copy of October 2022
GCA Newsletter

General Membership Meeting

The next general meeting of Grand Clay Arts is Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 9:00 AM in the Hopi Room of the Chaparral Center.  We look forward to seeing many of our winter residents who have returned to Grand for the season along with the die hards who have toughed out the summer months.

Message from the President

Bruce Lucas

Welcome back to our Grand Clay Arts seasonal members.  We all look forward to a fun and enjoyable Fall '22/Spring '23 season together!

The community has begun to roll out its updated name...The Grand.  Rebranding has begun by featuring the new logo on the cover of this month's Grand Lifestyles magazine.  The community name change will continue to be rolled out over the next several months.

For sure, several active months are just around the corner.  Please note several of the upcoming activities noted below.

GCA Classes
October through January classes are posted for your review and participation.  Suggest registering as early as possible.  The expectation is that sessions will fill fast.

Monitor Training and Refresher
An additional MT&R session is now available.
Date:  November 18, 2022
Time:  9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location:  GCA Studio
A few slots remain open.  Register for the session by responding to the email invitation sent last week.
 
Fall Fest Art Walk (FFAW)
Note the Grand Lifestyles magazine (October issue), page 70, FFAW announcement.  Event Date is November 19, 2022, Saturday, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. The Grand community Artisan Fusion group, in conjunction with CAM, is sponsoring the Fall Fest Art Walk (FFAW).  The event is focused on showcasing The Grand's resident visual artists, club affiliated and independent.  The event promises to be a fun filled morning featuring incredible art by resident artists.  Food trucks and live music will also be on site.

Mark Powell Project

Notes from Mark's Shop...

So I got it in my mind to learn enough pottery skills to make a cup and put a wooden handle on it.  It sounds easy when put that way, but it is not.  Six or seven pieces later, I am still struggling to master the skills of slab building a mug much less pulling one on a potter’s wheel.  And then there is glazing…a whole other bag of worms to untangle.  Here is the first piece worth even putting a handle on.  It is built from slabs.  The handle is highly figured maple with a small, mother-of-pearl button inlaid on the top.  

The final entry in Mark's 3-D printing mug project!  Congratulations!

Diane Palley Project
Diane is almost finished with the six-foot bird condo project!
 

Plates of Plenty

Laura Abraham

It's coming!

Our second annual Plates of Plenty event will be held on Saturday, November 19, as part of Fall Fest Art Walk.  Last Year's fundraiser raised over $1200 for the Valley View Community Food Bank.  As with the pandemic, today's economic conditions have increased the needs and numbers of individuals facing food shortages.  We hope to beat last year's total by raising $1500 plus!

Many of you have already created a plate or two for the event.  Thank you!  Of course, we can still use more plates!  Clay and other materials are available if you have time to produce a plate before November 19.  The more plates we sell, the more money we contribute to the food bank.

Finally, a big shout out to Diane Palley and Trish McGinniss for coordinating this summer's plate-producing pizza parties!  With energy, enthusiasm and humor, Trish and Diane brought club members together to eat pizza AND produce dozens of plates for the upcoming event.
Pizza+Clay+Fun= Win-Win-Win!

Falll Fest Art Walk

November 19, 2022, is the date.  Keep your calendars open so you can participate.  This event is being handled a little differently than past sales events.  All GCA members are welcome to sell their artwork at this event.  We ask that you alert us if you are intending to participate by either signing up in the studio or using the link on our home page to sign up electronically. 

Bring your items to the studio on November 18 between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, set them up on the tables, and our team of instructors will review the work and select those items that will be placed on the outside sales tables.  Each artist can bring up to ten pieces to sell.  Your pieces must have a sales tag showing your name and the price.  Pieces not being displayed on the exterior tables will be artfully arranged inside the studio and will also be available for sale to those people who come in to visit our space.

All pieces may not be displayed on the exterior tables at one time and they won't be grouped by artist.  They will, instead, be artfully arranged for the most pleasing display and maximum space usage.  Pieces will be added to the display as space becomes available.

As in the past, participating artists are expected to assist with set up, take down, attend the sale to man the tables and handle the various duties required during the event.  Additional details about assignment of duties will be forthcoming.

Our studio will be closed on November 18 and 19 to accommodate this event.

November Special Events

Pat O'Brien

There has been some confusion regarding the various special events being held in November.  To clarify:

 

11/5

 

Market at Grand

 

9 AM – 1 PM

 

Request to sell your pieces via website by 10/15

 

 

11/5

 

Classical Expressions

 

7 PM – 9 PM

 

Display and sell artwork. See Pat O’Brien for details

 

 

11/19

 

Artisan Fusion Display

 

9 AM – 1PM

 

Display pieces have been selected

 

 

11/19

 

Fall Fest Art Walk

 

9 AM – 1PM

 

Bring up to 10 pieces to studio on 11/18 for consideration to sell. Instructors will select pieces for sale on outside tables. Remainder will be for sale inside the studio

 

Newspaper Needed

Diane Niehof

Please bring in your newspaper!  The supply in the studio is running very low and our use rate is increasing daily.

Thank you!

Housekeeping

Lynn Guiliani

The shelves are already crowded.  The studio is getting busier by the day.  Many items are not properly identified with artist's name and date of placement on the shelf.  Please follow the guidelines:
  • Two-week limit for items to sit on drying shelves
  • Please place your work on the appropriate shelves
  • Your name and date of placement is a must
There will be a sweep of the shelves periodically and anything without proper identification will be removed.

The Doctor Is In

Diane Niehof

The Doctor Is In! started Friday, October 14, and continues on a fairly regular basis through the season. 

Who is the Doctor?  Diane Niehof

What happens in the class? Both hand builders and wheel throwers work independently and receive help as needed with concept, execution and problem solving on the project of their choice.  Students should select something that will challenge their skills.  Each student will be offered help on a rotation basis. 

Join the fun and sometimes mayhem in this one-session class.  Check the Event Calendar on our website for future classes.

Alternate Firing is Back!

Diane Niehof

Okay, it's cooling off and that means it's time to kick off our raku and alternative fire program.  Curious?  Want to know what it's all about?

The first event will be a lecture and game session at Diane's home.

When:  Wednesday, October 19  -  6:00 - 7:30 PM
Where:  15825 W. Cinnabar Drive
Cost:  $10.00 payable on the day of the event

Learn about our amazing alternative fire program that includes raku, horsehair, Obvara, naked raku, blackware and saggar firing.  These events are open to all levels of experience including bold beginners.
 
Key lime pie will be available.
 

Please contact Diane Niehof directly if you plan to participate: 
Text:  616-460-8458
Email:  dianeniehof@yahoo.com

The second event will be a raku and horsehair firing.

When:  Sunday, October 30  -  8:00 - 11:00 AM
Where:  Raku Park (to the left of the clay studio)
 
Firing schedule for November and December will be available soon.  Check the Education Board in the studio and the online event calendar to register.

Upcoming Classes and Events

Lynne Shanrock

 

Class/Event

Date

Time

Instructor

Mudhead Luminaria

10/19

6-9 PM

Lynne Shanrock

Flower Making-Peonies

10/20

3-6 PM

Donna Repaty

Underglaze This!

10/21

3-6 PM

Mary King

Whimsical Village

10/24,31

3-6 PM

Pat O’Brien

Columns & Bottles

10/25,27

3-6 PM

Diane Niehof

Basic Glazing

10/26

3-6 PM

Connie Johnson

Doctor Is In! 1028

10/28

3-6 PM

Diane Niehof

Raku/Horsehair Firing

10/30

8-11 AM

Diane Niehof

Basic Clay – November

11/1,8,15

3-6 PM

Johnson

Bird Plant Pal

11/3

6-9 PM

Lynne Shanrock

Mask Making

11/3, 10

3-6 PM

Diane Niehof

Beginning Wheel- Nov.

11/7,9,14,16

3-6 PM

Pat O’Brien (Full)

The Doctor Is In! 1111

11/11

3-6

Diane Niehof

Intermediate Hand Bldg.

11/16,17,30

6-9 PM

Lynne Shanrock

Basic Glazing

11/17

3-6 PM

Connie Johnson

Fall Fest Art Walk

11/19

9AM-1PM

 

Underglaze This!

11/28

3-6

Mary King

Beginning Wheel – Dec.

11/30-12/21

3-6

Diane Niehof

Pickled Pigs Feet

12/1-12/9

3-6

Diane Niehof

Textural Wall Hanging

12/4-12/12

3-6

Pat O’Brien

Basic Clay – December

12/6-12/20

3-6

Connie Johnson

The Doctor Is In!

12/15

3-6

Diane Niehof

Sundancer Luminaria

12/15

6-10

Lynne Shanrock

Collumns and Bottles

12/16-12/23

3-6

Diane Niehof

Underglaze This!

12/19

3-6

Mary King

Textured Planter

12/20

6-9

Lynne Shanrock

Basic Glazing 1222

12/11

3-6

Connie Johnson

Beginning Wheel

1/9/23-1/18/23

3-6

Pat O/Brien

Basic Clay – Jan.

1/10-1/24/23

3-6

Connie Johnson

Betwix & Between

1/10-1/19/23

6-9

Brian Marx

Mask Making – January

1/12-1/26/23

3-6

Diane Niehof

Textural Wall Hanging

1/23-1/20/23

3-6

Pat O’Brien

Throwing/Altering/Carving

1/23-2/1/23

6-9

Brian Marx

Hanging Totem – Jan.

1/24-2/8/23

6-9

Lynne Shanrock

The Doctor Is In!

1/25/23

3-6

Diane Niehof

Basic Glazing 0131

1/31/23

3-6

Connie Johnson

Please check Event Registration on our website for the most up-to-date information.

NOTE:

  • Flower Making is brought to you by an outside instructor, Donna Repaty. A minimum number of 5 students is required for this class.

  • Brian Marx will be returning in January. For you wheel throwers who want to get to the next level, don’t miss this opportunity to sign up for one of his very popular classes.

GCA Newsletter - copy of October 2022