A CELEBRATION OF CLAY ART IN TEXAS!
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The first annual Dirt Dauber Festival was a huge success. Thanks to all who came on that beautiful weekend. What a blast!! Here are some photos from the festivities.
Featured Artists:
CARL BLOCK
I was born in Richardson, Texas in 1959.
I’ve been making pots since around 1977.
I use earthenware clay, decorated with colored slips and a clear glaze.
My pottery influences are from the American south, British studio pottery, Spanish, Mexican, and other assorted third world countries.
My artistic goal is to plug into the spiritual socket of the creation process. I want the pots to be themselves.
BILLY RAY MANGHAM
Billy Ray Mangham
Billy Ray Mangham has been working in clay for 28 years. He received a B.A. in ceramics from San Jose State U. in San Jose, CA, and a M.A. and M.F.A. from Stephen F. Austin Univ. in Nacogdoches, TX. After teaching for the Austin museum of art and Austin Community College in Austin, TX for ten years, he purchased land and began to build his house and studio near San Marcos in 1989. He and Beverly were married in 1990. At present his focus in clay is the process known as scraffitto – applying a colored slip to clay and cutting through that layer to the clay body. Billy Ray and Beverly founded the Eye of the Dog Art Center in 2008. Classes and workshops are offered in clay, mixed media, screen printing, and other media. Previous instructors include Robin Hopper, Rimas VisGirda, Pat Johnson, Terry Buck, Gaye Lynn Hodgson, and Bunnie Haigh. Eye of the Dog is located in a peaceful location just outside San Marcos.
JOLEA ARCIDIACONO
JoLea Arcidiacono explores many different facets of the ceramic process. This journey in clay takes a winding path through abstract sculpture, functional ware, figurative works, and all points in-between. Taking her inspiration from life and the surrounding environment, she applies these observances to the creative process. Many of her pieces explore the human form with a playful approach; her figurative sculptures are quirky interpretations of familiar stories. A wide range of subject matter is tapped into, current and past popular culture, fairy tales, the circus and classical artworks are all gleaned as sources for creativityg. Her more sculptural work directly references nature: gourds, seashells and seedpods all get a nod of appreciation for their contribution to her creative process.
JoLea has enjoyed sharing the wonderful experience of art with others since receiving her first blue ribbon from the county fair at age 9, going on to receive a BA in studio arts from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1995. JoLea and her husband moved to Texas in 2008 where she is enjoying her new studio in beautiful San Marcos.
Look for me on the web at:
RYAN McKERLEY
Ryan McKerley is a studio potter living in east Austin. He spends most of his time making soda-fired stoneware and porcelain. Currently he is teaching at Allan Elementary and the Griffin School. Ryan exhibits his work nationally and has recently given workshops at Santa Fe Clay and The Craft Guild of Dallas.
Dee & Terry Buck
Dee and Terry Buck established Buck Pottery in 1982 on the banks of the Guadalupe River in the Gruene Historical District of New Braunfels, Texas. Their functional pottery is wheel turned and hand formed, then fired in wood and gas kilns. The unique “sheen” on the exterior of their pottery is the result of wood and soda ash collecting and melting on the surface. You are welcome to visit their gallery showroom, open daily 10-6, Sunday 11-5. Call 830-629-7975.
Jon & Jan Brieger
The Brieger’s have been potters for over 20 years producing functional and decorative stoneware pottery for the home and garden. Jon does all of the throwing, Jan the hand-building and they work together on the glazing and firing. All of the work is fired to 2400F in a 80 cu.ft. downdraft propane fueled kiln. Soda ash is introduced into the kiln at the end of the firing. This produces random flashing on the exterior of the pots which are mainly left unglazed. Most pots are made from a native Texas clay which is nicely responsive to this technique. The Brieger’s live in Blanco Co. Texas in a stone home and studio which they built. Jon and Jan also have a retail shop on the courthouse square in Blanco,Texas.
Max Butler
I’m a potter, a dad, a husband, art teacher, musician, friend, enemy, and a heck of a great guy when I want to be.
As a Potter my inspiration comes from studying the origins and evolutions of a variety of pottery styles worldwide. My heroes are Bernard Leach and his son David, Furuta Oribe, Rosanjin, Ogata Kenzan, Micheal Cardew and George Ohr.
As a HUSBAND and FATHER, I am married and have a wonderful wife, Janice, two children, Chloe (15)and Mose (17). My heroes are my dad and my grandfathers.
I am a MUSICIAN. I play the musical saw Music has always played a role in my life. My current band, The Saw Sages, perform regularly at both public and private functions. My heroes are Robert Armstrong, R. Crumb, Natalia Paruz and my mother.
As to the rest, you can follow along with me on my blog as I try to figure it all out at http://sawsage-max.blogspot.com/
Bridget Hauser
I was born and raised in the Midwest and have been exploring clay since I was 8 years old. My husband and I moved to Texas in 1981 and as of this year I have spent more time in Texas than I did in Indiana. My education in the arts finished at Indiana University with a B.A from the school of Arts and Sciences in Ceramics Studio. I began working for a number of pottery studios and ended up in the Austin area where I have been a working potter for the last 25 years.
Ten years ago my husband, Bill, and I established the Sunset Canyon Pottery Studio and Gallery. We built a straw-bale building on Hwy. 290 just east of Dripping Springs. There is where the Sunset Canyon Pottery functional line is created and sold. The gallery features the pottery made in the studio and that of several other potters, the work of painters, glass artists, jewelers, woodworkers and metal artists. I also keep an exhibit of the ceramic vessels that I consider more individually, my creative playground so to speak. It is those individually considered pieces that I look forward to bringing to the Texas Clay Festival!
Visitors to the Gallery can at take a tour anytime and visit with us in the studio.
Gery Henderson
Gery Henderson was born in El Paso, Texas. The rich culture and history of that region, where Texas, New Mexico, and Chihuahua all come together, indelibly influenced his artistic sensibilities. When Gery moved to Austin, Texas in 1985, he was primarily designing and producing functional leather items. He started working in clay in 1997 and currently teaches raku and hand building out of his studio.
Gery’s art embodies images from low-rider street competitions, Mayan art, church jamaicas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and el Día de los Muertos, with its playful representations of skulls, skeletons, devils, and coffins. Images from New Mexico—Roswell aliens and other unexplained phenomena, Hatch chile, and White Sands missile launches—also find their way into his art. These images are often combined with images of toys and other found objects.
The majority of his work is raku-fired using commercial glazes in addition to glazes he has developed and refined to produce desired effects.
Michael & Gaye Lynn Hodgson
In almost 30 years of pottery making we have seen many changes – and our work has reflected those changes. However, the things that have remained constant over the years are the things that drew us to pottery in the first place: our love of function and form, our passion for the process of making pots, and the joy we find in using hand made pottery.
Cecy Holcomb
Cecy Holcomb earned her B.F.A. in Studio Art with a specialization in Ceramics at Texas State University in 2006. Her studio is located in San Marcos, Texas. In 2007, Holcombville Pottery was created.
Cecy’s work is primarily wheel-thrown, altered, slip-decorated and fired in an oxidation atmosphere. She uses both porcelain and stoneware clay bodies and colorful glazes.
Cecy is inspired by traditional and organic forms. She enjoys knowing that her pottery is used on special occasions and on a daily basis.
Eric Jackson
After fifteen years as a production potter, Eric Jackson now also teaches pottery and, during the day, raises two young children. Eric and Roxanne Jackson, and their daughters, live in Buda, Texas, where he runs Texas Medicine Pottery.
“I make functional pots that are glazed in the classic glazes of ceramic history: celadons, copper reds, temmokus, and shinos. I enjoy the opportunity to use these glazes together, hopefully, in new ways. I also enjoy taking these glazes, that I have enjoyed looking at for so many years, out of museums, and putting them back into people’s hands.”
Jamie Lea Johnson
A vessel is something that contains or holds; like bowl holds food, a mother carries her child, the earth hold us all, and so on.
All things in space and time have many relationships. Objects need other objects to define themselves, and thus, the things around them can gain clarity.
Clay works as an ideal medium to express this idea in a variety of scales.
Jamie is forever shaped by the coastal environment and growing up in and around Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Like most artist she is influenced by her surroundings in general.
Jamie Johnson has shown regionally, nationally, internationally, and has was published in 5oo Tiles.
Now, having lived in Texas for a spell, she sees the evidence of her old surroundings in the earth of her new ones. Jamie’s work continues on, rich with life and reverence for it.
Pat Johnson
Pat Johnson is known for her sometimes disturbing yet humorous figures that take cues from a grab bag of influences ranging from antiquity to popular culture. Her current work has been a dialog of personal disasters with the protagonists as the artist. A full time artist for more than 30 years she lives and works in Fayetteville, Texas. She received her BFA from North Texas State University. Her work was included in the 1998 NCECA conference exhibition in Texas and the 2004 juried Craft Houston traveling exhibit organized by the Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts. She has been the First Place winner at the Winedale Crafts Exhibition and placed 2nd in the 15th Annual Ceramic National at the San Angelo Museum of Art. She has also won numerous awards from the Texas Clay Artist Association. Her tile work was recently included in the Lark Books publication, 500 Tiles.
Ty Johnson
Ty Johnson moved to San Marcos, Texas in November of 2007 to help design and build the Eye Of The Dog Art Center. Ty is currently working in his newly completed studio making functional and funny yard art.
While his work is technically complex it has a loose and playful appearance.
“I love playing in the clay and the way clay feels and responds to the touch. Anything is possible!
I have always been a builder of things and my ceramic art is another expression of that passion for the hand made object. ”
Ty was born in Oklahoma, spent his “kid” years in New Orleans and worked as a photographer for 25 years in Austin. In 2003 Ty retired from the newspaper business and started messing around with clay. Ty is a self-taught clay artist and is proud to be a new member of the Texas clay community.
Lebeth Lammers
Thirty years of working with clay and I still wake up excited to get into the studio most of the time. We’re some lucky folk, we artist/craftspeople. So, thirty years has taken me from raku through stoneware and porcelain, functional to sculptural and back, through teaching to working silently and alone in my studio. I’ve had some memorable experiences. Having taught two Saudi princesses for a summer, I was invited to design and build a studio for them at the old Faisal palace in Riyadh. What a trip. And there was the (honeymoon) year in Guatemala to immerse myself in their incredibly rich craft culture.
Currently, I’m doing the silent and alone thing in my studio, contemplating a move to west Texas and what changes that will bring to my work. I’m also serving on the board of directors for the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.
MICHAEL MERRITT
Jim Bob Salazar
Jim Bob is a native Texan who became addicted to clay when he took his first ceramics class just over seventeen years ago. He went on to receive an M.F.A. from the University of North Texas in Denton where he studied under the guidance of Elmer Taylor and Jerry Austin. He is in his thirteenth year of teaching at Sul Ross State University in Alpine and was recently promoted to Full Professor.
His work is well crafted, highly decorated and typically glazed with celadon glazes in an attempt accentuate the surface treatment. If you follow Jim Bob’s work, you know that things are changing constantly. This year the surprise will be…mix and match dinnerware. The body of work will be place settings consisting of a dinner plate, salad plate, chili bowl, dessert bowl and an iced tea glass. At his demo on Sunday he will give some tips and tricks for throwing the various shapes and keeping them a consistent size.
When Jim Bob is not teaching or in the studio he enjoys riding motorcycles and spending quality time with his beautiful wife and daughter.
DIANA MELANCON
JESS WADE
LAST MINUTE ADDITIONS
WE’RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE KYLE AND ANGIE WHITE AND DONOVAN HATCHER SHOWING THEIR WORK.
DIRTY CAR ARTIST – SCOTT WADE
The world famous artist, Scott Wade, will be installing a huge triptic in the Eye of the Dog Gallery to celebrate Dirt Dauber Festival. Click HERE to find out about this great artistic talent.
MUSIC LINE UP – DIRT DAUBER FESTIVAL 2011
SATURDAY, MAY 14
1 – 2 MIGHTY, MIGHTY MUD DAUBERS
2-4 CRYSTAL CREEK BOYS CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THE BOYS!
SUNDAY MAY 15
1 – 2 DONOVAN HATCHER CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT DONOVAN
2 – 4 JON INMON, SCOTT WADE, PAT McCANN, AND DANNY WADE – FOUR OF TEXAS’ FINEST MUSICIANS – ON STAGE AND LIVE!
