Over 25 artists of the Clay Guild of the Cascades featured November 3-4 at Highland Elementary School. Story by April Lewis

The showcase is an opportunity for the Guild members to display their best ceramic wares and members of the jury will chose ‘Best of the Show’ in two different categories, functional and sculptural.  

The Clay Guild, founded in 2004, offers member meetings, educational workshops, exhibitions and fellowship with clay artists to promote creative self-expression, sharing knowledge and experience. Being a member of the guild is a way for local clay potters to connect and to network together, to share ideas and the cost of materials. The members also participate in charitable projects such as Empty Bowls and work to promote the appreciation of handmade pottery and ceramics.  

Helen Bommarito, a founding member of both the Clay Guild and the Wildfire Showcase, shared that the Clay Guild was a wonderful resource as she was new to Bend shortly before the group formed. “I find that I love being a part of a local group that gets together and shares ideas. When you work independently it’s kind of hard to connect with others. You don’t have daily impact with your peers, so we get together on a regular basis,” she remarked.  

Open to the public, the Wildfire event will offer opportunities to purchase pottery featured in artists’ booths and ceramic demonstrations will be performed throughout the event. A children’s area will provide clay activities for kids to participate. Free raffles for $25 towards a pottery purchase will be held every other hour on both Saturday and Sunday.  

Winners in the 2011 Best of Show were Steve Provence and Laura Mitchell in the functional category and Cheryl Weese in the sculptural category.  

The Clay Guild offers various workshops through out the year for the members, featuring visiting clay artists. The upcoming fall workshop is called The Glaze Core, with artist Peter Meyer.  

Wildfire Pottery Showcase November 3, 10am-5pm and November 4, 10am-4pm at Highland Elementary School, 701 N.W. Newport Avenue. Free admission and parking. Contact: Eleanor Murphy, Wildfire Chairperson, emurphey@bendcable.com or David Warren, Clay Guild of the Cascade President, david@clayarchitexture.com.