Tag Archives: ceramics

Fishing Derby

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Ashlee – winner in 1st period A day
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Owen – winner in 8th period A day (the 5th grade class)

My clay lesson this semester was the fish sculpture.  I decided to do it with every class.  My 5th grade, the 8th grade art students and the 8th grade Studio in Art students.  It is such a great lesson because everyone starts with the same amount of clay creating a slab first that rolls up then adding the hand built elements.

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Paige – winner in 9th period A day
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Nathan – winner in 6th period Studio in Art
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Lauren – winner in 5th period B day

They are all so beautifully unique!  I decided to have a fishing derby.  I weighed and measured every fish.  Each class had a winner.  The prize was a small bag of Swedish Fish, lol.  Abraham’s was the biggest fish.  He won a giant bag of Swedish Fish!  So fun!

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Abraham – winner in 5th period A day and overall winner!
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Julia – winner in 1st period B day
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Anthony – winner in 9th period B day

Sizzling Summer Ceramics

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My new favorite place: the Half Moon Bakery & Bistro!  It is located at 6500 East Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, NY (13078).

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Cozy…and delicious!  The cupcakes are perfection.  This place reminds me of every Wayne Thiebaud painting I have ever seen.  Proprietor Debbe Titus prepared amazing quiche and salad (and iced coffee!!!) for my friend Bobbi Rock Petrocci, art teacher at Christian Brothers Academy, Dewitt, NY, and me last week when we visited to discuss our upcoming art exhibitions.  Mine will be during the month of October 2016.  We installed Bobbi’s show this morning.

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Bobbi’s former student Beth L. helped too – a recent graduate who will be attending college in Albany this fall.  We used the technique I call measuring!  Lol – math and art are like two fingers crossed, as are art and every other subject in school.  There was a lot of measuring here – to make sure the shelving was of unified height and the same distance apart and to insure the shelves were level.  This part took the longest but once the structure was in place, everything made sense and the pieces fit beautifully.  It is the first ceramics show in the bakery!

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It was really incredible watching Bobbi work out how to decorate this space.  It was as if her vision was coming alive before our eyes.  She used the small shelves to exhibit her own work alongside student work created during CBA’s Sizzling Summer Ceramics Camp.

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Students created these pieces during the intensive one-week event.  The work will be on display through the month of August 2016.

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For more information regarding this exhibition and the bakery including hours of operation, contact the owner at 315-492-0110 or check out the website – www.thehalfmoonbakery.com

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More information to come regarding my show including a plan to have a little gathering/reception, maybe on a Sunday afternoon.  I will be showing a dozen paintings.  Super excited! <3  And Bobbi Rock Petrocci will be back in November 2016 with a new crop of CBA student ceramic art!  🙂

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Great Feats

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Last night I went to the opening reception for the Feats of Clay student art exhibit at the Ann Felton Multicultural Center at Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, New York.  It is located in Ferrante Hall beneath Storer Auditorium.

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I was invited by my friend Bobbi Rock Petrocci who teaches art at Christian Brothers Academy.   I guess I expected to see a lot of student grade work, but noooooooooo!  This ceramic artwork is exquisite!  The quality is really breathtaking, as you can see from all the pictures I took.  But you should really have a look for yourself.  Because there are nuances in the glazes that the camera cannot capture.  And of course, everything is dimensional.

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The work comes from many area high schools, and it is not like one school dominates over the rest.  So amazing!  So much to see – hand built works, pottery wheel creations, slab sensations, etc.

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I did six weeks of student teaching  with Robert von Hunke at Fayetteville-Manlius High School over twenty years ago.  He, along with fellow retire-ry Peter Valenti (formerly of East Syracuse-Minoa High School) created Feats of Clay twenty-nine years ago.  Much like an Olympics for ceramic students, they participate/compete in several events creating clay items, throwing clay – each school working as a team.   This year’s competition will take place Friday, May 6, 2016 from 9:45 am – 1:00 pm  at OCC.

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It has grown exponentially to include this art exhibition, which is currently on display until the same day.  Individual area ceramists as well as the IPA (Independent Potter’s Association) awarded students prizes for their work.

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These awards included the best in teapots, hand building, wheel thrown and wall pieces.  Clayscapes pottery offered an award too.  See the complete list of winners on their website – here.

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The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm or by appointment by calling (315) 498-7220.

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Escape into Clay

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Clayscapes Pottery, Inc. is located at 1003 W. Fayette Sreet, Syracuse, New York (13204).  I buy clay for my classroom there – the Miller #10 is my favorite.  My colleague and I also buy kiln supplies – most recently new kiln shelves.

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In addition to merchandise, Clayscapes offers pottery classes and studio space.  They have recently begun a monthly Sip ‘N Turn party, which I have no doubt is a blast.  I would say that would be a lot more fun for me than to do one of those vino painting parties where everyone paints the same landscape.

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If you are interested in more information, go to their website here.  Or call them at (315) 424-6868.  You can tour the facilities at any time they are open:  Tuesday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.

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There is a gallery space as well.  I was there earlier tonight for the Independent Potters’ Association artist reception.  It is a group of eighteen extraordinary craftsmen and women.  The ceramics were displayed throughout the venue, but instead of remaining for the duration of the exhibition, they were being sold right off the shelves.  And selling like hotcakes.  The piece in the poster for the show was sold, as well as an exquisite vessel that left its podium in a blink of my eye.

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This makes me soooo happy.  Thank you, art patrons, for recognizing the talents of these terrific artists.

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It was a great party with free food and beer sponsored by Middle Ages Brewery.  Get it?  IPA for the IPAs (Independent Potter’s Association).  Members include Peter Valenti, Don Seymour, Wes Weiss, Jessica Pilowa, Tim See, Tina Parker, Jen Gandee, John Smolenski, Millie St. John, Bobbi Lamb, David MacDonald, Brenda Conley, Lindsey Scott, Matt Hill, Karen Smith, Rebecca Wind, Sarah VanderVoort, and Wendy Emborski.

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This show runs through April 30, 2016.

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Cup Almighty

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The Almighty Cup is a national juried show, as well as international ceramics exhibition.

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The difference between this show and any other I have ever been to at a gallery is touch, as in you can pick up the artwork!

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The mugs are functional, meant to be used.  Held. Caressed?  Lol  – so of course, you will want to hold the handle in your hand to see if it is comfortable there when you drink your morning coffee, tea, hot chocolate, warm milk etc., etc., etc.!

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Jen Gandee owns and operates the Gandee Gallery, which is tucked away in the nook of Fabius, NY in the old hardware store on Main Street.  It is here she lives and breathes art alongside her husband Errol Willett.  She also entertains birthday parties and nights out for friends who want to dabble in pottery making parties, which is GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!

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The art exhibit is nearly sold out due largely to internet sales and a great turnout at the opening reception I attended on Saturday night.

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Now is a great time to check out this adorable place!  (The amazing autumn in New York country drive is really spectacular.)  The Gandee Gallery is open Thursday-Saturday 11:00 am-6:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am-4:00 pm or by appointment.  Contact Jen at (315) 416-6339 or jen@gadeegallery.com.

http://www.gandeegallery.com/

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