Friday, January 25, 2008

Ian Gregory Masterclass

Saturday 15th March 2008
10 am – 4 pm
Design Centre, Tremough Campus,University College, Falmouth

Ian's Gregory’s work spans a great many areas of ceramics, including salt glazed stoneware, life-size statuary, raku and mixed media installation. He was one of the first potters to experiment with paperclay and he is an innovative and highly original kiln builder His figurative sculpture, both human and canine, have a linear, craggy quality. His experimental approach with materials and processes has enabled him to produce work of great vitality.

“’If the role of the artist is to make the ordinary extraordinary, then Ian Gregory's work exemplifies this ideal.” - Peter Starkey

Join him for a demonstration and discussion about his work, paperclay and kiln firing

Cost to members £15 non members £18

If you would like to reserve a place/places on the Ian Gregory Masterclass
for Saturday 15th March 2008, please send a cheque for the amount and include your name, address, membership no., email or telephone no. and stamp addressed envelope please to
Frances Osborne, Fraddon Pottery, Fraddon, Cornwall TR9 6QU - Tel: 01726 860206

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Save Rufford Ceramics Centre

Outcome of Meeting with Notts County Council, 4th January

Thank you for signing the petition to Save Rufford Ceramics Centre! There are now 1,276 signatories.

On 4th January, Carl Gray and Katie Greenfield, as representatives of the Save Rufford Ceramics Centre (RCC) Petition Group, met with NCC to discuss the petitioners’ concerns. We requested:
1. A 3-month stay of execution at The RCC (Rejected by NCC)
2. Clarification on the detail of NCC’s new model (Rejected by NCC)
3. To run an initial 3-month feasibility study for forming a National Ceramics Centre at Rufford, to build on The RCC’s reputation, embrace NCC’s local aims & objectives and open up new sources of funding for the whole community (Rejected by NCC)
It was apparent in the meeting that NCC’s representatives are in denial that they are custodians of a centre of international repute which is respected throughout the world.
We have written an open letter to NCC, urging them to reconsider.
You can read this letter and a detailed summary of what was discussed at the meeting at the Save Rufford Blog:
To up the pressure on NCC, we need to make more people aware of what is happening. Please ask your friends and colleagues to sign the petition:

In our and 1,276 other people's views to date, NCC's approach is fundamentally wrong and NCC, the community it serves and the UK will be poorer for it.
We welcome your feedback and comments via the blog, the petition forum or on email.
Thank you for your support!
Carl Gray and Katie Greenfield

Monday, January 07, 2008

Celebrating Salt and Soda

Celebrating Salt and Soda - a weekend workshop
Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th April 2008 Informative and FUN, this two-day workshop, supported by the CPA and hosted at Whichford Pottery, just north of Oxford, will feature practical demonstrations, discussions and seminars by many of Britains'leading exponents of salt and soda firing techniques - Jack Doherty, Ian Gregory, Mark Griffiths, Lisa Hammond, John Jelfs and Phil Rogers. In addition, Jim Keeling, famous for his big-ware flowerpots, will throw an enormous pot in stages over the 2 days! Two new kilns are being built especially for this event, and weekend workshop visitors will be able to see firings and openings, and be part of the excitement of vapour glazing. A celebratory feast is also planned for the Saturday night.
The weekend will also mark the start of a major selling exhibition of new work in salt and soda by Sheila Casson, Richard Dewar, Jack Doherty, Ray Finch and Winchcombe Pottery, Lisa Hammond, Ian Gregory, Mark Griffiths, John Jelfs, Toff Millway, Phil Rogers, Peter Starkey, Ruthanne Tudball, Sarah Walton and Alistair Young. The exhibition will be held in the spectacular new exhibition space at Whichford Pottery - The Octagon.We expect great interest from the potting community and places are limited; so early booking is advisable! Plenty of good local accommodation is available, and also camping at the village pub.

Tickets £100 (£80 CPA members & concessions)

Please contact The Octagon at Whichford Pottery, Whichford, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, CV36 5PG

Tel: 01608 684416 www.theoctagon.co.uk

saltandsoda@theoctagon.co.uk