NM announces an epic exhibition of ceramics in the North Country!
Jay, NY — Norte Maar announces its heroic return to the North Country with an epic exhibition of ceramics presented in collaboration with Jay Craft Center.
The first annual Jay Invitational of Clay: an exhibition featuring an international selection of works in clay curated by Jackie Sabourin will open to the public on Friday, July 18 from 5-9pm at the Jay House, Norte Maar’s new home in the Adirondacks. This event also coincides with the 2014 Artist at Work Studio Tour July 20.
The Jay Invitational of Clay is a special exhibition announcing the heroic return of Norte Maar to the North Country. Originally founded on the shores of Lake Champlain in the summer of 2004 by curator Jason Andrew and choreographer Julia K. Gleich, Norte Maar for Collaborative Projects in the Arts played a major role in revitalizing the arts in the North Country. Through exhibitions at the farmhouse in Rouses Point and ballet performances in the ice rink at the Civic Center, Norte Maar became a signature advocate and presenter of the visual, literary, and performing arts in the North Country from 2004-2010. Since then the organization as been a leading force in the Bushwick community of Brooklyn.
This summer, however, Norte Maar makes it’s return to the North Country with an epic exhibition of ceramic. Curated by the renowned North Country ceramicist and arts patron Jackie Sabourin, The Jay Invitational of Clay features an extraordinary selection of works in clay from the functional to the fanciful by local, regional, and internationally recognized artists. “As Norte Maar celebrates it’s 10th anniversary, it’s an amazing opportunity for us to return to the North Country where the organization was born,” states Norte Maar co-founder and director Jason Andrew, “the North Country has the artistic space and the flexibility wherein Norte Maar was born and took root. We have presented hundreds of artists and collaborated with just as many organizations, but there is nothing like presenting exhibitions and performances in the North Country. We can’t wait to meet new friends and renew our old friendships at our new home in the Adirondacks! The Jay Invitational of Clay will be epic is a fabulous place to start!”
While Norte Maar celebrates it’s 10th year encouraging, promoting, and supporting collaborations in the arts it’s co-presenter, the Jay Craft Center, celebrates this summer it’s 40th year in promoting and supporting the ceramic community in the Adirondacks and beyond.
About the Curator:Jackie Sabourin is a studio potter residing in Plattsburgh, New York. A retired high school art teacher, and a long time member of NYSATA (New York State Art Teachers Association), she has been in the arts community volunteering in schools, community centers, North Country Potter’s Guild, local libraries and senior center galleries curating and managing art exhibits, as well as facilitating afterschool arts programs. Clay is her favorite medium, and she works in her studio. She volunteers with the NCCCA Clay studio as a facilitator, very part time teacher, enjoying the happy faces of those who work with clay wherever she is near clay. Basically a functional potter using the wheel as her favorite tool, she has been drawn more recently to using the slab roller and extruder. Jackie continues to study the art and craft of clay, attends conventions and workshops. The last few years she attended the Archie Bray 60th year celebration in clay in Montana. In October 2010, she enjoyed a workshop in La Meridiana in Tuscany. And in between enjoys looking and handling any piece of clay she can.
Directions:Exhibition and all events will take place at the Jay House, 35 Randy’s Lane in Jay, NY. Rte 82 to Glen Road. Left to Stickney Bridge. Left to Randy's Lane. River will be at your right.
Exhibition Hours:Fri-Sun 9am-9pm / or by appointment: 646-361-8512
Related Events (all events will take place on at the Jay House):
Opening Reception: Friday, July 18, 5-9pmJoin Norte Maar and Jay Craft Center the opening of the exhibition with friends, artists, and patrons. Exhibition hours will be Saturday and Sunday, 9am-9pm.
The Clay Hearth: Saturday, July 19, 11-4pm.Enjoy Pottery? Love Pizza? The Clay Hearth out of Keene, NY, combines both and will be at the Jay House cooking up all kinds of amazing treats. The Clay Hearth is a mobile pizza oven and pottery gallery providing delicious pizza, breads, and a selection of wood fired pottery. Visit their website: www.TheClayHearth.com
Pit Firing: Saturday, July 20, 12-3pm.Demonstration of the process of Pit Firing lead by members of the North Country Potter’s Guild. Members will be decorating stoneware pieces with many objects from copper carbonate wash, copper wire and scrubbies, banana peels, coffee grounds, leaves and more combustibles which will be placed in a hand made kiln on site. The pit will be fueled by continual additions of wood, cardboard, sawdust and paper. In several hours the pit is covered and left to burn all of the combustibles. Sunday at noon, the pit is opened and the pottery pieces will be removed and cleaned.
Raku Firing: Sunday, July 19, 12-3pm.North Country Potter’s Guild will be on site demonstrating the process of the Raku firing techniques. The process was brought from Japan to the United States over 60 years ago from ceramic educators and began to be used in mainly studios and college classes. With the kiln that was fabricated locally it is a traveling set up being used for the past 10 years in public school, community arts and studio settings. The firing occurs outside as is the pit firing. The Guild members will be available to answer questions and show the bright and very unusual results. Each firing takes approximately one hour from start to finish.
