Fun Competition at Studio 1219
Posted July 30, 2007
Studio 1219 is always looking for artists. This time, however, the call is a little different.
Port Huron’s art incubator is looking for artists who want to show off their work, demonstrate their skills, and test their senses of humor in some fun competition in the inaugural Fire & Ice Festival Sept. 15-16.
The two-day pottery and glass festival will include demonstrations by artists and work in both media, Raku pottery firings, a children’s art tent, and the Pottery Olympics with such events as who can throw the fastest, who can throw the tallest cylinder and the longest handle. It will also feature Studio 1219 Citizen’s First Pottery & Glass Studio.
Studio 1219 is always looking for artists. This time, however, the call is a little different.
Port Huron’s art incubator is looking for artists who want to show off their work, demonstrate their skills, and test their senses of humor in some fun competition in the inaugural Fire & Ice Festival Sept. 15-16.
The two-day pottery and glass festival will include demonstrations by artists and work in both media, Raku pottery firings, a children’s art tent, and the Pottery Olympics with such events as who can throw the fastest, who can throw the tallest cylinder and the longest handle. It will also feature Studio 1219 Citizen’s First Pottery & Glass Studio.
Acheson Ventures and Chase Banks are festival sponsors.
Maureen Scallen, the Studio’s educational director, said Fire & Ice is designed to introduce artists, teach people about the arts and have fun.
“This isn’t an art fair, but an educational event,” she said. “The goal is dedicated to educating and exploring the arts from the earth.”
Scallen said the festival is competing that weekend against numerous other art functions throughout Michigan, making it difficult to find artists.
“Because this is a first-year event and it is not juried, that’s a big thing with some artists,” she said. “They want to know how many people will be attending. Unfortunately, we can’t answer that question yet.”
To encourage outside artists, the first 10 who register and travel 50 or more miles to participate will receive a free night’s lodging at the Hampton Inn or Fairfield by Marriott for the Saturday night of the festival, Scallen said.
Fire & Ice will take place outdoors, on Sixth Street, between Union and Wall streets. Rake firing and the county show stage will occupy the Grace Episcopal Church parking lot while artists interesting in selling their wares will have spots along the Port Huron Museum property on Court Street. Plans also call for four or five food vendors at the festival. It is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Artists that work in clay, glass and wood are being sought to demonstrate their talents in the Artists in Action Tent as well as participate in the Pottery Olympics.
“I’m not familiar with anything like this going on in Michigan,” Scallen said of the artists’ competition. “I also think that it is something that would be perfect for college students from SC4 or Macomb to take part in.”
The free Fire & Ice Children’s Tent will allow youngsters to create art in clay and stained glass.
In addition, Scallen said four or five vendors will sell food throughout the weekend. Festival-goers also will be able to purchase a piece of pottery to have fired in the Raku Yard. Raku is an ancient firing process for pottery that creates metallic looking glazes through a reduction process.
“The buyer will glaze the piece and the artists will do the rest,” Scallen said. “The entire process takes about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half.”
For more details, call Maureen Scallen at (810) 984-2787.
Story originally printed July 18, 2007 by Mary Lou Creamer - Blue Water Voice Reporter