Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center

 

 

 

 

9341 Mill Street Ben Lomond, CA 95005

831.336.3513

 

Make Art a Part of Your Life!

“The Santa Cruz Mountains Arts Center supports and encourages the arts

through education, exhibition and cultural activities,

reflecting the unique and diverse environment of the mountain communities.” 

 

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12 - 6 p.m.

 

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Welcome to our Ceramics Facility!

  

During the past 2 years, in an effort to save on energy & emissions, we have converted our Cone 10 clay bodies & glazes to Cone 6, and have been working to build a stable of Cone 6 glazes for both oxidation and reduction atmospheric firings.  Soda firings are still conducted to Cone 10, and we fire this Soda kiln 3 - 4 times/year.

 

Classes

  

wheel throwing  

  

hand building   

 

glaze formulation

 

 

 

 

 Workshops

 

Soda Workshop with Ruthanne Tudball

 

Workshop Video

 

 

 

 Events

 

Ceram-A-Rama 2012

 September 14, 15, 16

 

Ceram-A-Rama  2011 September 16, 17, 18th

 

Soda Kiln

(Cone 10)

 

Gas Kiln

(Cone 6 Reduction)

 

Electric Kiln

(Cone 6 Oxidation)

Raku  Kiln

(Cone 05 Reduction)

  Please click on the thumbnails above to view larger images.

 

Cone 6 Glaze Resource Materials (PDFs)

Cone 6 Glaze Recipes

Latest Test Glaze Results (3-2011) recipes / photos / notes

Example of bowls glazed in oxidation & reduction

Cone 6 Shino

Latest test Glaze Results (6-2011) shino recipes/photos/notes

Basic Glaze Formulation Info

Fluxes/Stabilizers/Glass Formers; Wgt % VS Seger Unity; weighing & mixing; testing glazes; general resources links

   Over Lap tests 1-2012    Incorporating new glazes from last year into glaze matrix
   Line Blend Tests  1-2012    Photos/descriptions of line blend Test Tiles
   Triaxial Blend Tests  1-2012    Photos of Triaxial blend tests.

Feldspar Info

Everything you ever wanted to know about Feldspar - collected from various sources

Glaze Materials Basic Info

Names, Chemical Formulae, basic info, hazards

Primary Function of Common Glaze Materials

Listing of the primary function of ceramic materials in claybodies & glazes

Substitutions

A growing list of material substitutions.

Websites & Blogs of local Ceramicists

Travis John Adams Website

Susana Arias  Website Blog

Bruce Bangert      Website

Dale Bates       Webpage

Liz Crain        Blog

Carol Eddy      Website

Roberta Friedman       Webpage

Dan & Laurie Hennig     Website

Iver & Jennifer Hennig     Website

Linda Levy      Website

 

Rocky Lewycky   Website

Jenny Morton     Website

Geof Nicastro   Website

Stephanie Schriver      Website

Santa Cruz Pottery   Website

Clay Creations      Website

 

Ceramics Resources

 

 

 

 

Workshop with Ruthanne Tudball - Feb. 19., 2012  Highlights

(Link to YouTube Video)

 

 

Ceram-A-Rama 2012

 

3-Days of CLAY!

September 14, 15, 16, 2012

 

Friday, September 14, 6 p.m.  Pot Luck BBQ & Video

 

Saturday, September 15, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Arthur Gonzales Workshop

 

Sunday, September 16, 11 - 5 p.m.  Hands-on Clay:  Contests, Raku,

Demos by to be announced

 

For examples of Arthur Gonzales's work

Dark, somber and foreboding, Arthur Gonzalez's works encourage serious deliberation and reflection on the relationship between personal concerns and world issues. Raw in form, lacking in smoothness and rough in finish, the ceramic sculptures give glimpses of a conversation or a contemplation in progress. Gonzalez's creations of ceramic and found objects reveal visions and feelings that are not polished but ongoing processes of gyrating thoughts and churning emotions that threaten to erupt into reality and consciousness to defy the fantasy of a peaceful experience.

Three distinct phases have influenced the direction of Gonzalez's artistic career and expression. First, as a graduate student, at the University of California at Davis, under Robert Arneson and Manuel Neri, he entered the Master of Fine Arts program as a figurative sculptor during the late 1970'safter completing an Master of Arts in painting at the California State University of Sacramento. His second phase was as an artist in residence at the University of Georgia, Athens from 1981 to 1982. Gonzalez's attitudes towards art changed through his exposure to a creative life-style that blended music and visual art. The third phase of Gonzalez's career was through his involvement in the early 1980's East Village Art Scene, in New York City, which fast-forwarded public recognition of his work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceram-A-Rama 2011

Click on thumbnail above for larger image of poster

3-Days of CLAY!

Friday, September 16, 6 p.m.  Pot Luck BBQ & Video

Saturday, September 17, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Wesley Anderegg Workshop

Sunday, September 18, 11 - 5 p.m.  Hands-on Clay:  Contests, Raku,

Demos by Liz Crain and Andrea Dana McCullough

 

We thank our sponsors:  Phoenix Ceramics, Bruce Bangert, Earth Matters Foundation, Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County, Rydell Visual Arts Fund/Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, Camp Climax Pottery, Clay Creation

 

Saturday Workshop with Wesley Anderegg

Please click on thumbnails below to view larger images.

 

Wesley addresses workshop participants

 

Wesley's Tools

Kemper, Kemper, Kemper

Attention to detail

 

The head sculpture of Wesley's Cup

A small hand for the cup-man

 

Wesley attaches a beer bottle to the cup-man's hand

 

Putting the teeth into the dog's jaw.

 

People crowding around to see the  detail of Wesley's working

 

Detail of Wesley's final piece; dog and body face off.

 

 

SUNDAY - CERAM-A-RAMA CENTRAL!

Please click on thumbnails below to view larger images.

Ceremonial Opening of the Soda Kiln

Dale Bates with Bowl

 

Geof Nicastro with pleased grin holding his soda fired pot.

 

Andrea Dana McCullough did a tile-decorating demonstration.  Apply colored  black slip to the white clay tile.  Let it dry, then carve/draw thru the colored slip

 

Kids' Clay

Susana Arias showed both young and old how to create hollow ceramic birdies

 

Young enthusiast

 

Making Bowls for "Empty Bowls"

Enthusiastic onlookers cheer on the Tallest Pot Contestants:  who can throw the tallest pot with 5# of clay in 5 minutes.

Sylvia Rios works on her tall pot.

Tall Pot Judge Kevin Wahl

(Phoenix Ceramics) looks on.

 

Tallest Pot Champ

Paul Prekowitz puts on finishing touches to her tall pot.

 

Demonstration on the stage by Liz Crain.

 

Liz passed around some of her ceramic bottle caps which are featured with her cone-top beer cans.

 

2nd contest:  Throwing clay on the wheel blind-folded, a fun challenge

Lin Colavin (Loaves & Fishes)

and

Kevin Wahl (Phoenix Ceramics)

 

Kevin donated clay for our event; we make about 100 bowls, finish them, and donated them to Loaves & Fishes "Empty Bowls" Fundraiser to feed the hungry in our community

Young budding artist applies glaze to her raku pot.

Happy attendees Joe Cucchiara and Ceramic Sculptor Julie Mackie

3rd Contest:  The Pro-Am

An experienced instructor is paired with a novice (no experience on the wheel).  Only verbal instruction can be provided.

Pro-Am Duos at work

Music by Mark Wallace.

A host of "Emcees" took the microphone to urge on contest participants.  Stephen King adds lyrics to the Pro-Am Songfest

 

Dale takes a Raku Break and enjoys some cold beer and kiln-fired pizza!

 

Last Contest:  Musical Wheels

Take a wheel, 8# of clay and get started.  When the music stops, move clockwise to the next wheel.  "Make the rounds".

 

Linda Levy shaping a pot at musical stop #5.

 

 

 

BOWLS FROM CERAM-A-RAMA 2011

Please click on thumbnails below to view larger images.

 

Glazing & Firing notes:  The bowls were all glazed by our Ceramics Crew (Dan Hennig, Dale Bates, Linda Levy, Stephanie Triolo, Roberta Friedman, Travis Adams).  About 25 bowls were fired in an electric kiln to Cone 6 (oxidation).  About 70 bowls were fired in a gas kiln to Cone 6 (reduction).  The atmospheric reduction was minimal, with only a few pieces showing any signs of reduction at all.

A selection of at least 50 bowls will be donated to Loaves & Fishes (Watsonville) for their "Empty Bowls" fundraising event (Oct 15) to raise much needed funds to feed the hungry in our community.  Thanks one and all!

Table of finished bowls

 

Overview of some of the bowls

 

Sea of bowls

Row of Bowls

 

Row of Bowls

 

Row of bowls

Cobalt Carbonate brushwork, clear glaze over all

(Cone 6 Reduction)

Opal-green dip, wax resist design on outside, dip Noxima blue over dip

(Cone 6 Reduction)

White Liner / Noxima Blue splatter, Opal-green stamp

(Cone 6 Reduction)

 

Noxima Blue dip, Opal Green over dip

(Cone 6 Reduction)

 

White Liner Dip, Opal Green over dip, Noxima blue stamp

(Cone 6 Reduction)

Noxima Blue inside, Opal Green outside & spiral inside

(Cone 6 Reduction)

Candy Red / White Liner stamp

(Cone 6 Reduction)

White Liner / Sea Foam over

(Cone 6 Reduction)

Tenmoku dip / clear dip

(Cone 6 Reduction)

Tenmoku

(Cone 6 Reduction)

Tenmoku dip / Opal Green

over dip

(Cone 6 Reduction)

Opal Green dip / Tenmoku over dip

(Cone 6 Reduction)

 

Tenmoku on texture /

Turq-Red

 

Turq-Red inside / Mimi's Blue Luster splash

(Cone 6 Reduction)

Opal Green / Plum

(Cone 6 Oxidation)

 

Turq-Red inside, Opal Green on rim / Noxima Blue stamp

(Cone 6 Reduction)

Tenmoku / Turq-Red

 

Opal Green / White Liner & splash iron oxide (or Tenmoku)

(Cone 6 Reduction)

 

Candy Red inside, and White Liner over all

(Cone 6 Reduction)

 

Sky Black / Woo Yellow on top over all

(Cone 6 Reduction)

 

 

 

 

Ceram-A-Rama 2010

Poster for Ceram-A-Rama 2010, at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center.  3 Days of Clay!

Click on thumbnail above for larger image of poster

3-Days of CLAY!

Friday, September 17, 6 p.m.  Pot Luck BBQ & Video

Saturday, September 18, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Tom Coleman Workshop

Sunday, September 19, 11 - 5 p.m.  Hands-on Clay:  Contests, Raku, Demos

 

Friday, September 17,   BBQ Potluck and movie (by Tom Coleman)

"Through the Valley of Fire". 

For FREE admission, bring something to share for the Potluck (food, beverage)

 

Participants listening to Tom Coleman talk about his movie

Watching Tom Coleman watching Tom Coleman

 

 

Ceramic artist, Tom Coleman, working on a large porcelain form         

Saturday, September 18,

A 1-day workshop with Tom Coleman

Coleman Tea bowl Slip application Bottom of tall pot Prepping connecting groove

Putting the pieces together

 

 

 

  Participants watching Tom Coleman Slip Feathering Technique Slip Feathering Technique

 

 

 

Cermamic Artist & Instructor Sylvia Rios at work

Sunday, September 19,

FREE - Hands-on clay, demos, Raku, contests & trophies!

Demonstration by Sylvia Rios

Ceram-A-Rama T-Shirt Handbuilding Clay Critters Kevin Wahl with clay Dan Hennig with Grandchild Kids on the go!
Tallest Pot Contest:  Who can throw the tallest pot with 5 #s of clay?  
  Kevin Wahl at the Wheel

 

Iver Hennig and Paula Prekowitz Laurie Hennig measuring the pot heights.  
Two on a Wheel

Tallest Pot Contest #2:  Who can throw the tallest pot with 5 #s of clay, one hand only from each partner!

Even the pros said this was a hard contest!

Father & Son Team Win!

Dan & Iver Hennig

Jen Hennig pairs with Cinda Mefford

 

Paula Prekowitz with Kevin Wahl

The Twins!

Sylvia Rios Demonstration
Sylvia Rios Demonstration
Blind Folded Contest

Sylvia Rios helps Paula Prekowitz with her blindfold

 

Seasoned Pro gets a great start

Paula feeling her way

Getting started

We have a winner!  Narita, from Japan

Pro-Am

A Pro works with an amateur partner, talking them through the process of throwing on the wheel.

 

Raku!

 

Bowls

Over 80 bowls were made during the day; these go to Loaves & Fishes, "Empty Bowls" fundraiser Oct 16, Musical Wheels and old friends take a break Musician Mark Wallace Larry Worley mans the Pizza Kiln Kevin Wahl with his trophy

 

More of Tom's Work        Website        YouTube

 

More of Sylvia's Work      Website

 

Video Production by Brian Frus,   Given Light

 

 

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:   

 Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County   Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County    Bruce Bangert

  North Glass   Phoenix Ceramics    Earth Matters Foundation    Valley Women's Club    New Leaf Market Felton

 

This web site was created by an Artist for Artists.  Your comments are welcome. This page was last updated on 02/04/12. 

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