2008 General meetings

• May 4 - 2:30PM (Sunday) - Directions
• July 30 - 6:30PM (Wednesday)
• October 19 - 2:30PM (Sunday) - Booth pick for Clayfolk 2008 Show
• January 18, 2009 (Sunday) - Annual Potluck and gift exchange.

Board members meet at 6PM

• July 14 ~ October 6 ~ December 1

Sites for board meetings have yet to be set. Current members are welcome to attend board meetings.

Pit Fire Program Presented at the May 4th General Meeting

Here are some tips for preparing pots for the pit :

(1) Use a cone 5 to cone 10 stoneware. Porcelain tends to crack. The color of your clay will affect the color of your pottery.
(2) Because your piece will be fired in the ground; large, thick pieces have a tendency to crack. Pottery can be made using the wheel, slap, pinch or coil.
(3) If you want your pottery to have a shine, when it is leather hard, rub a smooth stone, rubber rib or other smooth object over your pottery. This pushes the grog into the surface of your piece.
(4) When your pottery is bone dry, burnish it a second time. Smooth salad oil onto a small section of your pottery. After it dries, it will look hazy. Rub your smooth stone or other object over the pottery and your pottery should develop a high shine.
(5) Bisque fire your pottery at cone 017. If you bisque fire your pottery at too high a temperature, it will lose its shine. Your pottery will still be fragile, so handle it carefully.
(6) You can bring organic material to place over your pottery. Some people bring dried manure, dried banana peels, straw, seaweed (we have lots) or other interesting material to see how it colors your pottery. You may also place copper wire on your pottery. Wherever your pottery touches the sawdust on the bottom on the pit, it will turn black, so be sure to tell Jerry how you want it placed.

Go online and check out Eduardo Lazo for instructions on pit firing pottery :
www.vickihardin.com/articles/pit-fire-ceramics.html
For more advance information on using Terra Sigillata and some great photos, go on-line to :
www.robertcomptonpottery.com
Another on-line site with lots of link can be found at :
www.claystation.com/technical/firing/pit.html

If you still have questions, call Jerry and Shirley Huft at 541-476-0593. Fired pieces will be held at the Huft's house either until you pick them up, or until the Hufts bring them to the following meeting. ~ Shirley and Jerry Huft

Feats of Clay XXI International Show and Sale

April 30 to May 25 / 9AM to 12PM / Lincoln, California

This event will attract thousands of visitors. The event will take place in the historic and still active Gladding-McBean factory. The factory's fabled grounds and massive beehive kilns will be open to tours. This is an incredible contempory ceramic art show featuring artists world wide. For group information call 1-800-773-0522 For additional information visit : www.placertourism.com

ISLAND CLAY

June 27-29, 2008 Garden City, New York

Hosted by Adelphi University and Potters Council
Naked Raku, Saggar, Pit and Salt -- A Combustible Combination
A comprehensive conference filled with everything you need to know on alternative firing methods.
Featured Artist : ANTI LIU, HUGH McELROY, MENA ROMANO, JEFF SHAPIRO, and BILL SHILLALIES
Keynote Speakers : ARTHUR GOLDBERG, JUDITH SCHWARTZ, and JEFF SHAPIRO

Hummingbird Workshops

We have another great line-up of ceramic workshops for this summer including pottery, handbuilding, sculpture and a 5-day glaze intensive. In the interest of keeping this newsletter short please go to: Information and application at hummingbirdsouthernoregon.com or call 541-899-7045

Oregon Convention Center

777 NE. Martin Luther King Blvd. Portland, Oregon
April 25 - 27 : Friday and Saturday 10AM to 9PM - Sunday 10AM to 5PM
Clay, Glass, Metal, Textiles, Beads

Showcase is the Nation's largest show and sale of handmade clay art featuring two galleries of the finest work of ceramic artists of Oregon and southwest Washington; Ikebana arrangements and vessels for flowers by OPA members; Sculpture Garden emphsizing cutting edge work; Interior displays in designer home environments. Demonstrations all day, every day by nationally recognized potters such as Alissa Clark, Dennis Meiners, Leslie Lee, the Japanese Hokkaido Potters, Biran Jones just to name a few. Educational Booths sponsored by Schools and Colleges offering information about ceramics programs available in our area. There will be Oregon wine tasting, door prizes and the admission is Free!!

CLAYFOLK WORKSHOP with "TEA" THANHBINH DUONG

WHEN : Saturday May 17th 9:30AM - 4:00PM & Sunday May 18th 10:00AM - 3:00PM
WHERE : The Ceramics Department at Southern Oregon U - 1250 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland OR 97520
PRICE : $60 Clayfolk members $70 non-members (**$5 extra if paying at the door)

Known for his effortless throwing and humorous teaching style, Tea (Thanhbinh Duong) impressed the crowds with his demonstrations at Clayfolk 2007. Now he presents a two day hands-on workshop during which he will assist participants with individual throwing issues as well as discuss his wide range of firing experiences including Anagama, salt and soda kilns. Tea has over 20 years experience working with clay. Come and share a fun and inspirational weekend and discover "new possibilities" in your own ceramics journey.

"Share my technique of how to move clay with less effort and energy, my passion for pushing clay and pushing flame."-Tea Thanhbinh Duong

Bring : Questions, notebook, clay, tools, water bucket, and a sack lunch (or restaurants are close by).
For more information contact : Penelope Dews at 541-535-1128 or workshops@clayfolk.org
Make checks out to CLAYFOLK & send to Penelope at 208 Locke Lane, Phoenix OR 97535

Remember … show off your work on our webpage

Members are urged to participate in the Clayfolk website Gallery. You can have up to three images, your name and business name, an email contact, a link to your webpage and a brief bio (up to 150 words). Digital requirements are : 72 dpi jpeg (minimal compression) no larger than 640x480 images named with your last name and a number (clarke01.jpg). Send images (one per email) to the following address gallery@clayfolk.org or by US Mail you can send a PC formatted CD to : Don Clarke, POBox 2974, Eugene, OR 97402

FOR SALE

Linda Watson, Klamath Falls Oregon (541 281-9295) has For Sale :

Duncan Kiln Teacher Plus (220/240v) : I bought this kiln about 15 years ago and it has seen very little use - it has been moved more times than it has been used. It comes with its own Envirovent, owners manual, shelves. I paid $800 for the kiln and $250 for the Envirovent, plus more for the shelves. Asking $500 today - or best offer. Can deliver within 100 miles. Can ship - you'll pay the shipping costs. The kiln inside dimensions are 17.5 wide 19.75 high, outside is 25 wide 35 tall which includes the Envirovent. It fires to cone 8.


Karen Phillips (541 - 479-2848) has For Sale :

• Medium sized Cress electric kiln model #FX23P with kiln sitter and all shelving units. kiln is in good shape and only about 6 years old. $400
• North star 4 " extruder and die set.like new.$150
• North star 24" slab roller with table.excellent shape.$500
• Creative Industries potter's wheel with centering tool and opening tool. Works great! $350
• Cone 04 glazes and underglazes sold as one unit. $75

Photography Equipment

The Southern Oregon Guild in Kerby has offered to let anyone interested in using their photography equiptment to take photos of their work. If you are interested in this opportunity call 541-592-5019 or email at info@southernoregonguild.org for further information.

General Clayfolk Meeting and Pit Fire is now on May 4 Sunday at 2:30PM The meeting will still held be at the home of Jerry and Shirley Huft, 1201 West Jones Creek Road, Grants Pass. The general meeting will begin at 2:30PM with a pit fire being loaded after the meeting. The pit fire will be the program for the afternoon, so everyone who attends the meeting is invited to bring one or two (or more if your work is small) pieces of pottery ready to fire. If your pieces are large, please call Jerry and let him know so he can make sure there is space in the pit. Wood is always welcome, but not required for your participation. Everyone who attends the meeting is welcome to bring food for a potluck. The potluck food is optional, but the Huft's would like a quick call if you plan on participating so they can plan the amount of food. The Hufts will provide dessert for all.

2008 Membership Form : a hard copy is coming in your snail-mail box, but just in case you can download this year's form right here = Membership