Special Events & Exhibitions

The mission of promoting and developing excellence in the ceramic arts also entails an obligation to the public. A large portion of our energy is devoted to creating opportunities for the public at large, as well as the ceramic community, to see, hear and experience the work of others.

Sometimes it takes the form of an invitational exhibition. Ikebana X in August of 2004 was such an event that paired the work of twenty invited artists with the arrangements Nobuko Relnick, a master teacher of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana.

On other occasions we'll bring a guest artist for a workshop to share their skill and insight with the clay populace. That was the scenario when we hosted the Gang of Eight: Frank Boyden, Doug Jeck, Tip Toland, Jamie Walker, Akio Takamori, Paul Soldner, Beth Cavener Stichter and Patti Warashina. All of these nationally and internationally recognized artists have ties to Pottery Northwest and were part of our 40th Anniversary Celebration. Pottery Northwest has a long history of bringing the best here.

Our workshops and exhibitions are part of a commitment to expose Seattle to some of the brightest new people in the ceramic arena as well as connecting with the great traditions of the past and established artists. We make a point of creating slide talks and other events that offer their talents to a wide audience. This is of benefit to the artists and to the Seattle community.

We will provide an interpreter or accomodate other special needs given ample notice.

Your Special Event

We have experience in working with organizations to host team building events as well as just good old parties and celebrations. A hands on clay experience building your own piece, a lesson on the potter's wheel from a genuine expert, or participating in a raku firing when we take the work you've glazed out of the kiln glowing red hot, are all possibilities. We are happy to make suggestions and provide the guidance for a memorable event at a reasonable fee. Call us at 206-285-4421 to discuss the possibilities.

Kevin Erhard - Current Ripplings

Show opens June 5.

The reception with Kevin is scheduled for June 26.

Tammie Rubin - Silence! Magical Thinking in Progess

Lecture and reception with Tammie Rubin
Friday July 10, 7 pm at Pottery Northwest

First in the They Speak for Themselves series -- Artists talking about their work in their own words

Please join us for a slide/image lecture with Pottery Northwest Resident alum Tammie Rubin. This lecture will be in conjunction with Silence! Magical Thinking in Progress an exhibition of new work by ceramic sculptor Tammie Rubin in the Pottery Northwest Gallery.

The artist creates sculptural manifestations of her thoughts on magical thinking, religious beliefs, and spiritualism. Magical thinking involves the nonscientific belief in which the individual has the ability to affect the physical world through thoughts. After the death of her father, Rubin became fascinated by perceptions of overlapping beliefs of magical thinking, religion, and superstition in relation to physical objects such as charms and religious icons.

Highly ornate sculptures are suspending from the ceiling or hung on the wall. These ceramic sculptures reference objects that both entertained her father and marked his physical decline. These symbols are paired with funnel forms that reference voicepipes, speaking-trumpets, and bullhorns. The pairing of these appropriated forms suggests sculptural contraptions used for communication, but communication of what sort?

Tammie Rubin was born in Chicago, Illinois. In 2003 she completed a MFA in ceramics at the University of Washington. She has exhibited nationally, most recently the Wakely Gallery at Illinois Wesleyan University, the Archie Bray Foundation for the ceramic arts, and Baltimore Clayworks. In fall of 2008, she left her adopted home Seattle and a residency at Pottery Northwest to accept a position of Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.