NCECA 2012!

Now that's a pot!

I've just spent a few days in Seattle at the NCECA conference. NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) has a conference each year during the last week of March, in a different city. I figured that Mug Revolution needed to be present for this occasion, and since there was only one employee to choose from to go, I volunteered.

Christa Assad showing some of her clay techniques.

I have not attended an NCECA conference before, and was unsure of what to expect when 4,000 potters from all over the world get together in one place for a few days. Happily, I was super thrilled with my experience. I made several new friends, connected with several of my pottery friends whom I haven't seen for a while, and met the good Clay Art Center folks from whom I buy clay and supplies. Nice to put faces to names! I saw many exhibitions and attended a good many excellent educational presentations.

The crowd watches a throwing demo at one of the vendor's booths in the resource hall.

I met many folks whose names I was familiar with, but whom I had never met in person in the Clay Art room. Getting a chance to show glaze tests to glaze guru Ron Roy (while Mel Jacobson cheerfully added his two cents worth until we shooed him away), and meeting Hank Murrow were highlights.

Hank Murrow (l) talks with Richard Brandt about glazes in the Clay Art room.

It was pretty overwhelming, really. I barely took any photos at all - I kept busy absorbing good vibes, good friendship, and took in a lot of sights of the incredible pottery on display. One wonderful exhibit showed off the best of student pottery from the K-12 level, and emerging clay artists from the college level were also showcased. There were some incredible pieces on display. Lots of good stuff!

Steven Branfman and Eduardo Lazo in the resource hall. 

There were many, many exhibitions related to the NCECA main conference, held in venues in and around Seattle. Clay was alive in Seattle! I'm looking forward to getting back in to my studio - enough talk, I want to get some mugs going!