Brooklyn Clay Tour—Three Days Of Ceramic Art Events And Exhibits
Ceramics and pottery lovers mark your calendars! The first ever Brooklyn Clay Tour will debut on Friday, September 8, kicking off three days of self-guided events and exhibits focused on the borough’s growing ceramic arts community.
Co-founded by Brooklyn-based ceramic artists Demetria Chappo and Nicholas Newcomb, the mission of the Brooklyn Clay Tour is to connect the community of clay artists along with their supporters and fans, Chappo tells BKLYNER.
“We’ve recognized in our own experiences, as well as the recent media attention, the popularity of clay in Brooklyn, so we felt that the moment was well-suited for presenting the tour,” she adds.
“We hope to create an atmosphere for the broader public [and] our local neighborhoods to see what’s happening in ceramics around them,” she explains.
More than 200 clay artists will participate in events, exhibitions, demonstrations, artist talks, workshops, and art sales in more than ten neighborhoods spanning from Greenpoint to Red Hook.
A Finders Keepers Ceramic Treasure Hunt will kick off the weekend’s events, with 100 ceramic objects hidden all around Brooklyn. Whoever finds one of these hidden ceramic treasures gets to keep it!
An Opening Night Launch Party at Supersmith in Red Hook (125 Dikeman Street) will feature quick presentations by participating artists along with more information about the tour. There will also be a taco truck on hand to provide snacks and Other Half Brewing beer.
Other highlights of the Brooklyn Clay Tour include:
•Ceramic Artist Alyce Barr will host several events throughout the weekend that combine food, tastings, food styling, and plating.
•My Favorite Books – A group exhibition on display at Books Are Magic (225 Smith Street) curated by Michelle Quan and Isabel Halley featuring works inspired by literature. (Friday-Sunday, Sept. 8-10)
•Grown this Way – Boerum Hill’s The Primary Essentials hosts this exhibition exploring the relationship between pots and plants. (Friday-Sunday, Sept. 8-10)
•Potheads: BKLYN Clay Member Exhibition – One hundred members of BKLYN Clay will exhibit their functional and sculptural works at the South Slope studio’s first member exhibition. (Friday-Sunday, Sept. 8-10)
•Potters in Protest Ice Cream Social – Hosted by potter and photographer Helen Levi and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, attendees are invited to select a handmade bowl (made and donated by local and national potters), make an ice cream sundae with flavors provided by Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, and then take the bowl home. All proceeds of the event will benefit The Center for Constitutional Rights. (Saturday, Sept. 9)
•The Amazing Garden and Clayworks on Columbia Community Garden Project – On Saturday, Clayworks will host a mosaic mural-making event at this Red Hook community garden. Participants will learn the mosaic-making technique while helping to create the mural using broken ceramic pieces gathered from the studio. (Saturday, Sept. 9, 12pm to 4pm)
•Choplet Ceramic Studio in Williamsburg will present an exhibition of work by Danielle Pomoroski that captures the light and magic of the sea. (Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 9 & 10, 11am to 7pm)
•Artshack x Brooklyn Clay Tour – This Williamsburg studio will host live pottery demonstrations as well as an exhibition and sale of kids and member artwork. (Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 9 & 10)
•Wheel Demos and Slip Dip at Clayworks on Columbia – Artist members of this Red Hook studio will throw vases and bottles and demonstrate surface techniques such as sgraffito, slip decals, and slab built sculptures.
•Neighbors – Pratt Institute will host an exhibition showcasing pieces by the school’s Fine Art alumni working in clay.
Check out the Brooklyn Clay Tour website for more information and a full schedule of events.
Brooklyn Clay Tour
Friday-Sunday, September 8-10