VCPG October 2024 Newsletter
Program Meeting on October 20th : This will be our Annual Meeting in person • info below
For Your Calendar:
October 1st ……..............…Happy Hour @ Margaritavilla in Ventura Harbor @5pm
October 4th ……..............…Board Meeting @ 4:00pm
October 10th ……................Gallery Committee Meeting @3:30pm
October 20th ……................VCPG Annual Meeting @ 2:00pm • including our Summer Residents artists. Rancho Ventura Clubhouse, 1220 Johnson Drive
November 1st ……..............Board Meeting @ 4:00pm
November 9th-10th ……......Ventura Pottery Market and our Bowl of Thanks fundraiser
November 25th ……............Program Meeting @ 6:30pm Gathering, 7pm Meeting
December 6th ……............Board Meeting @ 4:00pm
December 12th .................Gallery Committee Meeting @3:30pm
December..........................VCPG Holiday Get Together
You will find the link to all Zoom meetings/events on the VCPG.ORG Home Page.
Just click on the meeting/event in the Guild Calendar for the Zoom link.
A Message from Your VCPG Board President • October 2024
Greetings VCPG Members –
Our members have asked the Board to prioritize increasing the number of sales venues and in-person meetings. We heard from you and have two events coming up in the next month! Now we need you, our members, to represent!
The deadline for Juried and plus members to register to sell their wares at the Ventura Pottery Market is extended to November 1, 2024!
• We are still accepting donations of bowls for the Bowl of Thanks •
The VCPG Marketing Team, along with our partners Food Share and the Ventura Harbor Village, have really kicked it into high gear to promote this event for the Guild. As you can see below, information about this event has gone out to thousands of people and we are anticipating a great turnout. And turnout = sales!
This is the first year we are holding the Ventura Pottery Market at the Harbor.
We think the move from downtown to the Harbor represents an opportunity to build a second pottery market on par with our Ojai Market. But we need to put on a good show.
Don’t miss out on this pre-holiday sales opportunity – please consider registering now to sell at the show. If you’re afraid you don’t have enough work – partner with a friend. Where else can you have a 10’X6’ space for two days for $40? Plus, it’s gonna be fun!
Check out this amazing marketing strategy.
Thank you Ellen Wohlstadter, Jody Cooper and the Marketing Team:
- FoodShare eblast newsletter - Bowl Of Thanks event promoted to their 25,500 subscribers!
- FoodShare Social Media: 14,700 Facebook followers / 4,800 Instagram followers
- Harbor Village hired a Food Influencer (35,000 followers) who will be creating a reel to promote the event and will also film Jody & Ellen creating bowls at Ellen’s studio AND feature a few of the restaurants participating in the FREE taste.
- Harbor Village PR campaign - reaching 1,000 media outlet
- PR photo shoot
- Harbor Village Social Media - 34,000 Instagram followers / 35,000 Facebook followers
- BANNERS - Harbor Village Entry/ THREE = 6’ wide x 2 feet tall
- BANNER - Harbor Entry / ONE = 8’ wide x 3’ tall
- Harbor Village email blast = 17,000
- Harbor Village website - Featured on the front page of the their website & calendar
- Harbor Village - 50 Bowl of Thanks posters and postcards distribution to Village Restaurants and Shops
- Hundreds of postcards and flyers distributed by VCPG team service to locations in: Ventura, Ojai, Thousand Oaks, Simi Barbara & Oxnard
- Ventura Pottery Gallery's email blast - 2,000 customers (sent out 2 times before the event)
- Ventura Pottery Gallery's social media - 1,400 Facebook followers / 1,675 Instagram followers
- Ad in GoCityShopper Ventura (coupon distribution) - circulation 300,000
More details about the Ventura Pottery Market, registration, information about how to volunteer for the event and donate bowls for the Bowl of Thanks is available here: Sell at the Ventura Pottery Market. Questions or comments? Contact events@vcpg.org.
Back by popular demand: In person Annual Member Meeting • Please register now!
Instead of a Zoom meeting on the 4th Monday, we’ve decided to hold OUR ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING as an in-person potluck and business meeting on Sunday, October 20.
The meeting will begin at 2:00 pm and will be held at the Rancho Ventura Clubhouse, 1220 Johnson Drive in Ventura. (Location and parking information will be provided via email before the event).
We are asking you to register in advance for the meeting using the Guild Calendar at VCPG.org so we can have a head count for the in-person meeting. At the same time, you can indicate what you will bring to the potluck (if you are undecided, that’s okay). That way we can monitor any important food groups (e.g., cookies!) are missing. We will have coffee, tea and water, but consider bringing your own beverage. Of course there’s no fee to attend the meeting. Please register here: Register (You’ll need to be signed in to VCPG.org).
Here's what we have planned:
We will gather at 2pm, lay out our food and socialize. While we’re hanging out, you’ll have an opportunity to provide feedback on Guild accomplishments over the last year and priorities going forward.
At 3:00 we will begin our business meeting (you can keep eating). Those of you who cannot attend the meeting in person (you’re missing a delicious spread) should plan to sign on at 3:00pm using the Zoom link available on the Guild Calendar and here: Zoom Link.
This year, we will be electing our Vice President and Treasurer. We will take nominations from the floor and vote. If you are interested in serving in one of these Board positions, please email me at president@vcpg.org.
Our Bylaws state that we need to have 25% of our 173 members, or 44 people, cast a ballot for our election to be legit. SO FAR NINE MEMBERS HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE POTLUCK.
If we’re short, we will also be holding voting online the following week.
After the election we will have presentations from our three 2024 Summer Residency Program participants. I personally have found these presentations, which highlight our Guild’s commitment to supporting emerging artists and expanding our membership, to be very inspiring.
Finally, we’ll wrap up with more socializing and a drawing for a door prize! You need to be present in-person or online to win!!!
I hope as many of you as possible can attend in person. It is always so nice to see one another, share a meal, and enjoy the camaraderie of this wonderful community we have created around our love for clay (and one another).
You can volunteer to help with the event and get Team Service credit for 2024 by emailing president@vcpg.org.
That’s it for now! More next month. Take care and make those bowls!!!!
Stacy Rowe
VCPG Board President
president@vcpg.org
Program Meeting • October 20th • 2:00pm
VCPG Annual Meeting @ 2:00pm • including our Summer Residents artists.
Rancho Ventura Clubhouse, 1220 Johnson Drive
Beatrice Wood Center Show
“Non Traditional Teapots” • September 28th - November 16th.
It's not too late to check out the amazing non-traditional Teapot show at Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts.
Talk about Guild members representing!
Over 40 members submitted a “Non-traditional Teapot” for the Guild’s Annual Show at Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts.
The show runs through November 16th – visit www.BeatriceWood.com for Center hours. Thank you Genie Thomsen, Kevin Wallace and all at Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts for an amazing show!
The opening reception was held Saturday, October 28th and was very well attended.
At the reception, the award winners were announced:
1st Place – Tea Tower by Lauren Hanson
2nd Place – Teapot of Many Colors by Sandy Calles
3rd Place – Aztec Tea by Genie Tomsen
Honorable Mentions:
Lyn Redmond
Maree Cheatham
Stacy Rowe
Pottery Jams
Anyone willing to open their studio for a Pottery Jam or who would like to offer a skills session or host a general gathering time for members in another member’s studio space, please contact Foz at programs@vcpg.org.
Many of you have great skills that can be shared with a small group of 10-12 members. The weather may be improving so it could be the time to offer to host an outdoor event?
The VCPG Library
Looking for artistic inspiration, or trying to solve a glazing or firing issue?
VCPG’s Library offers members an abundance of practical information, as well as being a great source of artistic inspiration. Our collection currently contains 42 DVDs and over 140 books. There is something for everyone, so please take advantage of this amazing resource!
Browse the collection by visiting the Library page under the Member Menu on VCPG.org. Click on Check Out Item to complete the check out request form. Items will be shipped at no cost to you. You can return items via mail (at your cost) or to the gallery.
VCPG Library Book Review
In Image Transfer on Clay, Paul Andrew Wandless explains how standard printmaking procedures can be adapted for image transfer use in clay. The basic methods of screening, monoprinting, stenciling, stamping, relief printing and making decals are illustrated with step-by-step photos and include finished pieces by contemporary artists. Readers will find it easy to explore these methods using easy-to-find materials and familiar ceramic tools. This is an excellent resource for those seeking a useful teaching tool.
We are seeking a coordinator for Team Service option to reach out to entities holding events.
The Team Service position is listed in Web Services. Here is the description:
Community Calendar Coordinator
This person will research, identify and communicate with entities holding pottery events to be posted on our community calendar, and keep in touch with them if they have ongoing events. We're looking for workshops, classes, pop-up sales, lectures, markets, exhibitions and any other pottery-related activity.
Web Services will add the events to our separate community calendar.
Program and Workshop Team needs members
A few creative and enthusiastic members are being sought to join the effort of bringing great program offerings to our members.
We try to meet once a month until the year’s program and workshop calendar is scheduled. Then, in small groups or individually, members shepherd their program or workshop. Mentoring and coaching will be offered.
If you are interested in joining this team, please reach out to Foz at programs@vcpg.org and we can at least talk.
Patrick Crabb host
Art Exhibtion at Fillmore Historical Museum
Looking for artists to exhibit
