The next general membership meeting of Grand Clay Arts will be September 16, 2021, at 9::00AM.
 

Hope everyone is doing well!

The Sun City Grand community has slipped into its leisurely early summertime pace: drink lots of water, walk slow, and see you at the pool!  Traffic is light and temperatures seem to hold in the 100 degree daytime range.  Great opportunity to take advantage of SCG amenities at an easy stride.

Last Saturday morning, the Market at Grand produced $778 in GCA revenues during a couple of hours of business.  That's amazing given the June heat and reduced SCG summer population.  In three months (April, May and June) the club sold several hundred clay works of art during the three Saturday morning markets.  For sure, the demand for GCA creations remains strong within the community.

As the club begins to plan for Fall '21 and early Spring '22 season, marketing takes on renewed significance.  Please note below the variety of upcoming SCG/GCA venues.  It's safe to say Grand Clay Arts has the potential to be overwhelmed by demand for both pottery instruction and pottery products as the current pace of interest continues.

• Market at Grand (previously Farmers Market)
• GCA Gallery website
• GCA Studio Lobby
• Fall SCG Event (2021)
• Spring SCG Event (2022)

To highlight the visual arts movement, SCG has created the Artisan Fusion (AF) umbrella group.  As the Fall season arrives, more information will be forthcoming as to the AF role in supporting the individual visual art clubs.

Grand Clay Arts..Charitable Giving
Plates of Plenty  Grand Clay Arts

 
These techniques are simple yet give very good results.  Clay body was white stoneware from Standard Clay called 182G.

By the way, Kalamazoo Institute of Art has a show of contemporary Japanese pottery that runs through June 27.  See KIARTS.org for details.  A virtual tour is also available.

Clay Arts Gallery

With COVID restrictions being eased, GCA is open for in-studio Gallery sales.  The general functioning of the Gallery is unchanged:

• Up to five pieces per artist
• All pieces must be posted on the Gallery site using the online Gallery Request form
• Pieces must be brought into the studio when posted online

However, the purchasing process has been altered to facilitate in-studio sales.  There are two ways for shoppers to make a purchase:

• Online - Buyers can still shop the online Gallery.  If they are in the studio, they may use their phone or tablet to purchase.  They may also use the club's laptop with assistance from a monitor or other member.
• Cash or Check - Items may be purchased off the shelves whenever there is a monitor or member to assist in the sale.  Buyers use the pre-printed envelopes, write in their name, the artist, piece, price, etc.  The envelopes go into the door slot for the Treasurer.

Note to Artists:
Checks for the purchase of your pieces will be mailed to you by the Treasurer.  We are no longer using "the book" to disperse payments.

Thanks to all for your support of the Gallery.
GalleryTeam@grandclayarts.com

Remember to log your service hours by filling out a slip and placing it in the marked box in the lobby.  At the end of each month, the hours are entered into the system.  Check your service hours online, under Volunteering>Volunteering Reports.

Special shout outs to...

• Jane McKnight, who keeps the volunteer calendars up and running
• Jan Nolan, who diligently enters the service hour slips each month

These ladies do a fantastic job of keeping the volunteer system functioning!

Hope this is helpful; email me with questions:

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There will be a Celebration of Life for Fred Hagan held June 26 from 6 to 9PM: