Thank you Daniel Teran & The Clay Studio!

A big THANK YOU to Daniel Teran, our CIM 2013 juror, and The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, for once again hosting our winner's exhibit.  Don't forget to check out The Clay Studio's website.  They have great classes and workshops this summer and all year around.  http://www.theclaystudio.org/

CIM~2013 Winner's Workshop (Raku Firing)

The Raku-Winner's Workshop on June 27th (8:30 am - 4pm) is for 1st place winners and their teachers.  

Raku Pottery originated in Japan during the late 16^th century.  While the process has changed slightly as it was brought to the western world, the basic elements remain the same.  Pieces are made with low-fire clay that contains a great deal of grog.  Grog helps the clay body withstand drastic changes in temperature.  Once the piece is bisque fired and glazed, it is glazed fired to maturity.  When the piece is fired to temperature, it is pulled from the hot kiln and placed in a reduction chamber filled with combustible materials.  This process creates brilliant colors and metallic flashing in your glaze.  Your glaze results are always an exciting surprise! 

You will have the opportunity to create 3 pieces.  Due to the small size of the kiln, pieces cannot be larger than 8 inches wide by 14 inches tall.  Please do not make any functional ware, as the Raku process is not food safe.  Also, to make sure everyone’s piece gets fired, we ask that you only make one piece at the maximum size and keep your other two pieces on the smaller side.  Should you want to make more than three pieces, if time allows, we can fire them once everyone has all three pieces fired.  Pieces should be bisque fired to Cone 04 at your school or studio.  If you do not have Raku glazes to glaze your pieces, we have found that Amaco Opalescent glazes work very well.  Also, please stress to the students that they do not need glaze their entire piece, unless this is their preference.  This glazing style lends itself to highlighting the beauty of Raku pottery.  I will try to get some horse hair to experiment.  If anyone has access to horse hair, I would greatly appreciate it if you bring some.      

On the day of the firing, we will meet at the football field at Burlington Township High School.  It is quite a walking distance from the school, so be prepared to be outside for the entire day (sunscreen, sunglasses and lots of water).  There are bathroom facilities outside.  If you choose to pack a lunch, bring it in a cooler because you will not have access to a refrigerator.  If you choose to buy lunch, there are many good options that are less than a mile away.  Please dress for hot weather and wear clothing with all natural fibers.  If you have long hair we advise that you wear a hat or tie it up for your safety.  Also, please wear or bring long pants and long sleeves to protect your legs and arms.  Finally, absolutely no open toes shoes.  We recommend snug fitting leather shoes, boots, or sneakers.  Also please bring leather work gloves if you have them.  We will provide the rest of your safety equipment.   

If you have any questions, please call or email me.  See you on June 27th!

Contact Us

Director:

Julia Kirchner: jkirchner@nburlington.com

Clay In Mind Executive Board:

Pat Proneiwski: proniews@optonline.net

Diane Emerson: demerson9@comcast.net

Zoe Morrow: zmorrow@mtps.com

Janet Rolnick: jrolnick@gmail.com

Jaime Cream:  jcream@burltwpsch.org

About Clay In Mind

Clay In Mind is a juried exhibition of ceramic artwork created by high school students in New Jersey and dedicated to the memory of Mr. James Colavita, ceramic sculptor and former teacher at Mercer County Community College.   The exhibit was designed to give a venue to high school students’ ceramic artwork and to promote professional development in the medium for teachers and students.

Annually, each school may enter artworks either functional or non-functional whose primary medium is clay.  The works must be original in concept and executed solely by the student.  The blind jurying is held at Northern Burlington County Regional High School on a Saturday in late April or early May.  Teachers and their students participate in a variety of clay related activities while awaiting the judge’s decision.  Early that same afternoon, after the winning artworks have been tagged with ribbons, the exhibit is opened for public perusal and soon after awards and prizes are presented.  Twenty artwork are then brought to The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, where it is on exhibit.  The exhibit opens on First Friday and ends the following Saturday typically in May. 

Clay In Mind was started by, ceramics art teacher, Mrs. Pat Proniewski of Northern Burlington Regional High School.  In 2008, Pat passed the role of director on to Mrs. Jaime Cream, ceramic art teacher of Burlington Township High School.  In 2013, Jaime passed the role of director to Ms. Julia Kirchner, teacher of Ceramics at Northern Burlington Regional High School.  Jaime is on the Clay In Mind Executive Board, along with Diane Emerson, and Tara Janick.  Clay In Mind has come full circle from teacher (Mrs. Proniewski) to student (Ms. Kirchner) continuing the exhibit at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA.