Brag Shelf

The brag shelf -- with a sculptural piece by Terry Hogan, bottles by Steve Acoba and a Teco inspired bowl/urn by an unknow artist -- anyone knows who did that piece at the far end?

Teachers

I took some pictures of the classes that take place on Monday nights.  Here's one with Jason Lawfer doing a demo on "handles" in his Monday night Beginner/Advance Beginner class.

David Trost in his Monday night Advanced Wheel throwing class also doing a demo on "handle" techniques:

Coincidentally, this all happened on the same night in different classes.  Great minds think alike  . . . . . .

Remember to sign up for the interim Early Winter session at Lillstreet starting November 26!  It's time to crank out holiday gifts!

Unveiling the Soda Kiln

Another successful firing!  If you love the "orange peel" texture and the concept of atmospheric glazing techniques or if you are looking for a new and interesting way to decorate your pot -- consider taking a Soda Class!  New classes will be offered in 2013.

8th Annual Lillstreet Student Member Show

The setup is complete and the show is running in full-swing.  I have to say that the show is more and more amazing each year.  This is the forth show that I have seen and the array of work displayed and the quality is just so outstanding.  If you get a chance, stop in and take in the sight.  If you can't, here's some pictures that will hopefully whet your appetite enough for you to come see the show.  It will run from October 22 to October 28 and is open from 10AM to 7:30PM daily.  The opening reception is on Friday, October 26 at 6PM.  See you there!

Photos courtesy of Joe Tighe!

Wells Street Art Festival Press Release

Call for college & high school artists

2013 Wells Street Art Festival Announces

NEW "Student Artists' Showcase" 

Works of up to 10 students to be featured at iconic annual art fest on June 8-9.

CHICAGO—October 2012—Calling all aspiring student artists! The Wells Street Art Festival—one of the Midwest's largest and most prestigious juried fine art fairs—will introduce a new Student Artists' Showcase at the 2013 fest. The works of up to 10 promising local high school and/or college students selected in advance by a jury will be spotlighted at the event set for Saturday/Sunday, June 8-9.

The application deadline is Tuesday, January 15. Teachers must sign off on student entries.

Celebrating its 39^th year in 2013, the Wells Street Art Festival is sponsored by the Old Town Merchants & Residents Association. It features the works of more that 250 artists on Wells Street between North Avenue and Division Street in Chicago's historic Old Town neighborhood.

Fest organizers say the new Student Artists' Showcase will provide promising students with a unique opportunity to exhibit their works in a professional venue as well as interact with established artists and experience the juried art process.

The artwork of the selected student artists will be spotlighted in a newly-created tented area within the fest. In addition, on-site jurors will select three winners. Besides bragging rights (and a resume-builder), the first place student recipient will receive $300; second place $200; and third place $100.

Students can submit entries in 10 juried mediums: 2-D Mixed Media; 3-D Mixed Media & Sculpture; Ceramics; Digital Art; Functional Art; Glass; Jewelry; Painting; Photography; and Works on Paper.

Complete Student Artists' Showcase rules, regulations and the application form can be downloaded from www.chicagoevents.com. Questions should be directed to Joanna Bielecki at 773-584-6631.

Old Town Merchants & Residents Association

1520 N. Wells Street

Chicago, IL 60610 | 312-951-6106

Please navigate to Lillstreet's Home Page to download the application.  Good luck!

Message from Karen: New Clay Body

Hi Everyone,

The Buff Stoneware is on the loading dock and is ready for use! Several of us have been throwing and altering with it and it's really nice! David Trost has a pot on the teacher's shelf with Celadon, Temoku and Shaners Clear, which shows the fired clay on the feet. Other samples are in the works but I won't be putting test tiles up for this one since it is not as "radical" as the Buff With Ochre. There will be at least one pot coming out of the soda kiln this week.

As the poster says, once the Fireclay Stoneware is gone, I am not ordering more. It is similar to "with Iron" so it is more of a duplication than having these two Buffs with the Fireclay with Iron and Stoneware Reclaim as the stoneware selections.

Have FUN!

Karen

Another new clay body

A new clay body will be released to the students at Lillstreet -- the new clay is a  Buff Stoneware (without Ochre) and is slated to replace the Fireclay Stoneware with Iron.  The new Buff Stoneware fires to a new "teddy bear brown".  If you are interested in seeing a glaze fired piece, David Trost has a completed piece on the Teacher's Shelf above the sinks.

As for the Fireclay Stoneware with Iron; Lillstreet will not be reordering that clay body once the current supply runs out.  So, if you have pieces or sets that you are trying to finish up, grab your clay now so you don't run out!