Carolina Claymatters Pottery Guild

Winter Workshop - Silvie Granatelli & Bill VanGilder

2012-02-20T11:14:00.015-08:00

This past weekend our guild had their Winter Workshop. The presentors were Bill Van Gilder and Silvie Granatelli.

Bill different firing methods, techniques for altering your pots, throwing tips, use of various tools, including tools he has made and sells. He also spoke about the DIY program he participated in for awhile and his book from that experience.

Silvie throws her pots then alters them by trimming and using a shur form to trim and make corners. She then etches designs into her pots. She discussed her love of swans, which she incorporates in her work.

Both spoke at length about their careers, studios and appreticeship programs.

There was a large attendence and we learned alot. At the Festival in May we should see a number of those techniques reflected in some of the pots for sale.

To see more photos check out the photo page.

Holiday Party

2012-01-11T12:56:00.000-08:00

We had our Annual Holiday Party this past weekend. Judy Abdelaziz hosted. Doris Landrum opened with a short meeting. She thanked the outgoing board members, there were some announcements from the airport committee, programs and the DNC committee. We then had a great potluck dinner and got a chance to catch up with fellow guild members. Later we had the gift exchange and door prize giveaway. I think that all had a great time. See PHOTO page for more photos.

November meeting - Allison McGowan

2011-11-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

For our November meeting we had a bonus mini workshop. Allison McGowan gave a great demonstration showing three pieces using hard and soft forms. She gave some fun ideas about how to add feet and rims to handbuilt pieces as well as using darting to change shapes. See photo page for more photos. Before the workshop we had our usual potluck lunch. Membership forms were available at the meeting (they are now uploaded here on the membership page.)

October meeting - Ron Philbeck presentor

2011-10-31T10:55:00.001-07:00

Guild member Ron Philbeck was the demonstrator at our October guild meeting. Using a kickwheel he threw a casserole shape, then flattened the sides and using a cheese cutter, trimmed away the upper portion of the rim on the flattened sides leaving built in handles on the ends. He also demonstrated some of his scraffito slip work and passed around his homemade tools for scratching away the slip. For his critter drawings he says that it is most important to get the eyes right.

Fall Pottery Festival

2011-08-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

One of the longest running pottery festivals in the region was on Saturday, October 8, 2011 from 10 am - 4 pm. The Carolina Claymatters Pottery Guild gathered on the grounds of McAlpine Business Park at 8300 Monroe Rd, the charming site of an old dairy farm and small orchard.

Featuring more than 50 artists from both of the Carolinas, the wares were diverse in form and function. The day was beautiful and we enjoyed visiting with all that attended.

Be sure to "like" our Facebook page to receive notices about our semi-annual Festival.

Picnic

2011-08-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Claymatters members gathered on September 18th for a picnic at the Hickory Grove, SC home and pottery studio of John and Jan Myers. Valerie Hawkins conducted a business meeting and presented a bisqueware display from the Sandi Pierantozzi/Neil Patterson and Sam Chung Workshops. John Myers demonstrated his pottery technique of using a centered mold on the wheel to shape slabs of clay into predictable forms. A potluck picnic and freshly churned ice cream followed. Thanks to John and Jan for hosting this years guild picnic.

Sam Chung Workshop

2011-07-17T15:37:00.000-07:00

This years free summer workshop was presented by Sam Chung. He used patterns to make handbuilt forms with curves. Sam demonstrated this technique by making a pitcher, teapot and ewer. Great stories and thoughts were shared and fun was had by all. Sam's work is very whimsical and it will be great to see what everyone takes from the workshop.

June Meeting - Clay Olympics

2011-05-31T17:14:00.000-07:00

On June 12th Carolina Claymatters had the Clay Olympics at the monthly meeting. Competition was fierce. There were 3 throwing and 2 hand building competitions. First places went to: Valeria Hawkins (widest thrown bowl), Corine Gusman (tallest thrown cylinder), Vicki Gill (tallest handbuilt cylinder), Corine,Vicki, Lib (team relay- best handbuilt teapot) Judy, Robin, Lib (team relay - thrown large bellied pot). For more photos check out the past event page. The new video library was previewed for those attending. The barn sale meeting was set for June 20th at 6:30 at Carolina Clay.

May Meeting

2011-05-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

The monthly meeting was held on May 22nd at Carolina Clay Connection. Valerie Hawkins demonstrated monoprinting on clay as well as shared tips, including how to make a damp box. Valerie also brought her light box so that members could take photos of their pots. It was decided that the guild would start a video library. More details will be coming soon. Afterwards everyone ate potluck and had great conversation..

Pottery Sale May 14th, 2011

2011-05-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

Saturday May 14th was our Spring Barn Sale. The crowd was good, even with a bit of rain. Most came prepared with umbrellas or rain coats. We had to move all the booths outside and wrap them around the barn, due to the Barn being condemned. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. To see more photos of the day, please check out our Facebook page.

Keith Myers Demo

2011-04-01T05:44:00.000-07:00

On Sunday April 17th Carolina Claymatters had the monthly meeting at Carolina Clay Connection. Keith Meyers gave a demonstration. He spoke about getting his degree from Indiana University, his home studio and showed us how he makes his beautiful pottery. Many of his pieces have a loose, flowing, spiral design that really invite your touch. He led us through a very engaging workshop explaining each step and his thoughts about the process. He is currently teaching at the Cornelius Arts Center.

Mint Museum Tour

2011-03-20T17:08:00.001-07:00

The March meeting was held at the Mint Museum. Turnout was great and Verna Witt gave a great tour. Hopefully everyone came away with inspiration for new projects. To see more photos of the tour, see the past event photos page.

2011 Winter Workshop

2011-02-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Niel Patterson & Sandi Pierantozzi presented a great workshop at the CPCC Clay Studio this past weekend. Sandi handbuilds and showed us her techniques using patterns and darting. Neil throws his pieces on the wheel, then reassembles the pieces into unique pots. We had the highest attendence ever at 80+. I am sure that many of us will use things learned this weekend in our future work. See Past Event Photos for more photos of this event.

Holiday Party

2011-01-15T19:51:00.000-08:00

Tonight we had our Guild's Holiday Party. It was a great party as always, with great food and fellowship. After dinner we had our gift exchange and there were the usual oohs and aahs. Then we passed out the door prizes. Thank you to Michael Hamlin-Smith for hosting. See the past event tab for more photos.

November Guild Meeting

2010-11-24T10:10:00.000-08:00

Hal Dedmond and Corine Guseman were our demonstrators this month. Hall threw and added features to his face jug candelabra. Corine threw a large plate and a tall vase. She then carved her vase with a lemon zester (a favorite tool) Both spoke about their inspiration, background and firing.

Raku at Pottery Central

2010-10-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Sunday saw a small but hardy bunch of folks arrive at Pottery Central for a fun raku workshop. Several different techniques were explored including copper lusters, clear crackle, horsehair and naked raku. I believe everyone learned something by comparing notes and ideas no matter what their level of experience. I especially liked the use of wet newspaper as a "gasket" under the lid of the trash can during reduction.

It wasn't all work though, we also had our usual treat of delicious food and good fellowship. View more photos on the past event photo page.

Contributed by John Ferraris

Fall Barn Sale

2010-10-10T19:15:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was our Fall Barn Sale. The weather was great and there was a great turn out. Checkout more photos of the day on the Past Event Photos page.

Annual Picnic

2010-09-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

The annual picnic was held again this year at Verna Witt's house. There was lots of great food and fun. We held our meeting first with discussion about the Barn Sale, website and show oppurtunities. After eating a potluck dinner we had show and tell. It is always nice to see everyone and share ideas. Afterwards there was a plant swap. To see more photos, check out the past events photos tab.

John Britt Workshop

2010-07-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

John Britt presented a workshop on firing on July 25th. Indeed the ClayMatters workshop attendees were on fire or at least very warm in the un-air conditioned CPCC ceramic studio. John gave an overview of the clay firing and glaze firing cycles and then moved onto questions from the guild. He stressed the use of cones and tending to the firing process rather than trusting a programmed kiln. Kiln mechanisms often wear out or stick so a potters must observe what is going on. A good question concerned the difficulty in actually reading those cones when the kiln is hot. John says to use a high intensity flashlight in the spy hole. People asked about toxicity of glaze materials and John stressed the importance of having the kiln outside so potters can be away from poisonous fumes. To test pottery for toxicity he recommended a lab which could be contacted at www.BSCLAB.com. Questions about burners and bag walls, fire boxes and dampers were all answered. John maintained his enthusiasm and good humor the entire day. He closed with a smile and this thought about firing and glazes:"If a thing works, keep doing it".

Contributed by Dorothy Cole