Kristen Kieffer

I am about to head off on my “2010 Summer Tour,” so thought I’d do a blog post before this almost six week hiatus.  I have been a bit delinquent about writing here lately, and though I post regularly on my Facebook Ceramics page, I’ve just been too busy with my studio sale, making work before leaving, and enjoying being in, or on the porch next to, my perennial garden. Pictured new striped cake stands just unloaded from the glaze kiln (and The Studio Potter thank you postcard for donating via AKAR’s yunomi invitational).

The first leg of my tour is a drive down to North Carolina so I can teach for the first time at the Penland School of Crafts.  I know firsthand how great a place Penland is which makes returning to teach for two weeks with my own large class of 20 (and with ceramic artists Jenny Mendes and Alice Ballard teaching in the other studio), a fantastic treat.

The second trip is my second Artists-Invite-Artists residency at the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts. The first time I was invited; this time I am a co-inviter with the talented Rebekah Bogard.  We met during the same AIA residency two years ago, and were having such a wonderful time, that by the second or third night, we sat down and came up with a list of artists for our next residency.  Now two years later, in addition to showing at the Salad Days Pottery Invitational, our AIA group of talented (and fun) artists will be converging on Watershed very soon for two full weeks of making and mayhem: Kurt Anderson, Mark Burns, Jason Green, Bryan Hiveley, Kathy King, Phyllis Kloda, Lorna Meaden and Nick Sevigney. Pictured new striped plates just unloaded from the glaze kiln.

The last stop is not at all the least.  I am very much looking forward to a week of teaching for the first time at the Appalachian Center for Crafts.  And since this workshop is over my birthday, we will have an extra special time! Check out the Schedule page for my fall workshop tour schedule.  Pictured new striped house form, flower bricks just unloaded from glaze kiln.

Which brings me to the beginnings of my schedule for 2011.  Workshops are always being added throughout the year, so check back on my Schedule or Workshops pages. I will be making a return trip in August 2011 to the Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts where I was an artist-in residence (1997-98), and taught one of my first workshops in 2004.  I’m looking forward to the new and familiar, and Gatlinburg is always a riot.  Check out Arrowmont’s website for information on their re-location efforts, and how you may be able to help insure this great place has a new space.

So that’s where I’ll be for the next six weeks, and some of where I’ll be at this time next year.  I’ll be back here (home and the blogosphere) in August.  But if you don’t see a post it’s because I’m helping my hubby renovate our bathroom….or catching up on lost time in my garden.  Happy Summer, everyone!