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Clark County Open Studios | Episode 1080
Clark County Open Studios is a juried show that takes place throughout Clark County in Southwest Washington. Each year 50 artist are chosen to participate along with 3 emerging artists. This year my wife, Jennifer and I were accepted into the show along with a number of other ceramic artists. Jennifer and I hosted an “after party” with a few of the other ceramic artists to talk about the event. Below are the artists we talked with for this episode. I asked these two questions: What is one thing that you will do next year if you are juried back in and what is one thing that you won’t be doing again next year?
Jennifer Blais
Something I did was I didn’t worry. I just did what I normally did and just enjoyed myself. I think it’s really great to show up and sign up for things because the pressure is good to get bodies of work done and get pieces made but I made sure that I was really enjoying that process. So I would do that again. Whatever gets made, gets made. I think one thing I wouldn’t do…because I am a little bit random and sometimes I follow trails, I think I might get a little bit more focused with what I am doing as far as kinds of pieces I was making.
Instagram: @amblewoodstudio
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Jessica Joner
This is our third year doing it so we have worked out some of the kinks but I think I would want to continue to create a space that invites people in and creates that welcoming environment for sure. And I think as far as making work, like you said Jennifer, I think it’s a good deadline to make a body of work and I tend to get experimental and try random things and so I think I would avoid doing random things that don’t really go together, that end up being in the seconds.
Instagram: @jessjoner
Adrienne Eliades
This year I had a little bit of better time management, and I wasn’t glazing all the way up until the deadline for that and then you know, setting up on Friday past the preview party. It felt nice to be able to set the space with a little bit more time and intention. But something I would probably do differently is that I have gotten out of the habit because I did it for so many years through Covid offering refreshments and I think next year I will probably bring that back in someway.
Instagram: @bugaboo_eyes
Molly Gustofson
I think kind of similar to what Jennifer and Jess already said is definitely giving myself more time to prepare work. Ceramics is kind of one of those special mediums where you have to be thinking about stuff months in advance when you are preparing for shows. It was a little awkward for me this year because we were moving right when we probably should have been starting to make work, so that was kind of crazy. But I think all and all it ended up working out okay. I like what you said, whatever gets made is what’s there. t’s not like other shows that I have done where I feel like I have to make a certain amount of work. It’s kind of like, this is my work, this is my process. The goal of this show is not to necessarily sell tons of work. It’s awesome when you do sell a piece but really it’s about connecting with he community and introducing yourself to people.
Instagram: @mollygustofson
Jen Lamb
I think that something I would change for next year would definitely be to just start a little bit sooner. Just because like everyone said, the nature of making these things. It’s time consuming and I would like to be a little bit more intentional and also to that point just once everything is set up kind of breath and slow down and set the mind set to meet people. And include next year definitely some treats and hospitality. That was really lovely having the chai, not just for other people, for myself. (laughter) That was really nice having a little pick me up in the studio. But also just allow for a greater variety of price points and objects as well.
Instagram: @unurthwonder
Paul Blais
One of the things that I loved doing this year that I think I will do next year is I did some throwing demonstrations and so it was kind of fun because I watched Jennifer Williams last year, we went to her studio, and she was painting and so I thought guy I would like to set up my wheel and demonstrate. So I I just spent a lot of time throwing so now I have some great work that I can work on. Something that I would do differently is my displays I don’t think were very well thought through. It was more like, I gotta get stuff on a shelf instead of showing how the pieces can be integrated into peoples’ lives. And maybe a little bit more variety in the work.
Instagram: @pdblais