• 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
  • Pay Dues
the Rossmoor Ceramic arts club

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

    Activities of CAC

    Artists at work and play in our studio!

    Archives

    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
    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