Source: nceca.net
Since the 1960s, the Twin Cities region has played a pivotal role in shaping a renaissance in studio pottery and craft as cultural forces. Adaptation of the (Japanese folk art) Mingei-inspired ideals within the American heartland drove a vision of artfulness in daily life.
Claytopia, the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)’s 53rd annual conference will take place in Minneapolis, March 27-30 and will engage regional, national and international artists, thinkers, curators, educators, and students to produce an array of exhibitions and experiences that build on, respond to, celebrate, and push against ceramic art’s diverse legacies. Claytopia will feature ceramic exhibitions that will be part of the bus tours in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District.
Here are the exhibit locations within the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, with business hours and events happening during the conference March 27-30.
Many of the exhibits start well before the conference, and the general public is invited to stop in and see the diversity and quality of ceramic work from all over the nation. For conference info: https://nceca.net/
American Craft Council 1224 Marshall St. NE, craftcouncil.org, Hours during conference week: Mon-Thu 10am-5pm, Fri 10am-9pm. Reception: Fri, Mar 29, 5-9pm.
2001 A Space 2001 5th St NE, Minneapolis, MN, 612-623-3138, 2001aspace.com,
Hours during conference week: Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm (Wed open at 10am, Fri until 9pm), Sat 12-2pm. Reception: Fri, Mar 29, 5-9pm.
On view Mar 11-Mar 31:
Personifications highlights the human figure as primary subject through diverse aesthetic styles, content, and construction methods.
California Building – 2205 California St NE, californiabuilding.com. Hours during conference week: Tue-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 8am-6pm. Mar 26-30. Reception: Fri, Mar 29, 5-9pm. Exhibits in the California Building include:
- Exuberant Ornament – A celebration of color and pattern in clay
- Directly Playful Work
- The Rat Trap Clay Club Collaboration Event
- Two Friends Under the Influence
Mojo Coffee Gallery in California Building – MUGSHOT2 – 2nd International Biennial Juried Ceramic Coffee Mug Competition & Exhibition.
Q.arma Building 1224 Quincy St. NE, qarmabuilding.com
Diverse Clay – Heart Land Stories.
This is the work of storytellers, of artists reflecting on the human condition: what binds us together or tears us apart, what holds us safe, what exposes us to fear or failure.
Hours during conference week: Tue-Sat 10am-7pm (Fri until 9pm). Reception: Fri, Mar 29, 5-9pm. Exhibitions on view Mar 26-30.
Northrup King Building 1500 Jackson St. NE, northrupkingbuilding.com.
- Unapologetic: Women’s Ceramics in the Land of Mingei-Sota – Minnesota Women Ceramic Artists (MNWCA) Juried Exhibition features works by current MNWCA members along with work by current and past jurors. Third Floor Gallery. mnwca.org,
Hours during conference week: Mon-Tue 12-5pm, Wed 10am-5pm, Thu-Fri 10am – 9pm, Sat 12-5pm.
Reception: Fri, Mar 29, 5-9pm. On view Mar 7-Apr 5.
- Part & Parcel at Studio 394 facebook.com/threeninefour
Hours during conference week: Tue 12-5pm, Wed 10am-7pm, Thu-Fri 2-9pm, Sat 12-4pm.
Reception: Fri, Mar 29, 5-9pm. On view Mar 26-30.
Part & Parcel examines recurrent themes of vessel, module, figure, and fragment. Artists were selected to display work contributing to the genesis of contemporary ceramics.
Minneapolis Clay Collective 1224 Quincy St. NE Suite 135, minneapolisclaycollective.com.
Hours during conference week: Mon-Sun 10am-7pm (Fri until 9pm). Reception: Fri, Mar 29, 5-9pm. On view Mar 25-Apr 22.
Minneapolis Evolves – A single artist’s pottery does not live in a vacuum, but it is and will always be greatly affected by what has been made in the past and present. Catherine Veigel, Ruth Erickson, Melissa Favero, Zachary Wollert, Tabatha Jones, Danielle Fernández, Kori Parish, Brynne Macosko Paguyo, Linda Ge, and Joe Torke. Organized by Joe Torke.
Small but Mighty at the Flux Arts Building, 2505 Howard St. NE. fluxartsbuilding.com
Hours during conference week: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9-5pm. Reception: Fri, Mar 29, 5-9pm. On view Mar 4-30.
Highlights a conceptually diverse sampling of contemporary ceramic sculptors working in small-scale ceramics to create a big impact.
Water Bar 2518 Central Ave. NE, water-bar.org. Hours during conference week: Mon-Sun 10am-5pm (Fri until 9pm). Reception: Fri, Mar 29, 5-9pm. On view Mar 25-31.
H2O – Artists explore the inter-relationship of water and life, drawing inspiration from drinking vessels, water habitats, diminishment of clear water, and disappearing polar caps.