CASA holds pottery sale

Holiday Shopping 2009

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By Jalissa Bates

The Ceramic Artist Student Association will be holding its pottery sale November 18-21. CASA is an organization where undergraduate and graduate students work together to bring awareness and attention to the ceramic art at the University and the surrounding Baton Rouge community.

The Ceramic Arts graduate program at the University is currently ranked eighth in the nation according to the organization's Web site.

CASA holds a pottery sale in the spring and fall semesters. With the proceeds from the event, it funds its two major activities of the year. The Visiting Artists Lecture Series brings contemporary and cutting edge ceramic artists to Baton Rouge. The lecture series operates in workshop style. Ceramic artists will do a demonstration of their styles and techniques for the audience.

Kyle Bauer, ceramic arts graduate student, said he became President of CASA in the spring of 2008. Bauer said the visiting artists provide individual critiques of student work. They offer their choices and methodology.

"It brings a fresh set of eyes on your work," Bauer said. "A new polished perspective is given."

The artists present a slide show lecture showing their portfolio. The evolution of practices and research they may be working on is discussed. These are usually new teachers or professionals in academia who are working purely off their ceramic practices.

CASA also sponsors a yearly trip to the National Conference for Education in the Ceramic Arts convention. About 8-10 students along with professors attend the largest international ceramics meeting in the country. During this time, there is an LSU recruiting table for the ceramics department, offering a post baccalaureate program. This is a program for ceramic students after undergrad to build a stronger or more perfect a portfolio.

"LSU Ceramics encompasses an expansive investigation of the ceramic material, its historical precedent and its contemporary application for visual art. The two-person faculty team of Mikey Walsh and Andy Shaw encourage the pursuit of individual, applicable goals within class projects and demand intensely motivated individual study for BFA, MFA and Special Students," stated the organization's Web site.

"Walsh and Shaw are two very well respected and established ceramic artists," Bauer said. "Anyone who needs information about this art can come to these two as resources."

Introductory courses are offered each semester, and all that is needed is a set of tools and a desire to create art through your hands. For those students who are interested in learning more about ceramics, visit the group's Web site at http:/design.lsu.edu/artschool/ceramics/index.html.

Originally Published: Issue 824 - November 18, 2009

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