W J Seidl on wed 15 mar 06
Now that I=92m back, settling into my =93routine=94 again, I have a few =
minutes to
devote to some of the less pressing =93requests=94 observations and =
comments I
got at NCECA Portland. There are still irons in the fire...and I will =
get to
those in due time.
I won't describe the work I saw, or the sights...you had to be there, =
and
I'm sure my paltry wordsmithing would not do justice. Suffice to say =
that I
thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship, did not want to leave, and came back
charged, ready for more.
1) The maids at the Red Lion were overheard on my floor, speaking in =
Spanish
Thursday morning. The comment was: =93The hotel has been overrun with =
red
chickens!=94 To which I replied "=A1Cuidat=E9 lo qu=E9 dice. Ti=E9nen =
o=EDdos, =E9stos
pollos."(=93Be careful what you say=85those chickens have ears!=94) Big =
laughs.
There were red feathers on every floor of the hotel=85a truly amazing =
sight,
and what fun to see folks out and about on the street with boas. One =
tip...
boas are _really_ warm. In a cold climate, I was glad to have mine to =
keep
my neck warm, and it did.
2) No, that was NOT my natural length or color (at the dance). It was a
wig. Really! I did get 14 propositions though at the dance, 11 =
from
guys and the rest from some very interesting young (and older) ladies. =
It
made my year, for sure. Ahh, to be about 30 years younger (and 30 =
pounds
lighter! )
3) Gail Phillips is NOT my real sister, but yeah, she is in spirit. =
Twin
kids of different mothers kind of thing. You figure it out. We did have =
big
fun in Phil's booth, and hopefully helped (at least didn't hinder) =
sales. I
am amazed at the number of "big names" that were using and promoting =
Phil's
tools all over the hall. That says it all right there.
4) The staff at the Red Lion went well beyond the call of duty. I=92ve =
sent a
letter giving high praise, and they deserve each word of it. The front =
desk
clerks I'm sure are glad to be rid of me.
5) Mel: Your patience and "behind the scenes" magic working are what
continue to make NCECA special for many of us. Thanks for your =
patience,
and for not slugging me with that 2X4 (I certainly deserved it...).
6) The kids were delightful, college AND high school. Something about =
the
eyes opening wide in wonder when the "light bulb over their head goes =
on".
I saw that more than once, and it warmed my heart. I understand now =
what a
thrill it must be to be an educator.
7) Next year's boa color. Louisville. Hmmmm=85
Someone has pleaded for purple, but I=92m afraid that is going to have =
to wait
one more year (sorry, dear). Louisville (2007) to me is the home of
bluegrass and mint juleps. Blue or green therefore are the colors of
choice. For New Orleans (2008), it=92s going to be purple, green or =
gold
(yellow will do) or all three since those are Krewe colors for Mardi =
Gras.
Personally, it doesn't matter WHAT color you wear. It serves to =
identify us
on the street, and in the halls and that was the whole point; so that
newbies and "NCECA virgins" would know they could come up and introduce
themselves fearlessly (and get swept up in the wonderful family that is
Clayart.)
Four days once a year is just not enough. I miss you all already!
Best,
Wayne Seidl
finally warm again in Key West, FL
Gayle Bair on mon 27 mar 06
I know.... it's been over for weeks but I'm just getting around to it.
With several upcoming shows and recovering from NCECA krud
it has taken a while for me to put my experience in words.=20
I'm listening to the CD I bought from the Boka Marimba band at the =
fabulous
Portland craft, food, musicians market. It will forever remind me of my
wonderful first NCECA.
Worrying that I would be a fish out of water was a silly notion as I was
immediately welcomed by Clayarters.
I was surprised at how many people I already knew....
but being able to put together people with names was a joy.
The first day I walked into the Clayart room I heard my name yelled out =
then
was embraced by Shula (purplelama). We were inseparable the rest of the=20
week. We have decided we must be Siamese twins separated at birth (and =
about
2 years). She got the tall & brains genes... I got the short & funny =
genes!
The Filthydelphia girls (Marcia, Shula & myself) spent a hilarious =
evening
in the Clayart room. I extend apologies to anyone trying to have serious
conversations during that time.
I didn't spend much time on the shuttles as it the ride seemed to take
forever and I felt I was missing out on the convention. So I only used =
one
shuttle ticket. I didn't even get over to the Beaverton Library where =
the
Washington Potters(including pieces of mine)show was on display.
A MAX ride took Shula, Bacia and me to galleries. At lunch we sat by a
window we saw a bit of sun, rain, hail, sleet and snow.
The comment "If you don't like the weather... wait 5 minutes" was proven
accurate. The dinnerware show at the Hilton was fabulous as was the one =
in
the Airstream across from the convention center. Shula and I went to the
Chinese gardens.=20
The scholarship mug sale was great as was the Clayart exchange.=20
Bacia .... what can I say she is amazing. I have loved her work from the
first time I saw it. She blows me away with her intellect and OMG the =
one
liners... I started collecting them. Dang she's quick!
Dinner with Russel, Marta, Jacqui, Shula & Bacia was a highlight.
So here it is weeks later and I'm still thinking about the =
conversations,
people, work and visual impressions. The Clayart camaraderie is hard to
describe... you have to be there to believe it. You can be a social
butterfly flitting from table to table.... oh there's Hank, Marta, Mel,
Joyce.... Michael, David, Kelly... and there's Ron, John, Arnold, =
Polly.....
on and on.
Shula rented a car for a day and that got us to Skutt, Georgies their =
shows
were fabulous. I loved the teapots and the Orton show.
I know I missed a lot as I should have spent more time watching demos in =
the
exhibitor hall rather than trying to see the poorly set up =
demonstrations.
I should have gone to more of the schedules events. However that said I =
have
noticed a subtle shift in my work so what I did see and absorb is having =
a
desired effect.=20
I came home with tee-shirts, posters, great tools, a new quite extended
family, memories and new ideas percolating...percolating.
Oh and Wayne....I have a digital of you in a certain wig..... I'm =
keeping it
for future blackmail purposes!
Thank you Mel.... the Clayart room and the Clayart (Red Lion) Hotel was =
a
treasure!
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
Tucson, AZ
www.claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of W J Seidl
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 6:43 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: LONG: Considerations from NCECA Portland (2006)
Now that I=92m back, settling into my =93routine=94 again, I have a few =
minutes to
devote to some of the less pressing =93requests=94 observations and =
comments I
got at NCECA Portland. There are still irons in the fire...and I will =
get to
those in due time.
I won't describe the work I saw, or the sights...you had to be there, =
and
I'm sure my paltry wordsmithing would not do justice. Suffice to say =
that I
thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship, did not want to leave, and came back
charged, ready for more.
1) The maids at the Red Lion were overheard on my floor, speaking in =
Spanish
Thursday morning. The comment was: =93The hotel has been overrun with =
red
chickens!=94 To which I replied "=A1Cuidat=E9 lo qu=E9 dice. Ti=E9nen =
o=EDdos, =E9stos
pollos."(=93Be careful what you say=85those chickens have ears!=94) Big =
laughs.
There were red feathers on every floor of the hotel=85a truly amazing =
sight,
and what fun to see folks out and about on the street with boas. One =
tip...
boas are _really_ warm. In a cold climate, I was glad to have mine to =
keep
my neck warm, and it did.
2) No, that was NOT my natural length or color (at the dance). It was a
wig. Really! I did get 14 propositions though at the dance, 11 =
from
guys and the rest from some very interesting young (and older) ladies. =
It
made my year, for sure. Ahh, to be about 30 years younger (and 30 =
pounds
lighter! )
3) Gail Phillips is NOT my real sister, but yeah, she is in spirit. =
Twin
kids of different mothers kind of thing. You figure it out. We did have =
big
fun in Phil's booth, and hopefully helped (at least didn't hinder) =
sales. I
am amazed at the number of "big names" that were using and promoting =
Phil's
tools all over the hall. That says it all right there.
4) The staff at the Red Lion went well beyond the call of duty. I=92ve =
sent a
letter giving high praise, and they deserve each word of it. The front =
desk
clerks I'm sure are glad to be rid of me.
5) Mel: Your patience and "behind the scenes" magic working are what
continue to make NCECA special for many of us. Thanks for your =
patience,
and for not slugging me with that 2X4 (I certainly deserved it...).
6) The kids were delightful, college AND high school. Something about =
the
eyes opening wide in wonder when the "light bulb over their head goes =
on".
I saw that more than once, and it warmed my heart. I understand now =
what a
thrill it must be to be an educator.
7) Next year's boa color. Louisville. Hmmmm=85
Someone has pleaded for purple, but I=92m afraid that is going to have =
to wait
one more year (sorry, dear). Louisville (2007) to me is the home of
bluegrass and mint juleps. Blue or green therefore are the colors of
choice. For New Orleans (2008), it=92s going to be purple, green or =
gold
(yellow will do) or all three since those are Krewe colors for Mardi =
Gras.
Personally, it doesn't matter WHAT color you wear. It serves to =
identify us
on the street, and in the halls and that was the whole point; so that
newbies and "NCECA virgins" would know they could come up and introduce
themselves fearlessly (and get swept up in the wonderful family that is
Clayart.)
Four days once a year is just not enough. I miss you all already!
Best,
Wayne Seidl
finally warm again in Key West, FL
_________________________________________________________________________=
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