Showcasing the vitality and varied talents of the 85 members of the Clay Collective of St Petersburg, 5 clay studios will be holding kiln openings, demonstrations, and showings of their clay work on March 24, 2018 from 10 am to 5 pm. The many artists work in both sculptural and functional clay; and with 85 ceramists there are so many styles that everyone will find work that excites them. The makers each create a unique style, using a favorite clay and glaze combination. St Petersburg is the area epicenter of Gulf Coast Florida ceramics.
Kiln openings, with the excitement of Christmas morning, will be a delightful feature of this event. It must be noted that most kiln openings are happy moments, there are always surprises, both great and not quite what one had in mind.
All of the studios feature working artists and a large variety of clay work. The work for sale is displayed in galleries and studios.
At the Morean Center for Clay, the wood fired anagama kiln and the soda kiln will be opened at 10 am. The anagama kiln is fired completely with wood. Several days of loading the kiln with a variety of thrown and hand built clay pieces evolves into three to five days of around the clock teams working to throw whole large chunks of oak and pine into the fire. The goal is to maintain a temperature of around 2350 degrees for several days. Then a week or two to cool and finally the results are discovered. Join us for this at 10 on March 24 to watch the unloading of the kiln. Morean Center for Clay has 40 members and 6 Artists in Residence. 420 22nd Street South, St. Petersburg.
A block away at Brick Street Clay Studio, the gas reduction kiln will be opened at 11 am. A method of firing that offers more control over the atmosphere inside the kiln giving different results using similar clays and glazes. This method takes an average of 8 to 12 hours and is always a surprise and an exciting moment. The Brick Street artists have individual styles and are a group with wide experiences in clay. Brick Street Clay Studio has 25 working members. 400 23rd Street South, St. Petersburg.
Brick Street Clay will have the V and J Kitchen food truck in their parking lot featuring Southern BBQ and the best Philly cheese steak south of Philadelphia!
Wendy Durand Pottery will be showing her many unique individually hand built functional and sculptural pieces of clay work. Wendy has a lovely large studio in the Soft Water Studios next door to the Arts Xchange. 515 22nd Street South, St. Petersburg
Charlie Parker is one of our longest working potters and just received a great honor winning the Saint Petersburg Arts Alliance Muse Award! We are so pleased for Charlie and delighted that he is one of our group. The group from Charlie Parker Pottery will be opening their kilns around noon. Charlie’s studio has 24 working members. 2724 6 the Avenue South, St. Petersburg
Craftsman House welcomes our newest artist in residence, Aida Lasher, recently arrived from University of Washington. She will be concentrating on her pottery wheel techniques and perfecting the kilns at Craftsman House. Craftsman House features a large collection of clay work and other Fine Crafts made by many leading contemporary craftspeople. Stop by the gallery next to the studio and enjoy lunch at the cafe. 2955 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg
Don’t miss this fun filled and interesting event…Clay Collective of St Petersburg’s 1st Annual Clay Art Studio Tour. Saturday, March 24, all day, in the Warehouse Arts District. The tour area is bounded by 22nd Street South, Central Avenue, 30th Street South and 6th Avenue South. Map available on pamphlets at the studios and on Facebook.
There is plenty of parking at the Morean Center for Clay and Brick Street Clay so you can walk or bike to these 5 studios very easily.