Critiques!

The MN NICE group finished up the classroom portion of the year this week. We had recent group critiques Linda Christianson and Heather Nameth Bren. Both of them brought new eyes and thoughtful comments to our ongoing conversation.

"Ideal Made Real" Exhibition!

The exhibition Ideal Made Real: MN NICE is up in the Vine Arts Gallery through April 8, 2019. The show features the work of program Alumni and Affiliate Artists and celebrates MN NICE’s fifth anniversary. The exhibition is on display during Claytopia, the 2019 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Conference held in Minneapolis. 

Installing

MN NICE alumni worked hard this week to install their stunning exhibition at the Vine Arts Center Gallery. They transformed the space! The exhibition highlights work from program graduates as well the work of Affiliate Artists who mentor students throughout the year.

MN NICE in-class

The MN NICE group has had some great Monday seminars lately, looking at glaze tests and the profile of bowls.

MN NICE Trip to Samuel Johnson's Studio

The MN NICE group spent a fascinating day in St. Joseph, visiting Sam Johnson's studio and the wood kiln at St. John's University. We stopped by Richard Bresnahan's pottery and had a lovely discussion with his current apprentices.

MN NICE's Mia Museum visit

The MN NICE group spent a few information-packed hours this week with docent and ceramic artist Mary Ann Wark. Inspirational work and conversations!

George Timock's Amazing Packing

The NICE students got to attend a demo by George Timock on his fantastically obsessive way of packing and shipping his work. Both his work and the packing were stunning. George was at Northern Clay Center for the opening of Expatriate Ceramics, an exhibition about how experiences abroad shape an artist's work. George spoke his time at the International Ceramic Workshop in Hungary and its impact on him as an artist and teacher.

McKnight Resident Derek Au

Derek Au has been in residence at NCC since January as a McKnight Resident Artist. He been meeting with NICE artists and talking about his process, his experience working in Jingdezhen for the past decade, and glazy.org, the open source glaze database that he created. Some of the work he made while in residence is currently on display as part of the Expatriate Ceramics exhibition at Northern Clay Center. It has been amazing to have him working here these past few months!

Sledding!!

The NICE artists went out to Linda Christianson's for a studio tour and a great conversation around her kitchen table. Linda had sleds waiting at the top of her driveway for us to take down the hill on a perfect February day in snowy Minnesota.

Jeff Oestreich Studio Visit

The NICE students headed out to Jeff Oestreich's on a recent wintery night for a potluck and studio tour. We got to see Jeff's collection of historical pots from three impressive Bartmann jugs he has in the corner of his dining room to a Michael Cardew platter by the door, and we had a lovely dinner with lots of stories and laughter. Jeff currently has the treadle wheel Leach used in his studio and many of us jumped on the opportunity to try it out.

MN NICE Soda Firing

This new class of MN NICE artists is off to an amazing start. The group has already fired several soda kilns together and getting results out quickly

Mia Tour

The NICE group visited the Mia Museum this week and spent some time in the Chinese and Japanese galleries. Long-time NCC studio artist Mary Ann Wark recently completed her training to become a docent, and it was a treat to have someone so knowledgeable about ceramic history, materials and process lead our discussion.

Weisman tour

This year has flown by, and the MN NICE group had their final field trip to look at the intimate but well-curated collection at the Weisman Museum on the University of Minnesota East Campus. The museum is located in a Frank Gehry building that is located on the Mississippi River Bluffs. Everyone had fun identifying and marveling over pieces by artists we have discussed in class over the past year. It's a lovely collection of both contemporary and historical ceramics.

Field Trip Bonding

After a thoughtful and informative visit to Emily Murphy's home studio, the NICErs bonded while fixing a flat tire. Lots of learning today about building a ceramic business and as well as where to place a jack on the car chassis.

Plaster Demo

Joel Froehle joined the MN NICE group to demonstrate mold making and slip casting this week. This was a hands-on accompaniment to last week's technical lecture on plaster and casting slips. Great questions and great discussion.

Mariko Patterson Workshop

The MN NICE groups joined Nova Scotian potter, Mariko Patterson, for a full day workshop at NCC. Mariko built forms in the morning and showed a broad range of decorative techniques and strategies in the afternoon. She is entertaining, informative, and hilarious!

MN NICE Work in Progress

Visit to Steve Rolf's Studio

The NICE group visited Steve Rolf in River Falls, WI this week. Steve has met with many in the group individually this year, so it was great to see another aspect of his life as an artist and hear him talk about his work.

Peter Jadoonath's Studio

The NICErs drove out to Shafer, MN to visit Peter's studio this week. Peter is a long-time teacher and potter in the area and recently relocated his studio to the St. Croix River Valley. We had a wonderful visit hearing about his journey as a potter and seeing his new space.

Eva's Greeting!!

...and it was delicious too!