Feats
of Clay 2008
Grand Opening Benefit
April 26th 2008
Tours Begin
April 30th – May 25th 2008
Wed – Sunday 9:00am – Noon every 20 min
Click for Calendar
Click
for the Prospectus
Or
the Spanish Prospectus
Hotel
information Several local hotels are offering discounts
for this event.
Feats Volunteer Information
Training Begins 9am-12 noon.
1st Training Session
at Lincoln Arts Building
Saturday April 5th 2008
2nd Training Session
Saturday April 12th 2008
** Docents And Reception Volunteers – At Gladding McBean
** Kiln Sales, Canopy Greeters – At Lincoln Arts
3rd Training Session
Sat April 19th 2008,
** Docents Only – At Gladding Mcbean
** Reception, Kiln, Canopy – At Lincoln Arts
Entry
Information:
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Historical Terra Cotta
Factory,open since 1875
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Volunteer
Training
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Grand
Opening Night
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2007
Feats of Clay Winners
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1st
Place Blessing II Gabriel Parque
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Second
Place Square Teapot
Porntip Sangvanich
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3rd
Place Strongylocentrotus
Shane M. Keena
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Tile
Heritage
Drain
Jeff Irwin
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Gladding
McBean Website
American
Ceramic Society
LOCATION
& HOURS: Lincoln Arts Gallery, 580 6th Street, Lincoln,
CA 95648
10 AM - 3 PM, Tuesday - Saturday
Placer
County's "most unique event," Feats of Clay,
brings together the best of contemporary ceramic art displayed
in the historic Gladding McBean terra cotta factory. The competition
has become one of the most important shows in the nation. A winning
entry - or even a piece displayed in the hotly contested (over
1,000 entries are received yearly) show - is an impressive addition
to any artists' resume.
Reserve
a tour, hop aboard an antique fire truck waiting at the plant
gate, and
begin a journey back in time. Dodging busy forklifts stacking
row upon row of
huge, distinctively colored pipes, the transport stops at the
center of a
city-block-long "shed." Inside, hazy shadows pierced
by rays of filtered light
beckon. Once across the threshold, the sensual roar of 2000-degree
fires confined
in towering kilns is pervasive.
The
thrilling sounds and massive scale are awesome. A step inside
the nearest
giant structure, a 35-foot diameter "beehive" kiln,
one of 22 operating in the
building, draws gasps. Tomb-like, the kiln's walls are encrusted
with ancient
residue from salt firings in pink, gold, rust and mauve. The softly-lit
contemporary
art is posed as though waiting for archaeological discovery.
There
seems barely time to assimilate t
he art, the process, the place. A walk
past many kilns in various stages of
firing, through the cool finishing floor
where workers are hand-sanding and
glazing each building block, leads to
the architectural design studio. There,
artisans model with their hands the
powerful rams' heads, graceful acanthus,
and fantastic gargoyles which
will be installed on buildings around the
world, hundreds of feet above pedestrians' heads.
Decades-old
models and molds are everywhere, scattered like so many giant
toys, under a frosting of talc-y white dust. Contemporary ceramic
art catches
the sunlight streaming from window banks high above. The life-like
photomurals
of terra cotta buildings, the delicate watercolors of architectural
tile, the
antique workbooks, the worn tools ingeniously fashioned by necessity,
are captivating. It is too soon to leave.
This
is Lincoln Arts' FEATS OF CLAY at Gladding McBean,
where humble
clay is converted by fire and skill to objects of utility and
great beauty.
It is a moving experience.
NOTE:
Please
direct all requests for information about the show and tours to
Lincoln Arts, event sponsor. The factory is unable to
provide any
FEATS OF CLAY information.
