CLAYFEST 2007 : Fine Ceramic Art and Free-Wheeling Fun
High quality, affordable ceramic art. Personable artists who are
available to talk. Educational opportunities for adults and children...
a wonderful way to spend an autumn weekend.
The eighth annual ClayFest will be held the weekend of October 13 and
14, from 10 AM. to 6 PM, at the Lane County Fairgrounds. ClayFest 2007
will feature clay tiles, sculpture, jewelry, and pottery for home and
garden. The two-day show and sale will present work by nearly 70 local
and regional clay artists, some of whom will share the details of
their craft in relaxed and enjoyable demonstrations. Admission is free
and this family-friendly event provides a supervised Clay Play area
for kids of all ages.
ClayFest is unusual in that it is run by the artists who participate
in the show.
Proceeds go directly to the artists and to charity, with only a small
amount set aside to fund the following year's show. ClayFest is a fund
raiser for Local Clay and its "Clay in Education" program, which
supports ceramic activities in local schools. Local Clay is an
independent nonprofit organization of potters from west-central
Oregon, bringing together clay artists of diverse interests and levels
of ability. In addition to ClayFest and Clay in Education, Local Clay
sponsors workshops, offers scholarships, and presents the annual
"Empty Bowls" show to raise money for Food for Lane County.
ClayFest showcases a broad range of work and artists. Whether you are
looking for an elegant vase, a hand-painted accent tile for your
kitchen, whimsical wind chimes, or a unique bottle perfectly designed
for your home brew, ClayFest has it all. The artists, united in their
love for clay, make up a lively, diverse community whose members
include, in addition to full-time potters, a retired executive from a
large international corporation, a local radio host, a construction
worker, and several school teachers.
This is what makes ClayFest so inviting: it encourages everyone to
join in. Fun demonstrations allow artists to share their enthusiasm
along with their tips on hand-building or using a potter's wheel. In
the supervised Clay Play area, both youngsters and "older kids" (is 30
old?) take advantage of the opportunity to create magical objects in
clay. And a special Gallery area, which highlights the best pieces by
all of the participating artists, provides a helpful cross-section of
the wealth of ceramic art on view in the show.