• CRITICAL Santa Fe - October 27-30, 2010
• 2011 EMERGING ARTISTS - Call for applications -
• 2011 NATIONAL STUDENT JURIED EXHIBITION -
  Call for Entry
• 2011 TOPICAL DISCUSSIONS/NCECA CONNECTIONS
• 2012 CONCURRENT, INDEPENDENT EXHIBITIONS
• Call for NCECA 2011 Award Nominations
• 2011 Exhibitor Packet
• NCECA Website Highlights

Hello fellow NCECA Members,

Here's another brief update from NCECA and the Board. I wanted to share good news concerning our financial health. NCECA is working with our healthiest budget compared to the past 2-3 years. Our investments have bounced back pretty well and all else seems to be humming along in a comfortably balanced budget. Thanks go to many, but a special shout out to Lee Burningham, our newly elected Treasurer and Helen Anderson, NCECA's Bookkeeper.

NCECA is also nearing the completion of its Executive Director search process. Although there are details still to address, I'm hoping by my next letter I will be announcing the name our new ED. Our process has been slow and thorough and all of our interviewed candidates have commented on the professionalism of the process. I wish to publicly thank the entire Search Committee, but to especially point out its Co-Chairs: Board Member, Rhonda Willers, and Dick Wehrs who has helped NCECA on many key fronts over the past years. He has helped with Development and Strategic Planning, but you probably best know him as our 'Cup Sale Guy'.

Finally, I want to highlight our upcoming symposium on critical writing and thinking regarding clay art. CRITICAL Santa Fe is a first for NCECA and represents a serious investment by our organization in the intellectual health of ceramics and ceramic education. The event is the last week of October and there is still room and time to sign up. Professors interested in critical theory should be there in addition to students and professionals interesting in writing about the arts. This is going to be a seminal event. We have bought together some very fine minds in the field to make for a fine experience. (It is already creating a certain level of buzz in other art fields!)

Oh - and - I wanted to tell you all that we welcome your help in planning the celebration of our 50th anniversary in 2016. You may contact the NCECA Board with ideas for the 50th and we continue to welcome your input in general so that we can continue improving your organization.

Keep bendin' that clay!
Keith J. Williams

Interested in art criticism? Check out this unique symposium opportunity offered by NCECA!!

You are invited to participate in a 3-day Symposium of investigation and dialogue to establish new practices essential to the future of art criticism. Attendance is limited to provide you an exclusive opportunity for audience interaction with key international speakers and panelists.

REGISTER NOW...Space is limited and filling quickly...
EarlyBird fees offered until September 28, 2010.

The NCECA Emerging Artist program is intended to give early career artists, who show exceptional promise, the opportunity to present their work to an international audience at the NCECA Annual Conference. Applications are welcomed from professionals in the field of ceramics. Applicants may not be students and may not have received major national attention for their work, (e.g. a one-person exhibition at a nationally prominent gallery or museum). Applicant MUST be a current NCECA Member at the time of application.

NCECA 2011 National Student Juried Exhibition is open to all full time undergraduate, graduate students and post-baccalaureate students (as defined by their home institution) enrolled in the United States of America, except for those enrolled at the institutions of the jurors. The applicant must be working towards a degree or be a post-baccalaureate in art at the time of submittal. Jurors are Neil Forrest and Ayumi Horie. The University of South Florida will host the NCECA 2011 National Student Juried Exhibition, March 21 -April 2, 2011.
Deadline October 1, 2010.

Member and Non-Member pricing offered...if you do not know your current NCECA Membership status, please contact kate@nceca.net

NCECA 2011 - Tidal Forces: The Next Wave will examine and expose the unbroken arc spanning our deepest traditions and the most contemporary emerging work. A tidal wave can work to teardown walls between old and new, while unearthing what is hidden beneath the surface. We intend to help artists look beyond what is conventional while remembering the roots of this powerful and multi-faceted art form. The 2011 conference will both celebrate the new works being created while also examining the power of traditional art."

NCECA is seeking a diverse group of leaders from its membership that will appeal to our conference attendees. Students (Undergraduate, Post-Bac, Graduate), Studio Artists, Educators (K-12, Community College, University), Gallerists, Curators, etc. are all encouraged to apply!
Deadline Wednesday, November 17, 2010

THE THEME: ON THE EDGE

Seattle, as well as the entire Puget Sound region, is located in a unique geographical position; on the EDGE of the country and on the EDGE of the Pacific Rim. From this location ON THE EDGE, quite naturally, we have a broad perspective on objects, places and issues, and see great distances. We thrive on the intersection of old and new worlds. And we respect distant and historic cultures; Asian, Pacific, and all of our neighbors in North America. Most of all we appreciate how they have influenced our contemporary ceramic practices.

Through creative stretching, we also visit the EDGE of our imagination and appreciate the artistic use of clay in dynamic new ways. Even EDGY ways - often on the EDGE - sometimes with rough EDGES.

We invite NCECA members to make proposals for exhibitions that interact with our EDGES and your EDGES. Collaborative energy, inspirational concepts, splendid objects, elegant ideas and especially new work will provide that extra EDGE as we review the proposals.
Deadline November 30, 2010

Nominations are now open for NCECA Fellows, Honors, Excellence in Teaching and Outstanding Achievement Awards. Descriptions of the qualifications for these awards may be found at the link below. The nominator must be a current member of NCECA to put forth a nomination.

The nomination packet is to include:
Letter of Nomination (This may be in the body of an email or attached as a Word doc or pdf.)
Short biography of the proposed award recipient (attach as a Word doc or pdf).
A maximum of three letters of support (attach as Word doc or pdf).

The nomination packet should be sent as a single email by the nominator to awards@nceca.net

The 2011 Exhibitor packet will be posted on the NCECA website by October 1, 2010. An announcement email will be sent to past Exhibitors, all organizations in the NCECA database, and any other interested parties.

Look for updated Membership benefits, Exhibit Hall details, and sponsorship/donation opportunities.

if you have questions in the meantime , please contact kate@nceca.net

...our website has 2011 Conference Fees, Member Event postings, Industry Links, and Artist and Residency Opportunities...