17th Annual
It's Only Clay National Competition & Exhibition
IOC 2022 – an exhibit of high quality, functional ceramics
Featuring the work of Ceramic Artist & Juror Delores Fortuna
Exhibit November 4 – December 23, 2022
2022 IOC opens Friday November 4 with reception from 5 to 7pm. Awards & presentations at 6pm.
“All Things Porcelain” Wheel Demo Workshop with Delores Fortuna, Saturday November 5
Delores Fortuna, 2022 IOC Jury & Featured Artist
“Forming function, a dance, often a tug of war, between thought and object making. Add to this dialogue the sheer joy of working with clays as materially responsive as porcelain and surfaces only possible through glass fusion. A dynamic is created which becomes a life-long fascination. My work uses basic wheel thrown shapes as starting points; the clay wall defines both the silhouette of the form and records the time-event process of throwing. The clay wall becomes a fabric, a diary rich with gestural marks and intent. As a seamstress would cut, fold, and dart cloth to make a garment, I use this clay fabric to shape utilitarian vessels. These vessels ask questions, explore solutions, and live in your home.” – Delores Fortuna
The It’s Only Clay (IOC) exhibit is a juried ceramics competition focusing on, and dedicated to, functional clay vessels. Each submission for IOC is judged in four areas: function, form/aesthetic, craftsmanship, and surface design. Selected works will be a part of the exhibit at Watermark during the months of November and December.
This annual event is a collaboration sponsored by Watermark and Bemidji State University Department of Technology Art and Design. IOC features a guest artist who juries an exhibition of functional ceramics displayed in the Marley and Sandy Kaul Gallery, an artist talk and 2 day workshop at the Watermark Art Center.
Jurors for It’s Only Clay include some of the most familiar names in the Ceramic Arts. Previous jurors have been: Marion Angelica, Matthew Krousey, Butch Holden, Karin Kraemer, Andrea Leila Denecke, Guillermo Cuellar, Simon Levin, Richard Bresnahan, Linda Christianson, Jeff Oestreich, Robert Briscoe, Bill Gossman, and Bob and Cheryl Husby.
2022 Final Awards
2022 IT’S ONLY CLAY TIMELINE for artists:
• September 30th – Deadline for online applications
• October 15 – Jury completion and acceptance email notification sent
• October 15 – Oct 31st – Delivery of work to Watermark Art Center
• Nov 4 – Exhibit Opening Reception & Awards – 5 to 7pm – Kaul Gallery
• Nov 4 to Dec 23, 2022 – Exhibit
• Dec 31, 2022 payments made to artists
• Jan 9, 2023- Begin return of works and artist pick up
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
It’s Only Clay 2022 is underwritten by our business partner First National Bank Bemidji.