The Baltimore Clayworks Clayfest 2006 is giving people of all ages the opportunity to play with clay this weekend.
“It is the most participatory, get-down-and-dirty opportunity you will have for the entire summer,” said Baltimore Clayworks Director of Development Sara Warren. “You will create things you never knew you could create. It?s for the whole family. People who get their hands in it really get addicted.”
A popular part of Clayfest is the Baltimore Clayworks? Seconds Sale. The Seconds sale consists of handmade pottery with some element of a “second,” like if a glaze did not go the way the artist wanted it to. Contributed work includes pieces from local and national artists.
The Clay Olympics, also part of Clayfest, holds competitions in categories like Longest Coil, Tallest Cylinder/Widest bowl and more.
“We have the foot centering, where you have to center the clay on the wheel with your feet. We also have blind throwing, where you throw a pot without looking. There is team sculpture building, where a group of five or less build the tallest arch they can,” Warren said.
The opening of the “New Directions” member artists show, an exhibit of 13 resident artists pieces.
“It?s a show of new work, all from our resident artists,” said exhibition director Forrest Snyder. “It?s a wide variety, from pre-traditional functional, utilitarian pottery to abstract sculpture, glazed and unglazed work, colorful slips and glazes to monochromatic sculptures.”
Snyder also says that the age range is another interesting element, with people in their mid-20sto folks over 60 participating.
“It?s a pretty neat and comprehensive show,” he said.
Kokopelli, a “unique boutique” with locations in Columbia and Towson, is a lead sponsor for the event.
Jane Reifler owns the boutique with her husband, Ronald, and daughter Jill Lehr. Reifler is also a student at Clayworks.
“I just think that Clayworks has a wonderful sense of community,” she said. “They are very good at helping underprivileged children.”
Clayworks provides scholarships to underprivileged youths so that they can enroll in clay classes for a nominal fee of just $5. So far, Clayworks artists have taught 192 youths.
“[Clayfest] is a lot of fun; it?s educational, and you get great bargains on ceramics. You can also meet a lot of interesting people,” Reifler said. “You get to see the upper echelon of Clayworks and what they?re doing, which is really nice.”
Information
» 410-578-1919 or www.baltimore clayworks.org
