Reflections on NCECA 2018

As an avid dino devotee, I found this year's logo particularly delightful. Showing off my new T-shirt here by The Artstream Gallery, one of my favorites to peruse every year.

​I'm not sure what's flown by faster: the month since I was in Pittsburgh or the week I spent there. Either way, life has been a whirlwind lately, and I'm realizing the importance of making note of the significant, formative moments of my clay life (largely to help myself remember!). I've traveled more in my last few years than most of the rest of my life, especially for my love and pursuit of greater clay knowledge. I'm regretting now that I did not write reflections on my journeys in 2016 to Kansas City, Missouri for NCECA and to Chicago/Aurora, Illinois for the Waubonsee Wood-Fired Conference, nor last year's trip to North Carolina for the Woodfire NC Conference. What was I thinking?! These experiences have done so much for me in my growth as an artist, and as an individual. The expansion of my ceramics family across the country(the world, really), humbles and delights me. The instant connection when we share our triumphs and struggles makes me thankful every day that I immersed myself in clay. Whew! Pardon me, am I getting too mushy? I admit it, the passion run deeps and I'm prone to expound on it. Moving on....  This year marks my 4th NCECA since my clay captivation, and I want to share some of my favorite sights and experiences.

A T-Rex welcome at the Pittsburgh airport immediately assured me of a good time.

The weather in Pittsburgh was unlike any I've ever experienced: rain, sun, snow, wind, sun, snow & wind, repeat....

I walked several thousand steps around these tables with this hard-working crew to stuff the informational bags for conference attendees.

The rest of my volunteer shift required me to help Laura Jean McLaughlin build the Unity Shards mosaic project. (Best volunteer job ever!)

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I did not take enough pictures of pots or people with whom I spent my time in Pittsburgh.  I think I first brought out my camera at Standard Ceramics for Julia Galloway's spectacular and poignant Endangered Species Project.  I think you can see why.   These plates, meticulously decorated with platinum  and mother-of-pearl luster, represent species at great risk--and extinct--in the state of Pennsylvania.  It was a sobering and awe-inspiring display.

In awe of Julia Galloway's installation with my friend, Meredith Chernick of Fern Street Pottery.

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Ash & Flash Exhibit, pots by Carolanne Currier

The last shows I visited before heading to the airport centered around wood-fired pottery, both displayed at the Sweetwater Center for the Arts. In the main gallery, "Ash & Flash", rich with luscious works, sparked my wood-firing desires. Upstairs, my mind was blown by Elaine Henry's "50 Bowls/50 States/50 Woodfires" project: identical bowls fired in different wood kilns across the country! An informative, eye-opening display, I sincerely hope she's able to publish her project someday.  Such invaluable information for both wood-firing potters and the collectors of their work.

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The juicy teal pooling in this bowl fired in Louisiana made this one of my favorites.

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 I thoroughly enjoyed "Collaborative Companions", at the magnificent Union Project--not just because it included the work of my friend Damian Grava (pictured in red), but witnessing how the voices of two artists come together is fascinating, and at times, breathtaking.  I'd love to get in on some collaborations in the future myself. Damian collaborated with Ian Childers and Eric Botbyl--splendid work, fellas!

Damian Grava and George Rodriguez, pictured with Damian's contributions to "Collaborative Companions".

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Here are a few more pieces that spoke to me. Sadly, I did not get the names of the first two artists pictured, but the wood-fired platter in picture three is by none other than American wood-firing icon, Jack Troy. (I'm seeing a trend in my favorites....🔥)

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I'm a people person....and I didn't ever realize that until I became involved with ceramics. Since then I've discovered that I need my clay community, these conferences, these connections that help me be the best me--within my clay life and outside it (yes, I have that, too). I thrive on those familiar smiles and hellos in the hallways, the winks across the hotel lobby. 😉 Like many folks, I'm reserved at the start of an acquaintance, but once that connection is made, I'm all in. Apparently at this NCECA, I was so in that these are the only people pics I brought home (the first I borrowed from my friend, Karen Wise (so wise she always remembers to take photos in the moment). To all those of you whom I shared this experience, know that I treasure every moment--my roomies, fellow wanderers, drink sharers, dance partners: Liz, JJ, Meredith, Heather, Amy, Simon, Harry, Irene, Damian, George, Sudhi, Ellie, James, Liz, Erin, Mya, Zak, Karen, Sean, Jake, Rickie, Kimberly...and so many more, including the new folks I met and hope to get to know better at future conferences. And to those I didn't get to see or visit with longer, let's try for more next year!

Hanging in a hotel bar with Karen Wise, Eliza Weber, George Rodriguez & Jake Corboy

Spent a lot of time with these lovelies: Amy Song, Heather Hitt & Meredith Chernick

At the Artstream with Simon Levin

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  So much to see and do in so little time...NCECA 2018 left me feeling like this wood-fired whiskey roller by Denise Joyal, which I purchased in Pittsburgh.
​The countdown is on to more head-spinning fun--as of today, only 11 months and 10 days to wait! See you in Minneapolis, clay family!