Wednesday, May 22, 2013

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.