A Message from NCECA President

Patsy-JulyMany of you are headed back to school with a calendar of the next five months plastered to the inside of your eyelids. The summer teeters impatiently on the end of a sky-high diving board, prepared to head full force into the fall. Soak up the last precious remaining days and dry off because autumn is a time of harvest, not only of food for the body, but also of nourishment for the mind. This is a time to process the experiences of summer, consider the celebrations ahead, and prepare for the new year. It is a summation of sorts, especially in the studio, as we wrap up and attempt to quantify or qualify another year passing as manifested through our hands. Fall brings with it bright new faces in the classroom and continued inquiry from intermediate and advanced students alike. Community is inherent to the ceramics studio and we continue to work together during harvest time to complete tasks and share in a feast of experiences.

A flurry of activity comes out of the hard work your volunteer NCECA board puts in over the summer. You will notice more communication facilitated through digital media both at our annual conferences and in-between with increased activity on social media including the NCECA blog, and NCECA Facebook page. Keep your eyes out for updates and as school begins make sure to remind your students of fast approaching deadlines. The first is a September 24 submission deadline for the National Student Juried Exhibition (NSJE). October 2 deadlines include calls for conference programming (Projects Space, Student Perspectives, K-12 presentations, Topical Discussions and NCECA Connections) as well as Emerging Artists, Honors, Fellows, Excellence in Teaching Awards, and nominations for open board positions. As a member driven organization we hope that you will pursue opportunities to exhibit, present and be recognized by your NCECA peers.

Maybe you or someone you know is especially well-suited for one of the upcoming open board positions. All nominations come from you so be sure to help us identify and recognize excellence in the field by nominating outstanding individuals who have dedicated their lives to ceramics.Please keep in mind that nominations for open board positions will not be taken from the floor in Milwaukee as we will be implementing a new e-voting protocol and nominations for these positions need to be submitted by October 2nd. Now is the time to start preparing as deadlines tend to sneak up on us and applications take time to assemble.

One big announcement we’d like to share with you is the appointment of NCECA’s next Exhibitions Director. Please join us in welcoming Leigh Taylor Mickelson who will begin her tenure after the Milwaukee conference in 2014. Leigh has an accomplished history as both an exhibitions and programs director. She comes to us with much experience, expertise and insight. NCECA is so fortunate to have someone of her caliber to serve in this capacity. Exhibitions Directors undergo a short training period prior to beginning their official appointment to the board in March, and we are so thrilled that Leigh will be in communication with our current Exhibitions Director, Linda Ganstrom who will have completed two prolific consecutive terms in March. Linda has been a force in the field with immense contributions to NCECA and all things exhibitions related. Her impact will be felt for years to come. Thank you Linda for your years of service to the field.

As over the coming weeks we reveal more details on programming and presenters for Material World, NCECA’s 48th Annual Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we hope that you will be tickled pink to see what we’ve been planning. We’ve made some important partnerships that will contribute to the Milwaukee lineup, which is shaping up to be extremely smart, savvy and sophisticated; you will NOT be disappointed. While you have your calendars out, please click here to see a handy pdf including important upcoming NCECA deadlines. Cheers to reaping the fruits of your labor from the kiln this fall and as always, feel free to drop us a line with any thoughts you might have about NCECA.

Patsy Cox
President
patsycoxnceca@gmail.com

A Message from Sam Chung, Director at Large
2014 NCECA Emerging Artists Call

EmergingArtists
Left: Lauren Gallaspy, 2013 NCECA Emerging Artist
Right: Linda Swanson, 2013 NCECA Emerging Artist

Greetings NCECA fans and especially to those of you who are interested in applying for our 2014 Emerging Artists award! It is that time of year when we are seeking the most promising early-career artists in our field to shine at our 2014 NCECA conference in Milwaukee. NCECA is entering the final year of a three-year period of generous support from the Windgate Charitable foundation, which has been directed exclusively towards our Emerging Artists program. Thanks to Windgate, our six Emerging Artist finalists in 2014 will once again receive a cash award, have their work presented in the Emerging Artists Exhibition, and receive further publicity through print and web-based media. Selected artists will also present a gallery talk, serve on a topical discussion panel, attend meet-and-greet events with collectors and deliver a formal presentation to the membership at large at the Milwaukee conference. I have a few important announcements to make with regard to this coming year’s Emerging Artist application process. The deadline to apply is WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2! Mark it on your calendars and get started NOW on putting your application together. There are some statements and a resume to submit along with your images, so start polishing your portfolio and your documents for the application. You can find more information here http://nceca.net/static/exhibitions_emerging_info.php

I will serve again as one of the members of the Emerging Artist selection committee along with Josh DeWeese from Montana State University and Jeanne Quinn from the University of Colorado. Both Josh and Jeanne come to the table with a wealth of expertise, insight and professional experience. It will be an honor to work together with them, and I’m sure we will all put forth our most critical eyes in seeking out a diverse and exciting group of the most exciting up-and-coming talent in our field. We look forward to receiving your applications!

-Sam Chung, NCECA Director at Large

Back to School Special

In 1994, under the direction of the NCECA Publications Director Harris Deller, the first edition of the NCECA Ceramic Assignment Handbook was produced. The publication was popularly received and, with the dedication of Anne Shatas, a second edition was born in 1998. Materials received in response to NCECA’s request for assignments came in many forms reflecting the diversity of NCECA’s membership and the programs in which respondents planned and guided learning. The NCECA Assignment Handbook, second edition provides some great ideas about the meanings and processes of making, seeing and thinking. At the time of its printing, terms like learning outcomes, standards, critical questions and assessment strategies were not yet mandatory elements in thoughtfully crafted assignments… Standards were not yet standard, and the common core was not yet even a bud that would become a fruit dandling on the tree of knowledge.

As a welcome back to school gift, until September 30, 2013, all active members may download a free 210-page pdf of the second edition, second printing of the NCECA Assignment Handbook. What better incentive for lapsed members to renew and new members to join NCECA before the end of September?

As summer wanes and minds fill with anticipation, possibility and excitement of a new season of learning, the NCECA Assignment Handbook offers inspiring ideas for the studio and classroom. Anyone involved in education over the past twenty years has experienced a great deal of change in the way we document learning experiences. This downloadable pdf includes an array of assignments in various formats. A few of the submissions also offer philosophical reflections on teaching ceramics. More than 80 artists and educators contributed, including Cynthia Bringle, Val Cushing, Robert Turner, Chris Staley, Jack Troy and Beatrice Wood to name just a few. We hope to hear from some of you about any surprises these materials instill in you, what kinds of changes reflect in the way you now document assignments, and what elements you would like to consider including in a future assignment handbook should NCECA decide to produce one.

1. Go to Login screen and enter your email address and password.
2. Click Online Store in left navigation bar
3. Click on Downloadable Assignment Handbook; add to Shopping Cart, then Checkout.
4. Download instructions will immediately show on screens and a confirmation will be emailed containing download instructions as well!