Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference

The idea for the Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference,The Clay Connection’s flagship event, began when Fran Newquist off-handedly mentioned that a weekend clay camp might be a nice summertime diversion. After being recruited to chair the First Virginia Clay Conference held in 1993 followed by the next two conferences, Fran no longer makes off-handed remarks. Thanks to her hard work during those first 6 years, the Clay Camp has evolved into a major event that features industry vendors, slide shows, mini-workshops, simultaneous demonstrations, entertainment, and guest potters considered to be the best at their craft.

The Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference has been held every odd year since its inception in 1995. Each year the conference has continued to offer clay-related instruction as well as expanding to meet member-expressed needs. Plan to bring along some pots: one for the Pot Exchange, one for the Conference Ceramic Show (where there will be awards), and some soup bowls for donations to The Clay Connection's Empty Bowls Charity Event. This conference is a great learning experience and networking opportunity!

8th Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference

Thursday, Oct. 1 - Sunday Oct. 4, 2009  (Registration will begin in March 2009)
4-H Conference Center, Front Royal, Virginia
Contact info: Questions about the Conference? E-mail is preferred: conference@theclayconnection.org or call Mike Swauger/The Kiln Doctor 540-636-6016.

Download Conference Application

Main Presenters (Saturday and Sunday)

Pots are like people. Their form is described by some of the same defintions--lips, feet, and shoulders, and their character and personality can be expressed by being open, warm, generous, rotund, sensuous, loose or jolly. My use of the vessel/female metaphor lies in the subtle suggestion of figure in form. Vases have soft female curves and decorations that imply clothing. Many of my forms are raised on a pedestal like foot that serves as a "skirt". My method of stacking various volumes allows me to play with human proportions and relationships. Altering a pot out of the round creates contrasting angles that suggest hips and waists. The use of line and pattern accentuates the mood or nature of the pot, and can prompt it's use for specific occassions. The techniques I use when making my pots allows me to create each one with a personality of its own.

My pottery is made of porcelain clay formed and altered on the potter's wheel, glazed when leather-hard, and fired to cone 10 in a soda kiln. I seek for fire and kiln atmosphere to decorate my pots by creating responsive surfaces and forms. I am interested in the tactile quality of clay, and my pieces appeal to the sense of touch and the scale of the human hand. The pots look alive, a bit whimsical, and I intend that they will bring life, beauty, and years of enjoyment into the lives of those who use them.

Frank Giorgini's book, HANDMADE TILES, (Lark Books, 1994) is in it's eighth printing and has become the instructional bible for tile making in ceramic studios, schools and universities around the country. In 1995 Frank was honored by receiving the Tile Heritage Foundation Award for promoting awareness and appreciation of ceramic surfaces in the United States. His ceramic design and fabrication company, UDU Inc., produces custom handmade tiles and murals for private and public installations. In 1995 Frank was awarded a commission by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of New York City to design the artwork for the Whitehall Street/South Ferry subway station of the N and R line in lower Manhattan, and Udu Inc. is currently producing the art tiles he designed for the project.

Friday Demonstrations & Mini-Workshops (one session each unless otherwise noted) Space is limited for hands-on workshops. Sign up at check-in at the conference.

• Large Scale Vessel Making: the Traditional Japanese Fire Technique Using a Contemporary Blowtorch, with Jayne Shatz, PhD. Sculptor, potter, teacher, writer and ceramic historian, Jayne will demonstrate this exciting throwing and hand building technique and Empty Bowls Donations of creating large vessels in one sitting. Applicable to all levels.
• The Kiln Doctor's Workshop. Specializing in service, repairs, maintenance and purchasing of electric kilns and studio supplies, Mike Swauger will talk about selecting new or used equipment, setting up a studio, estimating firing costs, and everything you need to know about your electric kiln in this comprehensive presentation. He operates The Kiln Doctor Store in Front Royal and you may visit him in the Vendor Area during the conference.
• Figure Sculpture with Guy Zoller, back by popular demand. A hands-on workshop. Guy will demonstrate creating representational life size portraits using a live model, working solid on an armature, and hollowing for firing. Students work along in smaller scale. Guy is a sculptor, potter, ceramist and teaches at the Reston Community Center. He owns River Water Art Works LLC, combining art installation and consulting with sculpture and ceramics. (A small materials fee payable to the instructor will be noted in the conference packet.)
• Surface Resist and Slip Decoration with Dana Lehrer Danze. Studio potter and teacher at the Creative Clay Studios in Alexandria, VA, Dana will demonstrate slip trailing and liquid Ceramic Vendor Area latex techniques. Participants may bring leatherhard work for slip trailing, bisque ware for resist decorating, and brushes. A few cone 6 glazes will be provided. Bring drycleaning plastic.
• Sculpture Multiples with John Jensen. John owns Homewood Pottery, Annapolis, MD, producing functional ware and figurative and garden sculpture. John teaches in and runs the pottery studio at St. John's College, Annapolis. John will demonstrate producing plaster molds from artwork, then finishing the piece while presenting numerous possibilities of expression. Two sessions.
• Brush Making with Marianne Cordyack, studio potter, teacher, and owner of Spiral Ridge Pottery, WV, She presents salt firing workshops. Marianne will demonstrate brush making techniques. Each participant will make 2 brushes using deer tail hair and bamboo handles. (A small materials fee payable to the instructor will be noted in the conference packet.)
• Panel Discussion with Jayne Shatz, Mike Swauger, Guy Zoller and others. The subject is "Sustaining Creativity: Aging, Retirement and Managing the Changes in Life." How do we allow intrusions to enter in and not disrupt our creativity? How do we develop an attitude of change? These topics will be explored in a lively discussion at this year's conference.
• Brushpainting on Pots with Tracie Griffith Tso. Tracie is a Web and print infographic freelancer and teaches Chinese Brushpainting at Reston Community Center. She will demonstrate and present a hands-on workshop painting on pottery. Two sessions. (A small materials fee payable to the instructor will be noted in the conference packet.)

Raku Workshops (mandatory pre-registration on registration form)
Advance registered participants are to bring bisqued pots no wider than 6" and no taller than 12".

• Beginning to Intermediate Raku with Brett Thomas, owner of Mobile Raku, a traveling ceramic classroom that offers workshops throughout the Northeast. Brett will provide a kiln, glazes, and safety equipment for participants. Two sessions. Each session can accommodate up to 15 potters with little to no raku experience (participation in fewer than 3 raku firings).
• Advanced Raku with Ramon Camarillo, studio potter working in large scale, ceramics instructor, and MBA graduate of Hawaii Pacific University. A fabulous raku artist, he will provide kilns, glazes, and safety equipment. Two sessions. Each session can accommodate up to 15 potters who have participated in more than 3 raku firings in the past year as well as raku arsonists.

Conference Brochure

Download Conference Brochure

Conference At-A-Glance

Thursday, October 1
4-6pm	Check-in Drop-offs for: Conference Ceramic Show, Pot Exchange and Empty Bowls Donations
6-7:30pm	Join us for a Finger Buffet or if you prefer to have dinner on your own, a list of local restaurants in Front Royal will be provided in your packet at check-in.
7:30pm	Friday Presenters' Digital Image Presentation
Friday, October 2
8am	Check-in. Drop-offs for Conference Show, Pot Exchange and Empty Bowls Donations
7:30-8:30am	Breakfast
8-11:30am	Raku Firing Morning Sessions You must pre-register. See Registration Form.
9am-Noon	Demonstrations & Mini-Workshops
9am-4:30pm	Vendor Exhibit Area Open
Noon-1pm	Lunch
12:30-4pm	Raku Firing Afternoon Sessions You must pre-register. See Registration Form.
1-4pm	Demonstrations & Mini-Workshops
4-6pm	Break
6-11pm	Annual Dinner Meeting followed by Pot Exchange, Live Music, and Dancing hosted by The Clay Connection!
Saturday, October 3
7:30-8:30am	Breakfast
9am-5pm	Demonstrations by Main Presenters Vendor Exhibit Area Open
Noon-1pm	Lunch
6-7pm	Dinner
7-10pm	Slide Show by Main Presenters Present Awards for Conference Ceramic Show Winners
Sunday, October 4
7:30-8:30am	Breakfast
9:30am	Check-out of Rooms
9am-1pm	Demonstrations by Main Presenters
1pm	Conference Closes

driving directions:

Past Conferences

7^th Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference (2007)

The 7th Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference was held from 04 to 07 October 2007 at the 4-H Center in Front Royal, Virginia. The event featured Randy Brodnax, Don Ellis, and Mark Epstein as the main presenters. Dana Leher Danze, Joyce Michaud, and Bill Schran provided demonstrations on surface decorating techniques, the physics of throwing, and extruders. Mini-workshops included Throwing Small (Gail Adkisson), Brushmaking (Marianne Cordyack), Mask Making (Meredith McEver), and Figure Sculpture (Guy Zoller). Jayne Shatz discussed environmental ceramics, and Philip Berneburg led a firing clinic. Ramon Camarillo returned to host advanced Raku workshops, and new-comer Brett Thomas hosted beginning and intermediate Raku workshops. A slide show featuring the Friday workshop leaders followed the Thursday night Welcoming Reception sponsored by Clay Times magazine and Baltimore Clayworks. Friday night's membership meeting was followed by an outdoor feast featuring Brodnax Gumbo, pot exchange, and music by the Aloha Boys. The Saturday evening slide show featured work from main presenters Randy Brodnax, Don Ellis, and Mark Epstein. Vendors included Clay Times, Highwater Clay, Manassas Clay, Mecca Pottery Tools, The Ceramic Shop, The Kiln Doctor, and van Gilder Pottery. Member Julie Sedell offer therapeutic message. Committee members: Debra Barger, Marianne Cordyack, Roberta Couver, Stephanie Firestone, Barb Oksanen, Jayne Shatz, and Mike Swauger.

6^th Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference (2005)

The 6^th Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference was held from 20 to 23 October 2005 at the 4-H Center in Front Royal, Virginia. The event featured Neil Patterson, Sandi Pierantozzi, and Bill van Gilder as the main presenters. Jennie Coffin, Jane Cullum, Michael Hough, Beth Kendall, Joyce Michaud, and Bill Schran provided demonstrations on Brushes, Slips and Underglazes, Practical Approaches to Goblets, Building Big, Uniqueness in Porcelain, The Physics of Throwing, and Secret of Crystalline Glazes Revealed. Mini-workshops included Gesture Figure Sculpting (Stephanie Firestone) and Silver Clay Sampling (DeDe Mandrell). Ramon Camarillo returned to host the raku workshop. The Thursday night slide show featured the Friday workshop leaders, while the Friday evening slide show featured main presenters Neil Patterson, Sandi Pierantozzi, and Bill van Gilder. Vendors included Clay Times, Highwater Clay, Manassas Clay, Mecca Pottery Tools, The Ceramic Shop, and The Kiln Doctor. Eka Kapiotis returned to offer therapeutic message. Committee members: Debra Barger, Marianne Cordyack, Roberta Couver, Stephanie Firestone, Helen Hensgen, Susan Jenkins, Barb Oksanen, Aileen Redding, Janelle Seiberlich, and Mike Swauger.

5^th Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference (2003)

The 5^th Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference was held from 02 to 05 October 2003 at the 4-H Center in Front Royal, Virginia. Chaired by Mike Swauger, it featured Judith Duff, Julia Galloway, and Mark Shapiro as the main presenters. Jane Cullum, Michael Hough, and Beth Kendall provided demonstrations on handles, building big, and hand-building techniques. Mini-workshops included brush-making (Phil Chapman), YiXing teapots (Dave Straney), and tile decoration (Alfredo Ratinoff). Ramon Camarillo returned to host the raku workshop. The Thursday night slide show featured local potters Beth Kendall and Marianne Cordyack, while the Friday afternoon slide show featured Mark Shapiro’s talk on Early American Pots and Studio Pottery Today. Vendors included Creative Clay Pottery and Studios, The Kiln Doctor, Highwater Clay, Clay Times, and Mecca Pottery Tools. The newest—and most appreciated—feature of the 2003 conference was therapeutic message (Eka Kapiotis). Other committee members: Mary Kay Crowley, Stephanie Firestone, Jennifer Dinkelmeyer, Claire Hasselbeck.

4th Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference (2001)

The Fourth Virginia Clay Conference was held from 05 to 08 October 2001 at the 4-H Center in Front Royal, Virginia. Chaired by Mike Swauger, it featured Lana Wilson and Paul Dresang. Friday events featured local Raku potter Ramon Camarillo, throwing competitions, YiXing (pronounced ee-shing) teapot demonstration (Dave Straney), an underglaze decoration (Dave Gambel), throwing demonstration (Debra Swauger), and a catered luau with music by the Aloha Boys. Vendors included Creative Clay Pottery and Studios, The Kiln Doctor, Highwater Clay, Clay Times, and Mecca Pottery Tools. Proceeds from a Silent Auction were donated to the victims of the 911 attack on the Pentagon. Other committee members: Debra Swauger, Claire Hasselbeck, Mary Kay Crowley, Stephanie Firestone, George Brown, Jennifer Dinkelmeyer.

3^rd Virginia Clay Conference (1999)

The Third Virginia Clay Conference was held from 30 September to 03 October 1999 at the 4-H Center in Front Royal, Virginia. Chaired once again by Fran Newquist, it featured Virginia Potters David Crane, Kevin Crowe, and Silvie Granatelli and introduced the Friday event featuring local artists Ramon Camarillo, Jennifer Coffin, Jane Cullum, and Beth Kendall. Special program additions included two clay-related first aid stations: The Glaze Doctor (Bill Schran) and The Kiln Doctor (Mike Swauger).

2^nd Virginia Clay Conference (1997)

The Second Virginia Clay Conference, held 05-07 September 1997, was also chaired by Fran Newquist and featured Lisa Naples (hand-built functional earthenware), Donna Polseno (sculptural forms), and Ellen Shankin (wheel-thrown, altered stoneware). In addition to a participant exhibition and competition, mug exchange, and trade show, highlights were expanded to include workshops on raku (led by Phyllis Roderer) and pit firing (led by Austin Brown).

1^st Virginia Clay Conference (1995)

The First Virginia Clay Conference, held in 1995, was chaired by Fran Newquist and featured major presenters Rick Berman, Ron Meyers, and Michael Simon. Highlights included an Art Show, a mug exchange, trade show (Laguna Clay, Highwater Clay, Campbell's Clay, Pine Ridge Pottery), and a major write-up in the then-newly published Clay Times newsletter.

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