VCPG January 2025 Newsletter
Program Meeting on January 27th : Amaco’s new products • info below
For Your Calendar:
January 2nd …….............Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
January 20th ……............Gallery Artists meeting @ 7:00pm
January 27th ……............Members Program @ 7:00pm • Gathering @6:30
Presentation by Alissa Ward will focus on Amaco’s new products for surface treatments Sprayz, and Ceramic Inks.
February 6th …….............Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
February 13th ……...........Gallery Committee meeting @ 3:30pm
February 19th ……...........Happy Hour at Margaritavilla @ 5pm
February 24th ……............Members Program @ 7:00pm • Gathering @6:30
March 6th ……...................Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
March 24th …….................Members Program @ 7:00pm • Gathering @6:30
April 3rd …….....................Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
April 21st ……....................Gallery Artists meeting @ 7:00pm
April 28th ……...................Members Program @ 7:00pm • Gathering @6:30
May 1st ……......................Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
May 4th ……......................Beatrice Wood Submission deadline
May 24th - July 6th............Small Treasures Show at Beatrice Wood
June 5th ……......................Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
June 7th&7th …….............Ojai Show Sale
July 3rd ……......................Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
July 21st ……....................Gallery Artists meeting @ 7:00pm
August 7th …….................Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
September 4th ……...........Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
October 2nd ……...............Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
October 20th ……...............Gallery Artists meeting @ 7:00pm
November 6th……..............Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
December 4th ……..............Board Meeting @ 3:00pm
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 • January 2025
Greetings VCPG Members –
It’s been a tough couple of weeks. I know many of us have friends and family affected by the fires, and some of us probably have our “go bags” packed. Personally, I feel overwhelmed by the scale of the loss and heartbreak. All I can say is let’s be grateful and kind and do whatever we can to help our neighbors, wherever they are.
Here are a few updates regarding our Guild:
Membership - Most of our members have renewed their membership for 2025 – Thank you so much. Remember that although membership in the Guild remains open throughout the year, renewing members must renew by February 28, 2025 to prevent their membership from lapsing.
Juried members lose their juried status if their membership lapses and must re-jury to sell at a Guild venue.
It’s very easy to renew your membership. Detailed instructions are provided in last month’s newsletter. All past Newsletters are available to review here: Newsletters.
If you have problems or questions about renewing, email Judy Winard at membership@vcpg.org.
Team Service – Plus Members will be looking for opportunities to complete their 2025 Team Service commitment. Team Service opportunities range from help with one - time events such as shows, sales and get-togethers to on-going positions throughout the year. Some Team Service opportunities can be done from home, while others involve working outside the home to make our programs and events a success.
Soon, we will need everyone to go to the Team Service webpage at VCPG.org and sign up for positions in 2025 (even if you signed up for the same position in 2024). At the moment, however, we are experiencing some technical difficulties with the Team Service sign-up page. See the article below for more information. We’ll let you know when the issues are resolved and sign up is available. For those of you who are currently serving or are interested in serving in the same Team Service position you filled in 2024 – that’s great! Keep up the good work – we’ll make sure you get credit for your service.
Announcing an Opportunity to Join the VCPG Board as a Member-at-Large -
Are you passionate about shaping the future of the VCPG Guild and ensuring its ongoing success? We’re seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic individual to join our Board as a Member-at-Large.
This is your chance to bring fresh ideas, new perspectives, and your unique expertise to the table, helping to plan impactful activities and strengthen our Guild’s sustainability for years to come.
Why Apply?
This role offers a unique opportunity to:
• Contribute to the growth and vibrancy of the Guild.
• Collaborate with a team of like-minded individuals who share your enthusiasm for our mission.
• Play an active role in enhancing the experiences of Guild members and the broader community.
The Member-At-Large is a member who:
• Has been a Guild member for more than one year
• Shows an active interest in being part of the Guild community
• Is available to attend monthly Board meetings and review meeting agenda, reports and minutes and ask for clarification in advance if necessary.
• Is available to participate in ad hoc meetings on program topics related to the
Guild and board planning decisions
• Is comfortable expressing their opinions and applying their expertise in discussions related to the Guild moving forward.
• Takes on these responsibilities as a Team Service to the Guild.
• The Member At Large position is for a two-year term.
Interested? Here's How to Apply:
Tell us a little about yourself by answering these two questions:
1. What excites you about joining the VCPG Board as a Member-at-Large?
2. What personal quality or experience will you bring to enrich this role?
Please email your responses to president@vcpg.org by February 15, 2025.
Guild Calendar – Our Communications and Web Services teams work very hard to keep our members informed of upcoming events. In addition to this Newsletter, VCPG.org has tons of information about what’s going on. For a quick update, log on to view the Guild and Community Calendars and “The Kiln Post” on the Home Page for information on upcoming events. Click on a Calendar listing to get more information about and/or register for an event. You can submit a non-Guild, ceramic-related event to the Community Calendar here: Submissions.
NOTE: You will see more member-only events in the Guild Calendar if you are signed in.
That’s it for now! More next month. Take care and make those bowls!!!!
Stacy Rowe
VCPG Board President
president@vcpg.org
Program Meeting • Surface Treatment with Amaco • Members Program @ 7:00pm • Gathering @6:30
We are excited to have Amaco join us for a presentation on their new surface design products for our January Meeting!
On behalf of Amaco, joining us is Alissa Ward. Alissa is the ceramics art instructor at Valley High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this position, Ms. Ward provides high-quality lessons on ceramics skills and knowledge to grades 9-12 students. She is passionate about providing opportunities for her students to share their stories, have a voice through art creation, and become confident artists.
Ms. Ward also serves as a workshop contractor for AMACO Brent Company. She enjoys sharing the benefits of AMACO Products with her students and fellow ceramicists. In her upcoming presentation for the Ventura County Pottery Guild, Alissa will survey AMACO underglaze products and introduce the newest stars of their underglaze line: Ceramic Printing Inks and Velvet Sprayz.
She will show simple techniques that demonstrate the great possibilities between ceramics and art disciplines such as printmaking and painting.
Links for program meetings can always be found on the Guild’s Home Page. Click the appropriate calendar date and the zoom link and other key info will load.
Guild Programs
January Pottery Jam
A Ceramic Adventure in Japan facilitated by Foz hosted by Terry Wilson.
Sunday, January 26, 1-3 PM
A presentation on ceramic centers in Japan, a conceptual discussion of how such a non-guided adventure might be structured, an overview on tools available for calculating costs and the opportunity to discuss interests and explore the possibility of pursuing this kind participatory adventure for fall 2025 or early spring 2026.
This may be the first planning meeting?! Cookies, tea and coffee will be available.
Registration is open now.
Calendar
Annual Pit Fire
Sunday, May 18 at Arroyo Verde Park
Registration is open now. Details can be found at the link below or by
checking out the Guild’s Calendar for May 18.
Do not miss out on this amazing and fun Guild gathering.
Calendar
Clay Challenge – June Program Meeting
Theme: STAMP IT!
What does "Stamp It" look like to you?
stamp /stamp/ - intransitive verb
1. To bring down (the foot) forcibly.
2. To bring the foot down onto (an object or surface) forcibly.
3. To cause to be dislodged by stomping the feet.
4. To subdue, destroy, or eliminate.
5. To crush or grind with a heavy instrument.
6. To form or cut out by application of a mold, form, or die.
7. To imprint or impress with a mark, design, or seal.
8. To impress forcibly or permanently.
9. To affix an adhesive stamp to (an envelope, for example).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Use your imagination and create. Be ready to submit pictures of your work by Sunday evening June 15th.
Watch for an email from Programs/Workshops closer to mid-June for photo submittal info.
Program Planning:
Guild members scheduling presenters for monthly programs has already begun! A couple of Pottery Jams are in the exploration and nailing down the details stage and we are on the search for other Jam offerings.
If you have an idea, are interested in sharing a skill, leading a discussion or simply providing a location to hold a Jam please email programs@vcpg.org and one of us will follow-up with you.
We are currently exploring locations for 2025 workshops that have adequate space, parking, restrooms, resources and infrastructure that work for handling clay and the other messy things we work with. The Team is committed to offering at least two workshops (fee-based), in addition to Pottery Jams, this year.
The Program Team for 2025 includes Meredith Linden, Vera McGuire, Janet Neuwalder, Maureen Schultz and Foz.
Team Service for 2025
We ask for your patience.
Our website “host” has changed the face and “backside” of the Team Service sign-up module. Our Web Team has pulled the Guild Team Service sign-up page down until some bugs are resolved and the Team learns a bit more about how we and you can interface with the revised software. Our hope is by the end of January to notify you that sign-ups are again open.
Keep your eyes out for a MemberConnect announcement.
Thank you to everyone who is offering a service. Please stay engaged while we resolve
this matter. Everyone will get credit for service given to the Guild..
The VCPG Library •
Thank you Meredith Reu
for your excellent support in managing the book descriptions and handling the shipping process. Your attention to detail and efficiency have made everything go smoothly, and we appreciate all the time and effort you’ve put into ensuring that the books are sent out on time.
Thank you for leaving this post but carrying on with the Membership committee.
Our 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.
Let us know if you are interested in getting involved with our library.
Small Treasures • The Beatrice Wood show
May 24 -July 6
The opening reception is May 24th
Entries due online with images sent to Genie Thomsen by May 4th.
You can submit up to three pieces that measure within an 8” cube.
Your Program Team
The Program Team for 2025 includes Meredith Linden, Vera McGuire, Janet Neuwalder, Maureen Schultz and Foz. Using input from Guild members scheduling presenters for monthly programs has already begun!
A couple of Pottery Jams are in the exploration and nailing down the details stage and we are on the search for other Jam offerings. If you have an idea, are interested in sharing a skill, leading a discussion or simply providing a location to hold a Jam please email programs@vcpg.org and one of us will follow-up with you.
We are currently exploring locations for 2025 workshops that have adequate space, parking, restrooms, resources and infrastructure that work for handling clay and the other messy things we work with. The Team is committed to offering at least two workshops (fee-based), in addition to Pottery Jams, this year.