A word from Jeff Oestreich, IOC 2007 Juror:

Thank you for the opportunity to jury your exhibition. Bemidji seemed remote when I was a college student forty years ago and the fact the there were applications from all over the country is a testament to the growth of the arts community. Potters want their work to be recognized here.

What was the most rewarding for me was to jury an exhibition that was comprised of all functional pots. It allowed for thought on how far the clay movement has come and how diverse expressions can be in an object as common as for instance a drinking cup or bowl. Americans do test and extent limits and this exhibit is a testament to this phenomenon.

The questions I asked when viewing your work were basically the same as I ask myself when evaluating my work in my own studio. How personal is the idea? Is the material suited for the idea? Is the material used in an expressive manor? Are the basic requirements of function addressed? How important is the role of craftsmanship in this specific idea? And lastly the most illusive and difficult question: Does the object transcend the above and strike a deeper chord within?

My attempt was to create an exhibition that reflects the diversity of function and the range of expressions available to potters. The pottery movement has matured and found its place in the art world. Enjoy this exhibition!

Jeff Oestreich

List of Artist’s Accepted for IOC 2007. The BCAC would like to thank all the artists for their time and effort and interest in our It’s Only Clay National Juried Competition and Exhibition. We received over 170 images from 58 artists around the US. Listed below are the artists whose work was selected by Jeff Oestreich for the 2007 It’s Only Clay Exhibition. We would also like to thank Jeff for his work as our Juror.

Eric Nels Petersen – Lincoln, NE
Jenni Brant – Lincoln, NE
Eric Rempe – Lemon Grove, CA
Matt McGovern – Glen Arbor, MI
Robert LaWarre III – Christmas, FL
Mark Zellers – Fitchburg, MA
Courtney Murphy – Asheville, NC
Bob Bruch – Cleveland, OH
Brian Molanphy – Latrobe, PA
Elizabeth Cohen – Wellesley, MA
Nicole Roberts Hoiland – St. Peter, MN
Warren Smith – Northhampton, MA
Jonathan Barnes – St. Petersburg, FL
Jake Allee – Tyler, TX
Ben Jensen – Cedar Rapids, IA
Bo Bedillion – Manhatten, KS
Benjamin Maier – Traverse City, MI
Nicolas DeVries – Minneapolis, MN
Clay Leonord – Reading, MI
Wenfen Pan – Okemos, MI
Leila Denecke – Minneapolis, MN
Blair Clemo – Minneapolis, MN
Robert Long – Starkville, MS
Joseph Kress – Minneapolis, MN
Brett Freund – St. Petersburg, FL
Luke Sheets – Ada, OH
Scott Lykens – Monticello, AR
Jason Trebs – St. Paul, MN
Ben Fiess – Whitewater, WI
Jason Dunn – Oakland, CA
Robin Foster – Red Lake Falls, MN

2007 Harlow Collection Purchase Awards

It’s Only Clay

This annual National juried ceramics competition and exhibition is a collaboration sponsored by the BCAC and Bemidji State University. The three day event includes an artist exhibit, lecture and presentation, a juried exhibition of functional ceramics and a two day workshop with the featured artist and juror. Previous jurors include Robert Briscoe, Bill Gossman and Bob and Cheryl Husby.

2007 Juror – Jeff Oestreich
Jeff Oestreich began his pottery training in 1965 at Bemidji State University in Northern Minnesota. He later studied at the University of Minnesota with Warren MacKenzie. Upon graduation Jeff moved to England to apprentice for two years with Bernard Leach at the Leach Pottery in St. Ives, Cornwall.
Upon returning to the US in 1971, Jeff set up his pottery in rural Wisconsin, later relocating to Minnesota. He exhibits and conducts workshops nationally and internationally. He is a recent recipient of a McKnight Foundation grant as well as a Jerome Foundation grant allowing him to exhibit and teach in England, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand and Australia.

“My early pottery training at the Leach Pottery in England in the late 1960’s was heavily influenced by Japanese pottery, due to the fact that Bernard spent many years making work in Japan. Since that experience my work has slowly moved away from this direct influence. Although there are still the underpinnings of the pottery of Japan, China and Korea in my work, that being simplicity, directness in approach, I am currently doing salt glazing, which has its origins in Germany. I have one foot in Japan, one in Germany and an interest in Art Deco architecture. All things considered, my approach is American, borrowing from as many sources that speak to me.”

For more information on Jeff and Oestreich Pottery visit www.oestreichpottery.com

Juried Exhibit at the Bemidji Community Art Center
The “Its Only Clay” 2007 exhibit is a juried competition focusing on, and dedicated to, functional clay vessels. Selected works will be a part of the exhibit at the BCAC for the month of October with Awards going towards the purchase of pieces to be added to the Margaret Harlow Vessel Collection at BSU.

• Guidelines for submissions are outlined in the It’s Only Clay 2007 brochure.
• Deadline for submissions: all entries must be postmarked Aug 29th, 2007
• Exhibition Dates: October 5th through October 27th.
• Opening Reception and Awards: October 5th 5 to 7 pm

Lecture
This years “It’s Only Clay” Competition, Exhibition and Workshop begins with an evening lecture on Wednesday Sept 19th, 2007 at 7pm. on the campus of Bemidji State University, 1600 Birchmont Dr. NE, in the Education Art Building Rm. #115. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Jeff Oestreich Workshop “Form = Function”
Workshop Dates Sept 20-21, 10am to 4pm
Takes place at Bemidji State University’s- Education Art Building, Rm 105, 1600 Birchmont Dr NE

registration form available on side bar to your right.

This two day workshop will focus on the process not the product. Jeff will demonstrate wheel throwing and a variety of his altering techniques. Discussions will be on topics relating to studio pottery life and Jeff’s experiences of teaching and exhibiting around the world. Attendees will have full access to encourage a free and informal exchange of ideas.

Workshop fee $25. Space is limited. Deadline for applying: Sept 7th 2007. For workshop information please contact the BCAC at (218) 444-7570. Workshop Registration Form available on side bar to your right.

It’s Only Clay 2007 is co-sponsored by the BCAC, Bemidji State University Visual Arts Department, BSU Ceramics Club, BSU Foundation and made possible in part by funding from the Region 2 Arts Council and the Minnesota State Legislature and by a grant from the Bemidji Area Arts Endowment.

2007 Harlow Collection Purchase Awards