hand Thrown: East Asian Wedged Coil Technique. This video features artist Joyce Michaud, founding Director of Hood College's MFA and Graduate Certificate in the Ceramic Arts, demonstrating a coiling technique used in Korean, China, Japan and other East Asian countries to hand throw strong, elegant pots. This video runs for 129 minutes, so we will reshow it on Sunday, May 5, at 4:00 pm for those who cannot view the full video in one sitting.
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Cone ^10 Firing
Friday, March 15. Wares will be loaded on Thursday, March 14. Interested in volunteering? For details, see the Potters' pipeline in this newsletter.
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Winter 2013 classes
The second series of Winter classes is under way.
Beginning/Cont. Wheel Throwing
Mar. 7-Apr. 11
Thursdays, 12:30 to 2:30 pm. Instructor: Inge Merlin
Thursdays, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Instructor: Nancy Bulkley
Mar. 11-Apr. 15
Mondays, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Instructor: Kevan Wilson
Coffee & Clay - Hand Building Techniques
Filled
Mar. 2-Apr. 6
Saturdays, 9:30 to 11:30 am. Instructor: Nancy Bulkley New class! Coffee & Clay WeekdaysMar. 20-Apr. 24
Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Instructor: Sue Woestehoff Kids Clay ClassMar. 11-Apr. 8Mondays, 4:30-5:30 pm. Instructor: Nancy Bulkley
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Yourist Studio Gallery
Inspiring classes and workshops for new and experienced students
Bright, modern, fully equipped community studio workspace Comprehensive selection of pottery tools for sale Gallery exhibiting the works of celebrated artists
1133 Broadway Ann Arbor, MI 734.662.4914 youristpottery.com  |
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