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VCPG April 2023 Newsletter
By Ruty Levy
Posted: 2023-04-18T04:26:33Z

VCPG April 2023 Newsletter

Members' Meeting April 24th

6:30pm Gathering / 7:00pm Meeting

Program: Frank & Polly Ann Martin: A Shared Life Celebrating 39 years of Working in Clay

See details below.


For Your Calendar:​

April 6th………….…...Board Meeting @ 3:00pm

April 24th……….….…Members Meeting on Zoom; 6:30 Gathering

May 4th……….….…...Board Meeting @ 3:00pm

May 20th……….….….Optional Prep for Pit Fire - Ventura @10am-noon

May 20th……….….….Optional Prep for Pit Fire - Santa Barbara @10am-noon

May 20th……….….….Optional Prep for Pit Fire - Ojai @2-4pm

May 21st….…..….…...Pit Fire Gathering and Potluck in lieu of our Members Meeting

May 22nd…….…...…..NO MEMBER MEETING (See May 21)

June 1st…….…..…....Board Meeting @ 3:00pm

June 26th…..…..….....Members Meeting on Zoom; 6:30 Gathering

July 6th…….…...…....Board Meeting @ 3:00pm

July 31st…..….….......Members Meeting on Zoom - Clay Challenge/Pit Fire 6:30 Gathering

August 3rd……...…....Board Meeting @ 3:00pm

August 28th…..….…..Members Meeting on Zoom; 6:30 Gathering


President’s Musings • April 2023

VCPG.org —> Talk —> President's Musing


April 2023 Member Meeting Program

Frank & Polly Ann Martin: A Shared Life Celebrating 39 years of Working in Clay


Studio artists from East Tennessee, Frank and Polly Ann Martin will be sharing on Monday evening, April 24th, a presentation that celebrates 39 years together and their perspectives on working in clay. Their shared studio life evolves around their commitment to the home; both focused on creating works intended to enhance home life from the kitchen cupboard to the table. Collectively, they welcome the opportunity to gather and participate with others with shared interests and always look forward to making new friends. 



Check out the Guild Programs and Workshops Forum to learn more information about Polly Ann and Frank.


For Zoom link and more info, visit the April Member Meeting calendar listing.


Pit Fire & Potluck Update

We are excited and hoping to see the faces of many members - longtime and new at the May 21st event. Please take time to register whether you are planning on adding pots to the pit fire, food for the potluck or both!


• Do not forget the prep workshops happening in Ventura, Ojai and Santa Barbara on Saturday May 20th. Please register. We need to know how many people to expect at each site. Depending on the number of people interested, we may need to schedule shifts. Sign-up here: Guild --> Calendar.


• We are looking for a hospitality crew to make this event happen smoothly. If you would like to lend a hand with this task or are willing to help with the fire, please sign up for a slot on the Team Service Signup (page 2) under the Program Team. We need help to pull this off.


• We are planning on having the Guild's Photo Booth available along with an expert to help you take images of your work for posting on the new Guild online web home. Here is your chance to add photos to your personal profile, and, if you are a Plus tier member to your online Member Portfolio.


• The Program Team is looking for a few volunteers who are willing to share a tip or trick that you have in "your toolbox." As of today we have a member who will be sharing a simple way to create stamps and another who share some simple hand and finger exercises. Will four more of you join this crew? Again, sign-up under the Program Team here: Program/Workshop Team.


• Anyone out there know of a wood vendor? If so please reach out to Foz and share a name and contact info.


2023 Ventura Students Art Show





Sales opportunity

All juried plus members and gallery consignment artist are invited to participate in the Mother's Day Market Event at the VCPG Gallery.

Bring 15 items (maybe more depending on the the number of people who sign up to participate) to the gallery to be displayed outside the gallery at the event Saturday May 13th and Sunday May 14th 11:00-6:00.

Each item will need to be labeled with the price, inventory # and a code you will receive by May 5. Labels are available at the gallery.

Drop off: beginning Monday 8th, making sure the boxes are marked with your name and stackable.

The VCPG will keep 20% and you will receive 80%. In order to register for the event, you will agree to work a shift during the event. The shifts will be 11:00-2:30 and 2:30-6 each day.

Sign up and register for the event and shift on the Calendar.

Feel free to contact me, Jody Cooper at About Us --> Contact Us page or 805 701-7797 if you have questions or concerns.


2023 Ojai Pottery Market

CALLING ALL JURIED PLUS MEMBERS - REGISTRATION FOR THE 2023 OJAI POTTERY MARKET IS AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM APRIL 15TH THROUGH MAY 15TH!!!

The 2023 Ojai Pottery Market will be held at Libbey Park on June 10th from 10am to 6pm and June 11th from 10am to 5pm. 

All juried Plus members are welcome to participate in the Guild’s premier outdoor sale!

This is a great sales opportunity for returning and new artists alike. Sales are made under the Guild’s seller’s permit and the central cashier processes all payments and collects and pays sales tax and credit card fees. We do the paperwork for you! And, we plan to have volunteers on hand to help with booth setup and breakdown. 

Please visit Ojai Pottery Market - 6/10/2023 to review the Guidelines for the 2023 Ojai Pottery Market, the site map, and to register and pay the participant fee. If you have any questions, please use: vcpg.org —> About Us --> Contact Us form. Select “Ojai Pottery Market” under “Send To”. There will be a Zoom training for participating artists in May. 


If you are interested in selling at the 2023 Ojai Pottery Market but you’re not sure you have enough inventory, consider reaching out to your friends in the Guild to share a 10’ x 10’ booth. Each juried, Plus member in a shared booth will need to register separately and pay the participant fee. 


A collaborative booth is being organized for Ventura Pottery Gallery members and consignment artists. Registration and payment for the Gallery booth will be handled by the Gallery booth team. Gallery artists will receive an email with details soon.


The Ojai Pottery Market is a wonderful opportunity to provide service to the guild. Sale proceeds support Guild program member benefits and outreach during the year. Please consider lending a hand in making the sale a success. This event provides Plus members with a date certain for you to complete your Team Service to the Guild. Sign up here - you need to LOGIN to see the opportunities available. There will be a Zoom training for Cashier’s the first week of June.


 Beatrice Wood Show • July 8th - August 20th

This year we are honoring Beatrice Wood on the 25th anniversary of her passing away. 

Use her work to inspire you to create your entries. Take an element from her pottery that inspires you and transform it into your own interpretation. 


The show runs from July 8th – August 20th.

The application form will be available in mid-April.



Summer Residency Program

Information on the Guild's Summer Residency Program for students can be found at our Guild Web Home in the Learning --> Studio Residency. Deadline for the Summer 2023 program is midnight April 30, 2023. Please address questions to Residency on the About Us --> Contact Us page.

Lou Ann Smith

Summer Residency Program Coordinator



May Board Meeting Link • 5/4/23 @3:00

All Guild members are invited to attend the monthly VCPG Board of Directors Meetings. 

Please contact Secretary on the About Us --> Contact Us page if you would like to receive the Agenda Packet in advance of the Board of Directors Meeting.

 

Topic: VCPG May Board of Directors Meeting

Time: May 4th, 2023 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)


Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88067937721?pwd=ZlZCSElGRGZrbUlNbmo0YWh3NGtFQT09


Meeting ID: 880 6793 7721

Passcode: 558245


Plus Tier Members Update

We are quickly approaching having a third of 2023 behind us. Each Plus tier member made an agreement when renewing their membership to complete some form of service to the Guild during 2023. There are many unfilled spots where members can complete this service. They span the gamut of a few hours helping at an event, helping with a task once every quarter, helping by supporting an ongoing activity that benefits all Guild members or taking on a lead role on a team or committee.


This is a reminder for you that you must sign-up for this service (Team Service Sign-ups), you must perform the service and then verify in your profile that you have been given credit for the service.


  • Right now we need support at the Pit Fire Event on May 21st, the Ojai Pottery Market on June 10 and 11 and on a variety of other teams. Take the time now to look at these and other openings on Program/Workshop Team Service Sign-ups.


Your eligibility to renew your membership at the Plus tier level in 2024 is dependent on you completing your Team Service in 2023. Questions, please email teamservice@vcpg.org.


Past Monthly Programs Online

March 2023 Members Meeting 


This and other select videos are available on our Learning --> Videos page. From there you may also click to our YouTube channel for our complete selection of videos and playlists. For questions or suggestions please contact Videos on the About Us --> Contact Us page.

Happy Potting,

Maree Cheatham



The VCPG Library

Interested in learning more about a specific area of ceramics? Check out VCPG's extensive library! Visit the Members --> Library page for everything you need to know.


Looking for artistic inspiration, or trying to solve glazing or firing issue? VCPG’s Library offers members an abundance of practical information, as well as being a great source of artistic inspiration. 

Browse the collection by visiting the Library page under the Member Menu on VCPG.org. Click on Check Out Item to complete the check out request form. Items will be shipped at no cost to you. You can return items via mail (at your cost) or to the gallery. 




VCPG Library Book Review


The Encyclopedia of Pottery Techniques by Peter Cosentino is a guidebook to a wide range of pottery forming and decorating techniques. Clear, concise explanations are given for each technique presented using step-by step demonstrations. In addition, the book includes a section on ceramic history that provides context for the techniques discussed. The Encyclopedia of Pottery Techniques is an essential resource for anyone interested in looking to expand their skills.






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