- This event has passed.
Teapots IX – Call for Entries Deadline
October 22, 2021 @ 11:59 pm
Online Application Deadline: October 22, 2021
Teapots IX Entry Form
Juried by Jen Allen
“I am honored to be asked to jury Baltimore Clayworks Teapot exhibition! Tea is a daily part of my family life and we have a small collection of teapots that are used often. From English Breakfast tea in a brilliant, colorful Sarah Jaeger porcelain teapot to genmaicha in a contemplative, stony Fujimoto Hide’s Shigaraki teapot with a cane handle to Pu-erh in a polished, traditional Yixing teapot, my husband and I are convinced that tea tastes better when steeped in ceramic vessels.
As a potter, it is my hope that my work will live long lives in other people’s homes and be used for what I, as the maker, intended. Only then can the pot that I have labored over truly be complete. I relish in the focus needed to make a utilitarian teapot. Aside from aesthetics and creativity, one must consider weight, volume, the angle and taper of the spout, the fit of the lid, the comfort/placement/type of the handle, the feel of the knob the size of the holes to strain/infuse the tea or space for a separate infuser, the smoothness of the foot. The process of fashioning a teapot out of clay takes patience, perseverance and contemplation.
As a teacher, I assign teapot projects due to the inherent complexity of the form. Teapots are composite pieces, consisting of disparate parts that must come together in harmony AND be able to function properly. I believe that no matter how long one has been making pots, the teapot continues to teach a potter a great deal about ergonomics, physics and engineering.
As a juror, my job of judging forms through the distortion of photographic images is a huge challenge. I have taken on the task many times and love seeing the creative approaches to a specific call like this one. When sifting through the applications, I look for clear images that capture the best version of the work. Whether your teapot is utilitarian or sculptural, hand-pinched or 3D-printed, traditional or contemporary, I look for works that give me pause. I look for works that spark my curiosity; works I need to experience in person.
I look forward to reviewing your applications. Best of luck!”
Jen Allen received a BFA (2002) from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and a MFA (2006) from Indiana University, Bloomington. From 1998-2002, she worked as a production assistant to Kris Bliss at Bliss Pottery in Anchorage, AK. In March 2008, the National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts (NCECA) recognized Jennifer as an “Emerging Artist.” Among other awards, she was the recipient of the 2006-2007 Taunt Fellowship at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT. In addition to keeping a home studio, Jennifer currently teaches ceramic classes at West Virginia University. She lives in Morgantown, WV with her husband Shoji Satake, their two kids, Annelise and Finn and their two dogs, Billie and Ella.
Eligibility
- Teapots IX is open to ceramic artists who reside in the United States
- Work must have been completed in the past two years
- Clay must be the primary material
- All works must be for saleNotification of accepted artists will be posted on our website by November 19, 2021
- Additional paperwork will be sent to accepted artists after notification
Application
- All applications must be received by October 22, 2021
- No more than 5 images (including details) may be submitted
- Images submitted must be of work available for the exhibitionEach image must be a JPEG (.jpg) digital file of at least 72dpi at 5×7 inchesIf selected, higher resolution images may be requested for press and promotion
- Each file name must be labeled with the artist’s three initials in this order: Last, First, Middle (use “X” if no middle initial) and the corresponding number from the Image information page. For example: Arthur Clay Potter would be “pac_1.jpg”
- Upload images to our application and include a $30 application fee
For additional information or questions please contact: Mary Cloonan, Curator of Exhibitions mary.cloonan@baltimoreclayworks.org
