Guild fires the kiln at IU

The IU Ceramics Guild will hold the National Council on the Education of the Ceramic Arts Pre-Conference Friday through Tuesday. \nThe Pre-Conference, "Tangents: Ceramics and Beyond," will highlight ceramic work of IU faculty and staff, as well as local Bloomington ceramists. Events include kiln firings, demonstrations, lectures and panel discussions on various topics in ceramics. The artists holding the event include people from all over the country and a special guest from Shigaraki, Japan, as well. \n"It's amazingly exciting," said senior Marissa Minelli, a fine arts major. "We get to interact with people in the field."\nStudents are excited to have the opportunity to meet with other ceramists, including the people who may one day give the students jobs. \n"We get to interact with peers and future employers," said fine arts graduate student Bob Graf. "We hope to attract some of the people. Everyone gets together in one location."\nSenior Dave Helrich, a fine arts student, is also excited about the event.\n"I think it's fantastic. It's a good opportunity for us to show off our program and get exposure for our school," he said. \nIU is the No. 5 ceramics program in the nation, Minelli said.\n"(The pre-conference) will give people the opportunity to check out the facilities," she said. "We are raising awareness of an amazing program."\nIn addition to highlighting student art, local ceramists will also get an opportunity to show off their art at downtown venues such as the Mathers Museum, Fuller Projects, The Gallery, Gallery North, the Waldron Arts Center and Fossil Rain. Graf is curating a show at Gallery North. \n"It's not just an academic thing, but it's local," he said. "It's like a carnival for ceramics."\nThe Pre-Conference leads up to the 38th annual NCECA National Conference, which is taking place from March 17 through March 20 in Indianapolis this year. The conference draws between 3,000 and 5,000 students, academics, professionals and industry representatives. \n"I've been to the National Conference," Graf said. "It's like the one time a year ceramicists have to get together."\nThroughout the pre-conference, there will be a kiln-firing symposium, open to students, faculty and the public at no cost. \n"Come and see some fantastic work," Minelli said.\nVisit www.fa.indiana.edu/nceca/ for more information on the pre-conference. \n-- Contact staff writer Jenny Kobiela at jkobiela@indiana.edu.