CACCA Conference

The past 2 days I have attended the CACCA Conference , the ceramics sculpture gathering sponsored by the John Natsoulas Gallery in downtown Davis, CA. For one weekend in early May the town of Davis turns into ceramic sculpture heaven. I am not a sculptor but I get so inspired by the work that I see and the lectures I attend. This year was no exception. The lectures by David Kuraoka and Betty Woodman absolutely filled me with joy. It is so great to hear the masters talk about their work and process.

I was not familiar with David's work and to be honest it is not usually the kind of work that thrills me. He is famous for his HUGE thrown, pit fired forms and his tiles. He's an absolute master. He's funny, unpretentious and his work is so beautiful. I loved his large tiles that he shapes by hand - compressing them 50 times on each side...no slab roller.. and pit/wood fires in a huge brick pit-like kiln that fills the Hawaiian valley he works in with smoke. He uses these tiles to creates huge wall installations that vibrate with pattern and soft color.

Betty is a tiny woman who dresses with quirky style ...her dress yesterday was painted with abstract images of her pots. Her funny patterned socks and little girl shoes seem to be her trade mark. Her pots are bursting with color, movement and exuberance. The fronts are sometimes completely different from the backs. It's like she has so many things to say with her art that she has to paint both sides of her canvas. I was lucky enough to be able to see her show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC last year and now have been lucky enough to hear her speak. I wish she was still teaching. I would be first in line for her class. She is my absolute pottery hero.

There were so many galleries and storefronts filled with work it was impossible for me to take it all in. The shows ran the gamut from gorgeous professional work to the inspired student pieces shown by all the major art schools and universities in the surrounding areas. I particularily loved the ACGA show juried by Robert Brady at the Pence Gallery. I was most touched by a panel of translucent porcelain silk screened on both sides by Leslie Baker and a tiny "milk carton" house by Virginia Rigney. I liked the the work shown at the Humbolt University venue (you go Wesley Wright) and the delicate printed pillow forms by Jinsoo Song at the Arizona State space.

So now that I'm totally filled with inspiration I am off to my studio to unload a glaze load (...please kiln gods, be nice to me...) and finish glazing my last group of work before the Guild spring show begins next weekend.

fourth & clay

I'm SO EXCITED. After a couple of years of not feeling that I was in the right spot I am starting my own studio. No more freezing cold winters. I have rented a primo location on 4th St in Berkeley in part of the Sweet Potatoes space, my old building. The studio has a heater, good lights, good ventilation, a 20 foot ceiling and plenty of room for me and 3 other potters. So far John and a really good potter friend are considering joining me ...I hope, I hope. It has a storefront so we can have a little gallery and a wonderful open studio presence. It is so important to me to go to work daily in a creative, supportive atmosphere where I can work hard, be happy and breathe... This is what I hope to accomplish. After much thought and some funny ideas (portapottery...think portapotty) John came up with a great name... fourth & clay.

In the meantime I am busy trying to get stuff ready for the annual spring show and sale at Berkeley Potters Guild. I've benefited greatly from being at the Guild and have learned so much. So many wonderfully talented artists work there. They have shared with me their years of expertise and knowledge. Please come join me, if you are in the area for my last show at the Guild.

Meanwhile Back From The Ranch

Oh Boy, what a week I just had. My friend Michele and I went to Rancho la Puerta in Tecate Mexico. Michele has been there 22 times and convinced me it was an experience not to be missed in this lifetime...How true. Thank you Michele. I have returned fit, fed and inspired. I did yoga in the morning, pilates in the afternoon and swam in the pool inbetween. I hiked the sun up and was messaged by a man with baseball mitt fingers. I ate the purest most delicious food grown at the ranch's organic farm. I hiked there one morning and ate breakfast, then was given a tour by Salvatore, the most enthusiastic garden manager. He made me almost want to take up growing cabbages. I danced to the most fabulous band, met some facinating folks, and was educated about what was going on inside my body as well as out. I even took a writing workshop. I didn't lose the 40 lbs I expected to lose in a week but I can do a mean Downward Dog!

I also had time to read a good book -Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell and begin a second -Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert. Both of these were given to me by my daughter Molly for Mom's Day. Thank you Molly. It seems like I am reading books about year time periods. I've also started A Year in the World by Francis Mapes. Any other "year books" I should read?

Secret Passion

Last week was my birthday and I was able to indulge in my secret passion ....white cake, the kind only served at weddings and at kid's birthday parties. I love the fluffy air filled frosting made of "butter cream". I always covet a piece with a rose but I have been known to share as long as I can have the corner piece as it holds TWICE as much frosting. The cake part is very important. It has to be just the right mix of puffed up structure so that it holds the frosting without being too dense or sweet to distract. There has to be enough cake so that you can get a bite with every bit of frosting thus avoiding "tooth watering". No home made cake can satisfy my passion. This is why I head to the

Virginia Bakery

in Berkeley for the perfect white cake. It's one of those "classic" bakeries that has been there for probably 50 years and continues to make the same kind of baked goods no matter what the trend of the day is. I do not shop here for bread made with grape starter or organic flour. I share this passion (dare I say fetish ???) with my friend Chris. His birthday is in July. One more white cake to look forward to.
P.S.What's with all the "good taste" weddings that feature nouveau flavored cakes. My daughter's was a beautiful chocolate mousse confection...delish but.....
P.P.S. I TAG everyone reading and specifically Andre, Stephanie, Nico, Megan,Diana and Chris (if he ever gets his blog up) to divulge one their secret passions.