• Welcome
  • About
    • Emergency Info
    • Membership
    • Organization & Board
    • Hours & Availability
    • RULES of CAC
    • Contact Us
    • More Information >
      • OUTDOOR STUDIO
      • CLAY Info
      • Glazes, etc.
      • Firing Info >
        • High Fire
        • Raku, Saggar Fire & Pit-Fire
      • Resources
  • Events
    • RECENT CAC NEWS
    • Special Events
    • Classes & Workshops
    • Meetings & Demos
    • Calendar
  • The Scoop
the Rossmoor Ceramic arts club

Chinese Dumpling Party - a wonderful event!

3/1/2023

0 Comments

 
We had the most wonderful Chinese Dumpling Party on Monday, February 27 in the Vista Room (at the Hillside Clubhouse) from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. This was spearheaded by our own Theresa Kuo, who formed the CAC Dumpling (Jiaozi) Team - Lucia, Lily, Lisa, Josephine, Beverly, Pamela, Diane. These 8 fabulous ladies brought all the fillings and dumpling wrappers, then they proceeded to teach dozens of enthusiastic CAC members how to wrap the dumplings -  there were over 700 dumplings for about 55 people!! These delicious tidbits were carefully cooked by the Team, then served to all participants., accompanied by various dipping sauces - YUM! And afterwards there was also a selection of desserts available (courtesy of several other CAC volunteers).
The main focus was to have fun and socialize (especially with the new members from the recent Orientation Class) over a non-clay medium.  In the process we all learned that if you can work with clay, you can wrap Chinese dumplings with your own (clean) hands. It was lots of fun - a resounding success!

A shout out to all of the volunteers who agreed to set up/clean up, register people as they arrived, collect the $5 donations, bring desserts, etc. And especially to the CAC Dumpling (Jiaozi) Team: Lucia, Lily, Lisa, Josephine, Beverly, Pamela, Diane and Theresa.  (FYI, a generic dumpling recipe will be made available at a later date. )

See photos of this event, taken by Lynne Terril, below, and you can also view a slideshow of pictures and short videos taken by Fred Surh, on YouTube, by clicking on this link: 


https://youtu.be/v_H7MrAyeQc
0 Comments

CAC's Holiday Party - 2022

12/22/2022

0 Comments

 
On December 17, 2022, we had a wonderful party in the Fireside Room, just across from our Ceramic Studio. (Thanks to both Judy Russell and Fred Surh for the photos below!)

To start things off, we were given a glass of champagne (or soda) and mingled for a while as we ate appetizers and sipped. Very pleasant.
Then we were all seated at tables and chatted with our neighbors happily while we waited our turn to serve ourselves from the buffet. We played some games, including one in which we placed paper plates on our heads and drew "snowmen" on them with crayons (no looking allowed). The best one from each table came up front to show them off - lots of laughter ensued!
All throughout the festivities we were serenaded by a pianist playing holiday and wintry tunes. After having dinner we played BINGO for prizes, as well. Kudos to Judy Russell, Mary Ann Stanley, Linda Mariano and Kathy Jepson for planning and executing the Holiday Party so well. We had lots of fun - HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all!
0 Comments

PIT FIRE 2022 – our first since 2019 - worth the wait!

9/20/2022

0 Comments

 
​We loaded & fired the pit on Wednesday, September 14. This was after months of preparation, including two classes on Pit Fire Techniques and several teams of CAC members going out to collect seaweed and dried cow pies (among other things). Shown below is the preparation of the pit and subsequent loading of our pieces (many of them wrapped in newspaper) into the pit.
Here are more shots of the Pit Fire Team (led by Patty Taylor and assisted by Anne Shulenberger) preparing the pit: sprinkling all around the carefully placed pieces with a mixture of salt and copper carbonate, putting on cow patties and seaweed, adding crumpled newspaper & kindling wood, then stacking firewood logs on top of everything - plus more paper & kindling!
With everything loaded inside, some long metal pipes were placed over the pit. Then we had our ceremonial blessing of the pit, led by Darryla Green and accompanied by Doc King and Damon Shulenberger (Anne’s son), on native drum and flute. Almost ready for the firing!
Next came the lighting of the pit, using charcoal lighter fluid and long torches of rolled up newspaper. The fire blazed up and eventually subsided into smoldering embers. Very dramatic & beautiful! Everyone left the area and relaxed, as the pit crew shared some pizza. Finally - once the flames had died down - the whole pit was covered with metal sheets that were placed on top of the metal pipes, to concentrate the smoke within. And finally. it was left that way for 2 days. 
Below is the pit when it was cold and we uncovered & unloaded it, on September 16. Lots of beautiful pottery and sculpture came out of the fire! We got some beautiful colors & colors this time – a really wide variety. 
After unloading, sorting & cleaning the ceramic pieces of ash & debris, we had a wonderful potluck lunch right there in the studio, as we celebrated among our new treasures. It was an amazing Pit Fire, well worth the wait!
0 Comments

Remembering Fred Chen - reception held August 30

9/3/2022

0 Comments

 
We gathered to remember and honor Fred Chen the evening of August 30. This event was attended by several members of the family of Fred Chen including his widow, two children and two grandchildren. It began in the Patio area of the Totem Poles, which is paved with a field of memorial bricks, and featured the dedication of two bricks in Fred’s memory: one in Chinese and one in English. At the same time, members of CAC and Fred’s family shared memories of this wonderful man who had passed away in January and is so dearly missed by all.
​After the dedication of the bricks, light refreshments were served (top right photo) inside of the Ceramic Studio. On two tables inside the studio some of Fred Chen’s beautiful pottery was on display (top left photo), as well as a few of his unfinished pieces (top middle photo), along with his tools, brushes, an apron, etc. His family has recently donated many pieces of Fred’s pottery to the Ceramic Arts Club, to benefit the organization which was such an important part of his life.

As you can tell from the pictures below, all those who attended had a wonderful time at this moving and inspiring event. Fred Chen has left a remarkable legacy, and will be long remembered by the Rossmoor Ceramic Arts Club!
0 Comments

Show and Tell

9/2/2022

0 Comments

 
Our monthly Show and Tell sessions resumed in June - they hadn't happened since the shutdown of our studio in March 2020. And starting in July, these are now being combined with a celebration of the birthdays of all CAC members born that month who attend the event. Photos below, starting with June's Show and Tell.
In July we had a Show and Tell, but for some inexplicable reason no photos are available, except for the ones below, showing Mary Ann giving Anne S. some flowers for her birthday (in a very cool unique hand-decorated bottle).
August's Show and Tell was quite lively, and included a celebration for the birthdays of three members: Patty T., Betty B., and Amy P. - see photos below
0 Comments

CAC Soiree featuring Carolyn Guerra

9/2/2022

0 Comments

 
This was held in the Rossmoor Event Center the evening of August 23. As you can see, it was very popular with Carolyn's friends & family! Our own Mel Bricker interviewed Carolyn about her life as an artist. In addition to the many sculptures on display, there was a slideshow of other pieces, including some large public sculptures that Carolyn has created over the years - all of which was quite impressive. We had a nice selection of light refreshments, and a wonderful time was had by all who attended!
0 Comments

Lots happening in May and June: Orientation Class and Patio Party

8/23/2022

0 Comments

 
Our one-and-only Orientation Class of 2022 started in mid May and ended on the 8th of June, when we welcomed 16 brand new members to the Ceramic Arts Club. As usual, Linda Mariano led the class, assisted by numerous other CAC volunteers. What a great group!
Then on June 29 we had a marvelous Patio Party with a festive Mexican theme.
0 Comments

Sculptural demonstrations at our May & June meetings

6/21/2022

0 Comments

 
Just last week, on June 14, we had an inspiring demonstration on sculpting hands by Sandy Frank, a visiting Bay Area ceramic artist. It was extremely interesting to see how she formed the piece (of Navajo Wheel, a.k.a. Red Velvet clay) with an interior structure inside of a cylinder that she'd made with a slab. She then added to it with pinched moist clay as it was built upward and spread out into the shape of a larger-than-life hand. The fingers were all hollow, with the help of some wooden chopsticks extending out of each digit.

The 45+ members of our club who attended the meeting were quite receptive and appreciative of her skill. Sandy may be able to return to our studio to teach a workshop on figure sculpting at some point, which would be great!  Below are some pictures of her in the process of creating her sculpture of a hand.
Earlier, at the previous meeting in May, our own Carolyn Guerra demonstrated how she makes her wonderful hand-built pots with sculpted faces. Below are some pictures of finished vases she has made, and then some showing the process she uses to create them.

Since then several other CAC members have been inspired to make their own versions of ceramic planters with faces. 
0 Comments

Back in our Studio!  Plus - Mixed Media Artwork by CAC members

4/13/2022

0 Comments

 
We have been back at work & play in our beautiful "NEW" Ceramic Studio for just over a month now, and although it has been challenging (finding new places to put things, learning to navigate our remodeled space, etc.) it has also been quite wonderful. The photos below show a few of the wonderful moments of the last few weeks (including a new set of ceramics that were recently put on display in the Rossmoor Event Center - bottom center photo).
The most recent CAC meeting (on April 12, 2022) was held in the Peacock Hall Theater. There we experienced a fascinating program hosted by Linda Mariano titled “Exploring Mixed Media.” Several CAC Members were interviewed by her and asked about their inspirations and processes as they created widely varied mixed-media pieces which included ceramic components. 

A display of mixed-media artwork made by CAC members as well as a slide presentation was part of the program - those images are below.
0 Comments

Rossmoor News article about Fred Chen

2/6/2022

0 Comments

 
The February 2, 2022 issue of The Rossmoor News included an article about Fred Chen, who passed away last month, which is a heart-felt memorial to him  - see below. (See the previous post for a link to the video of our tribute to Fred, which was part of our January 2022 online  meeting).
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Activities of CAC

    Artists at work and play in our studio!

    Archives

    March 2023
    December 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    May 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All
    Air Conditioning
    Artist Soiree
    Artwork
    Bazaar
    Brownie Troop Visit
    By Laws Change
    Carolyn Guerra
    Ceramic Art
    Ceramic Cars
    Ceramic Jewelry
    Ceramic Planters
    Ceramic Sculpture
    Ceramic Vans
    Children And Clay
    Chinese Dumplimg Party
    Clay Play Dates
    Creativity Fair
    Demonstration
    Demonstrations
    Empty Bowls Fundraiser
    Event Center Display
    Fall Bazaar
    Featured Artist
    Flea Market
    Fred Chen
    Fundraiser
    Glazing Class
    Grandkids Days
    Hand Bound Books
    Hand-bound Books
    Hand Building Ceramics
    Holiday Party
    Kurinuki
    Meeting
    Membership Renewal
    Mixed Media Art
    Naked Raku
    Obituary
    Open Studio
    Orientation Class
    Outdoor Studio
    Party
    Patio Party
    Pit Fire
    Raku
    Raku Firing
    Raku Glazing
    Recipe
    Rossmoor 50th Anniversary
    Rossmoor News Article
    Sad News
    Sandy Frank
    Sculpture
    Show And Tell
    Show & Tell
    Shutdown
    Soiree
    Studio Renovation
    Teapots
    Underglaze
    Wedging Table
    Wheel Class
    Wheel Throwing
    Window Display
    YouTube Video

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly