The next general membership meeting of Grand Clay Arts will be held April 21, 2022, at 9:00 AM.  We welcome participants in the Chaparral Center Hopi Room.  This will be the last general membership meeting until September.

Ever wonder what it's like to live in a two-bedroom house with seven brothers and sisters, mom, dad and your favorite aunt?

Welcome to the Grand Clay Arts studio in April!

For sure, our modest studio is like that two-bedroom house accommodating our large family of artists!  Yes, we all must compromise personal space, create pottery in tight surroundings, and share equipment.  At times, it's a bit over the top!  So, the question is, do we have the mutual goodwill to continue the spirit of sharing our limited assets and space?

My bet is...YES.

Let's continue our spirit of goodwill and do our best to share the studio space with one another in a relaxed and accommodating manner!

Kiln Room

• MONITORS ARE THE FACE OF THE CLUB!
• ACT LIKE IT IS YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS FOR THE 3 HOURS YOU MONITOR!  (Tidy, clean, etc.)
• CHECK / CASH / CHARGE FELLOW MEMBERS OUT FOR SUPPLIES AND ARTWORK!

Our selection for Artist of the Month will resume in May!

Now that all kilns are functioning, these basic instructions for bisque and glaze must be followed.
 

1. Stacking of multiple pieces is permissible WITHIN REASON, i.e. stacking small plates, a large plate with two smaller items on top, totem beads in a container.  Three items is the limit for stacking of clay pieces (beads not included).
2. Items must have the correct number of both firing and glaze stickers on a proper colored firing slip.  The piece is measured by the largest height or width dimension.
3. Only properly trained individuals belong in the kiln room.  Do not linger outside the kiln room while someone is working in the room.  They need freedom of movement to collect glaze and bisque ware without dodging people.
4. Be considerate of other members' work, treat their work as you would want yours treated.  Do not place your pieces on top of someone else's piece or slide pieces to move them.  Greenware especially is extremely fragile.
5. Use caution around unfired glaze pieces.  We have limited space but by touching someone's pieces you may break items or transfer glazes to other pieces.
6. From January to the end of April, members' pieces will be limited to dimensions no greater than 15 inches (that is height or width).  Class projects will be the only exception.  We must show consideration to all members so their pieces can get fired particularly when conditions are crowded or prior to a show or sale.  It is difficult to get many large pieces into the kiln.
7. Please clear out the fired bisque and glaze areas as soon as possible.  There is very limited space and what there is cannot be used for your storage area.
8. Do not put pieces that are still wet in either the glaze or bisque waiting areas.  Wet glaze can be transferred to the kiln person's hands and thus onto someone else's piece.  Pieces for bisque must be bone dry.  No items may be thicker than 3/4 inch or they will be rejected.
9. Any wire being used in the kiln must be high fire wire.  That means it must be able to be fired at Cone 6, otherwise it will melt and possibly damage other work.  (Note: Nichrome wire is available for purchase by the foot at Marjon's.)

Following the proper protocol will assure a more pleasant experience for all our members including the kiln committee.

You may be familiar with Bill van Gilder.  We have a link to one of his many videos on our home page.  He now has a new selection of processes, hints and tips videos which are being emailed to followers and which I have found most informative and entertaining. 

If you would like to join his email list, use the following link.  I think you will enjoy his sharing of many years of experience.

https://artisanal-innovator-9791.ck.page/3fd16e6f33​

Some of you will recognize these faces from yesterday (well, actually a number of years ago) following one of our very popular raku firings.

When you, as the artist, remove a piece of your work from the gallery, please immediately notify Terry Cullen with all the details so that it can be removed from the website. 

When you are adding a piece of your work to the gallery, it is important that you place the piece on the shelving behind the monitor's desk, NOT ON THE DISPLAY SHELVES.  A gallery representative will place your piece once it has been verified to match the information on the website.

Thank you!

For those of you who have already created a plate for next season's Plates of Plenty event, thank you!  Some amazing plates have been submitted!  Snowbirds, if you have time to make a plate or two before heading home, please do so.  For those of you who live here year round, perhaps making plates can be one of your summer goals.  There will be scheduled events for plate making throughout the summer.  Check the event calendar.

One extra reminder, use only food safe glazes!