Juried exhibition: from the earth
Clay is a material that knows no boundaries. The tradition of manipulating clay into a pot, a sculpture, tile or shelter is ancient and unending. This call is seeking ceramic artwork that utilizes this elemental material in any context or form and exemplifies the vast potential of ceramics. This exhibition welcomes artwork that embraces the traditions of clay making, represents contemporary interpretations of the medium and pushes the boundaries of this essential material that comes from the ground below our feet.
Click here for more information.
Workshops
SOLD OUT
A Presence of Clay: Gather, Construction, and Firing Techniques
With Jared Tso
Bring your imagination to life in this fun sculpture class that encourages embellished storytelling in clay. We will explore narrative vases, wall mounted heads and free-standing sculptures. Working from photographs or drawings, we will use basic slab and modeling techniques to build our creations. Jared will demonstrate continuous hollow construction as well as how to build in sections for smaller kilns or larger sculptures. Concurrently, we will make one-part plaster press molds to embellish our sculptures and bring texture to the surface. Each participant’s project will be unique, so we will discuss individual plans to make construction easier. Open to all levels.
sold out
THE PAINTED POT
With Bede Clarke
This hands-on workshop will explore hand-built pottery/sculpture, and drawing/painting on clay with a focus on building a personal approach to form and imagery/design (abstract and representational). Students are encouraged to bring sketches, visual resources, and ideas for imagery they would like to explore.Demonstrations, power-point lectures, and group discussion in this workshop will focus onbasic forming and painting skills, but more, we will look to discover the potential of acurious and sensitive dialogue between the artist, the pot/sculpture, line, color, and imagery. Forms created will be decorated with a direct and simple approach to painting with an earthenware underglaze. The technique is suitable for single-firing.
Technically, we will cover earthenware clays, slips, and glazes, the use of colored slips/engobes for painting on pots and sculptural form, and approaches to imagery.
Suitable for beginning to advanced students
sold out
THREE DAY CLAY WALL CARVING WORKSHOP
With Athena Steen
WHEN: Wednesday July 24th - Friday July 26th
TIME: 9am – 4:30 pm each day
COST: $300 for 3 days
LOCATION: Whiskey Creek Zócalo 11786 HWY 180 E. Arenas Valley, NM
Athena Steen grew up building with clay and adobe. She loves creating sculpted spaces that connect form with function, and walls rich with pattern, texture and color. Through the Canelo Project, a small non-profit organization, Athena has been teaching workshops for over thirty years, in strawbale construction and earthen building. Focused on simple, low-skill, low-cost methods that build community between people, culture and nature. Co-author of The Straw Bale House, Small Strawbale, and Built by Hand, her influence in the natural building world has been wide-spread. When Athena does not have her hands in the mud, she also enjoys publishing and designing books.
This workshop will be held at bar, restaurant, and music venue, Whiskey Creek Zocalo, owned and run by artists Jeff LeBlanc and Melanie Zipin. It is a space that houses creativity, and in this workshop, you will be part of creating a work of art that will remain there for many to enjoy.
THE ART OF PIGMENT HUNTING
With Scott Sutton
Date: Monday, July 22 & Tuesday July 23
Time: 10am-5pm
Location: Whiskey Creek Zócalo
11786 HWY 180 East
Arenas Valley, NM
Cost: $200
ABOUT SCOTT SUTTON
Pigment Hunter was created by artist and educator Scott Sutton for creating and documenting his work with mineral pigments in the creation of natural paint. Scott has been empowering other artists for over 15 years with the skills and knowledge to use local materials in a sustainable manner to reduce their own ecological footprint on the natural environment.
ART OF PIGMENT HUNTING
The Art of Pigment Hunting workshop during the Silver City Clay Festival will occur prior to the Clay Carving & Painting workshop by Athena Steen of the Canelo Project at Whiskey Creek Zócalo!
Scott will be teaching the Art of Pigment Hunting where we will spend time out in the geological landscape around Silver City. We will use maps of the surrounding geology to help us learn about the unique aspects of this beautiful place revealing the types and locations of minerals and their formations.
one million bones community workshop
Saturday, July 27, 11 AM - 2 PM
FREE TO THE PUBLIC, NO REGISTRATION NEEDED
Join us in the garden at Light Art Space to create clay bones to be added to the permanent home of the Million Bones Project at Bear Mountain Lodge.
ONE MILLION BONES
On June 8, 2013, over one million hand-made bones were laid on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. as a visible petition against the ongoing genocides and mass atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan, South Sudan, Congo, Burma, and Syria. The project started in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with the vision of installation artist Naomi Natale, who wanted to make the problem of genocide visible to the world. Nearly 150,000 people, from all 50 States and 30 foreign countries, ultimately participated in the One Million Bones project. Following the installation on the National Mall, the bones were removed and stored, waiting for their next calling.
During a talk at Western New Mexico University, the question arose as to where the bones should finally lay. The community of Silver City came together and decided to embrace the One Million Bones project as its own, here on the grounds of the Bear Mountain Lodge. In April 2018, ceramic bones remaining from the original installation started to be laid in this meadow.
We invite you to join us in the continuation of this project. There are many bones yet to be laid. You are welcome to make your own bone to offer, and we continue to encourage advocacy for the survivors and victims of these tragedies, which continue today. Most of all, we ask you to reflect on the meaning of these bones, that they represent the millions of people whose voices have been silenced by brutality, greed, and denial.
LEARN MORE: WWW.ONEMILLIONBONES.NET
CLAY MARKET
2024 CLAY FESTIVAL MARKET INFORMATION AND CONTRACT
The CLAY Market is an integral part of the annual CLAY Festival in Silver City, NM, allowing local and out-of-area artists to display and sell their clay-centric wares. Space is limited to eighteen 10’x10’ booths, which can be shared.
LOCATION: This year’s CLAY Market will be held in the ballroom of the historic, downtown Murray Hotel
200 W. Broadway St., Silver City, NM 88061
575-956-9400
www.Murray-Hotel.com
MARKET DATES/HOURS:
Saturday, July 27th …..10am-4pm
Sunday, July 28th ……..10am-2pm
CLay festival brunch
BEAR MOUNTAIN LODGE
60 Bear Mountain Ranch Rd. P.O. Box 1163, Silver City, NM 88062
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Sunday, July 28th, 2024
In honor of Shino glaze: Shrimp and Grits served with an egg
In honor of those reduction reds and purples glazes: Blueberry Chipotle Glazed Spare Ribs served with potato salad.
In honor of the celadon glazes: Savory Zucchini Spinach Parmesan Cheese Pancakes topped with sour cream and applesauce, served with or without our pepper bacon.
All entrees are served with salad and/or a fresh fruit cup.
Dessert:
In honor of raku glazes: Chocolate Mui Mui Cake served with strawberries and whipped cream
Or
Fresh Made Fruit Torte with Whipped Cream
Reservations a must! $28 per person
Phone 575 538 2538, email: info@bearmountainlodge.com or:
CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
HOSTED BY
THE WESTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY MUSEUM
This year the Western New Mexico University Museum will offer two different activities for kids (and kids at heart). These activities are free and on a first come first serve basis.
VESSEL MAKING ACTIVITY
Create a Mimbres-inspired coiled bowl or sculpt an animal figure with clay provided by the Museum.
YUCCA BRUSH PAINTING ACTIVITY
Paint a bowl made by museum staff in the traditional Mimbres way of using a Yucca brush to understand how the Mimbres people used the materials around them to create their amazing pottery.
Where: 1000 W. College Ave., Silver City, NM 88061
When: Mon. July 22 - Thurs. July 25
Time: Between 10 AM - 2 PM
silver city museum
Mata Ortiz Pottery | Author’s Presentation, Demonstration and Sale
Where: Museum Annex, 302 West Broadway, Silver City, NM
When: Saturday, July 27, 10 AM - 4 PM, Author presentations and book signings at 10 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM
To learn more about museum programs, events, and exhibits or to become a member visit at 312 West Broadway, call 575-597-0221 or online at www.silvercitymuseum.org and on the museum’s Facebook page.
Other Featured Exhibitions
Barbara Campbell & Javier Cervantes Show
When: Thursday, July 25 from 5 pm - 7 pm
Where: Bear Mountain Lodge, 60 Bear Mountain Ranch Rd, PO Box 1163, Silver City, NM
fancy dirt - Hugh J. Remar’s exhibition
When: Artist talk & demonstration on Friday, July 26, 5 pm - 7 pm
Where: Made In Silver City Gallery, 206 W Broadway St, Silver City, NM
