Only seven weeks remain to have entries created, fired, glazed, photographed and submitted in order to be included for acceptance into this year’s regional August-September ceramic art event.
“From Mud to Magic” 2010 is a countywide non-profit juried ceramic art show sponsored by the We Can Make A Difference Foundation.
Ceramics Monthly magazine is considering an article about the show; Fred Olsen, an internationally known ceramic artist and author of “The Kiln Book,” will be the juror.
Olsen stated his expectations for ceramic artists entering From Mud to Magic: “Considered works should encompass traditional craftsmanship with innovative design providing strength to its overall from, function and/or merit.”
Orcas Island ceramic artist Jeffrey Patterson said of Olsen, “I have known Fred Olsen and taken workshops with him as well as built kilns with him. I will do all I can to be there for the reception and Fred’s community presentation.”
Nancy Bingham of Lopez Island said, “What Fred Olsen is expecting of us makes me want to stretch.”
This year, Pottery Northwest of Seattle has accepted an invitation to join the show. adding a professional, regional component to the show. As of Friday, Pottery Northwest had committed six to 10 of its artists’ works to the show.
For the youth category, K-12, workshops will be given in May by some of island’s best ceramic artists, Leisha Holmes, Dianne Hall and Thrinley Di Marco.
From Mud to Magic began in 2002. It has continued to grow as a biennial event.
“Its intent was and is to show the public and the artists themselves just exactly the level of talent we have on these islands,” coordinator Andrea Simmons said. “We are clearly showing that we have talent that competes well with the best of our region.
“In order to reach the full potential of what this event will do for our community this year, we have many volunteer opportunities available in such areas as publicity, marketing and fund raising in the next month to helping to sent up the show when the time comes near.”
Contact Simmons at 378-9541 or e-mail as4444@centurytel.net.
