Opening Reception
Friday, January 25, 5:30 – 8:00 PM
The reception will also feature two other exhibition openings, the 2013 NCECA Biennial (large gallery) and Constructing Solitude (small gallery), as well as open studios by HCCC’s current resident artists from 6:00 – 7:00 PM. Beer sponsored by Karbach Brewing Co.

Artist Talks
Saturday, February 23, at 3:00 PM

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is pleased to present Roughneck: A Juried ClayHouston Exhibition, featuring a variety of ceramic works by members of the local artist guild, ClayHouston. On view January 25 – March 30, 2013, in the Artist Hall, the show is one of many ceramic exhibits in the area coinciding with the National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts (NCECA) 47^th Annual Conference, taking place in Houston next spring, and the 2013 NCECA Biennial exhibition, also opening January 25 at HCCC.

Demonstrating fortitude of technical skill, Roughneck displays the high concentration of talent in the Southeast Texas area and showcases a range of ceramic processes. Through sculptural installations and functional tableware highlighting complex glazing techniques, each piece demonstrates a level of experimentation that yields surprising and eye-catching compositions and forms.

Selecting from 107 submissions by 38 artists, this year’s juror, former HCCC Curatorial Fellow, Susie J. Silbert, chose 16 works by 15 artists. Silbert stated, “The entries for the ClayHouston exhibition included some great work and exceptionally wonderful surprises—all of which served to making the jurying process for such a small space particularly difficult. In the end, I chose a selection of works that seemed to mutually reinforce a theme of gritty richness that speaks not only to the contemporary moment of ceramic activity in Houston, but also to NCECA’s overall conference theme of Earth/Energy.”

Founded in 2005, ClayHouston is a nonprofit guild for potters and sculptors, teachers and students, and professionals and amateurs who create with clay in the Greater Houston and Southeast Texas area. The organization’s mission is to foster a vital clay community; encourage professional development for its members through programming, exhibition opportunities, workshops, and sales venues; promote and support clay artists and activities; and educate the public about clay arts and local clay artists. ClayHouston is sponsoring and orchestrating the local efforts associated with the NCECA 47^th Annual Conference, Earth/Energy, taking place March 20 – 23, 2013, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. Nearly 5,000 artists, educators, collectors, businesses, non-profit organizations, schools and enthusiasts are expected to travel to Houston for the events. (Details on the conference and surrounding exhibitions are available at www.nceca.net.) The 2013 NCECA Biennial exhibition is on view in HCCC’s large gallery January 25 – May 5, 2013.

Susie J. Silbert is an independent curator, writer and design historian based in Brooklyn, New York. Her interest in ceramics, sparked at a young age and developed in undergraduate studies, was honed through several years living at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina and through studies at the Bard Graduate Center for Decorative Arts, Design History and Material Culture, where she received her Master’s degree in 2011. A strong supporter of Texas craft, she was the Curatorial Fellow at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft from 2011 to 2012 and a Windgate recipient at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in 2008.

Roughneck: A Juried ClayHouston Exhibition Featured Artists

(1) Andre Bally, “Series 7 No. 4 – Blue on Reactive White.” Black clay, hand-formed, blue glaze applique’. 2012. Photo by Andre Bally.  (2) Jay Calder, “Celadon Grid Patterned Bottle.” Ceramic, wheel-thrown and slab construction, glazed. 2012. Photo by Rick Wells.  (3) Thomas Damon, “Homesick.” Glazed clay, found wheel, epoxy, acrylic. 2012. Photo by Russell Jumonville. (4) Thomas Damon, “Homesick.” Glazed clay. 2011. Photo by Russell Jumonville. (5) Marcia Erickson, “Fish & Radiation.” Stoneware, carved, stained, wood-fired. 2012. Photo by Marcia Erickson. (6) Karen Fiscus, “Revisiting Shigaraki.” De-manufactured clay, wheel-thrown. 2011. Photo by Van Edwards. (7) Jeff Forster, “Detritus 08NWs.” Studio discard clay, built into structure, weathered, wood-fired. 2012. Photo by Jeff Forster. (8) Sarah German, “Blue Ewer Set.” Porcelain, wheel-thrown, altered, screen-printed, wire, cone 6. 2012. Photo by Sarah German. (9) Yvonne Gerych, “Pommegranate Apple.” Clay, raku, mixed-media. 2012. Photo courtesy the artist. (10) Nell Gottlieb, “Blooming Cactus.” High-fire clay, glazed, pate-de-verre flowers attached. 2012. Photo by Nell Gottlieb. (11) Terry Hagiwara, “Meeting of the Water (II).” Raku. 2012. Photo by Terry Hagiwara. (12) Shikha Joshi, “Royal-tea.” Wheel-thrown, altered, hand-carved, cone 7. 2012. Photo by Anand Joshi. (13) Michelle Matthews, “Undefined.” Reclaimed stoneware & volcanic grit, hand-built, wood-fired. 2012. Photo by Michelle Matthews. (14) Christopher Melia, “Pitcher.” Porcelain, wheel-thrown, soda-fired, cone 10. 2012. Photo by Christopher Melia.(15)  Jennifer Windham, “Oysters.” Porcelain & stoneware, press-molded, pit-fired, Raku-fired, and high-fired. 2012. Photo by Jennifer Windham. (16) John Zimmerman, “Stratified Diving Helmet.” Clay, glaze. 2012. Photo by John Zimmerman.