For the 11th consecutive year, Skyline College ceramics students participated in the annual California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art in Davis, CA from May 2-5, 2019. The conference draws collegiate ceramics students from the region who display their artwork and attend over 30 exhibitions by other colleges and universities throughout California. Students also attended lectures by professional ceramics artists that included clay demonstrations.
Each college is provided a retail space in downtown Davis to transform into a pop-up gallery for the weekend.
The Skyline College show was located in a former jewelry store with large glass display cases ready to fill with ceramic art pieces. The installation took a full day and included preparing pedestals and wall displays, hanging lights and arranging the artwork and signage.
Participation in the Skyline College Ceramic Art show is a capstone project for our upper-level ceramics students. Through hands-on learning, students experience how to set up a professional exhibition. They created a series of three or more pieces around a selected theme, wrote an artist statement and resume, photographed and promoted their work and interacted with show attendees. Following the event, they wrote a reflection on their work and the show.
The show contained a wide array of themes and styles, reflecting the diverse artistic expression of Skyline College students. Participating students welcomed conference guests to our show and shared their inspirations, ideas and techniques. The large variety of school exhibitions presented a wonderful opportunity for students to connect with potential transfer schools, their instructors and current students.
Ceramics professor Tiffany Schmierer co-curated the show with the students and was an exhibitor in the main conference show with her ceramic sculpture. The California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art is all about promoting art education, collaboration and creative learning.
Article and Photos by Tiffany Schmierer, Professor of Art
