Philadelphia, Pa., will play host to the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts' (NCECA) 44th annual conference on March 31-April 3. The theme for this year's event is, appropriately, "Independence."

An array of world-class experts in the ceramic field will present a full lineup of panels and lectures, and participants will enjoy demonstrations, student forums for all education levels, and special screenings of videos about ceramic art. The event will also feature major displays of the latest ceramic equipment, technology and publications, and many educational institutions and non-profit organizations will share information regarding their ceramic programs.

Program Highlights

Scott Dooley, represented by Sherrie Gallerie, Columbus, Ohio.

Opening ceremonies will be held Wednesday, March 31, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Kicking off this year's event will be a keynote from Terry Gross, host of National Public Radio's Fresh Air. In her speaking engagements, Gross plays sound bites from interviews that went especially well and especially badly to illustrate her discussion of interviewing techniques. She also talks about her own life and career, giving the audience a chance to interview her.

The Distinguished Lecture will be given Thursday, April 1, 2:30-3:30 p.m., by Glen Adamson, who will discuss "And Into the Fire: Post Studio Ceramics." Recent developments in ceramics (ranging from cuts to university departments to shifts in art practice) suggest that the studio tradition may be reaching its end. In this talk, Adamson will take account of this new development and will offer a defense of the studio tradition. He will argue that even if it has entered a period of decline, the studio tradition still offers lessons for the present and future of ceramics.

Additional program topics will include "China Painting on Woodfired Surfaces," by Julia Whitney; "Nature of Color," by Rebecca Harvey; "Green Ceramics: The Seduction of Sustainability," by Nancy Utterback; "The Wisdom from Touching Clay," by Chris Staley; and "Ceramic Art in For-Profit Venues," by Leslie Ferrin.

A variety of panel discussions will also be featured throughout the event, including "Key Texts in Twentieth-Century Ceramic Criticism," moderated by Ezra Shales; "Ceramic Technology-Material Issues," moderated by Jonathan Kaplan; "Fabricating Ideas," moderated by Forrest Snyder; and "To Die For," moderated by Monica Van den Dool.

Gallery Expo

Posey Bacopoulos, represented by Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, Mont.

The 2010 NCECA Gallery Expo will coincide with the NCECA conference and will be held in the Liberty Ballroom at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The expo showcases commercial galleries that promote the work of ceramic artists throughout the U.S. Conference attendees and the greater community audience are invited to attend this event free of charge.

The 2010 NCECA Gallery Expo will feature exhibitions by 18 Hands Gallery, Texas; Leslie Ferrin Gallery, Mass.; Red Lodge Clay Center, Mont.; Sherrie Gallerie, Ohio; Mindy Solomon Gallery, Fla.; and The Dolphin Song Gallery, Kan.; as well as the NCECA NEXPO exhibition. Gallery representatives will be available to discuss the content and techniques involved in creating the work.

The Gallery Expo will begin with an opening reception on Tuesday, March 30, 5:30-7:00 p.m., and will be open Wednesday, March 31, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Thursday, April 1, 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; and Friday, April 2, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Additional details are available at www.nceca.net.

SIDEBAR: Exhibitions

• 2010 NCECA Invitational "Earth Matters," March 13-April 15 at The Galleries at Moore College of Art and Design
• 2010 NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition, March 25-April 14 at the University of the Arts' Rosenwald Wolf Gallery

Visit www.nceca.net for a full exhibition listing.