The full-day, Thursday, April 22nd tour will feature the University Circle area of Cleveland.  This urban neighborhood is home to nearly fifty institutions that make it the cultural, educational, and medical center of the region.

The tour will feature museum collections and buildings spanning the late 19th century through today, along with a ride through historic Cleveland neighborhoods and its downtown, as well as views of the shoreline of Lake Erie.

The motor coach tour will leave the Holiday Inn at 9:00 AM and return about 4:45 PM.  Each bus will have a guide with an in-depth knowledge of local architecture, history, and current developments.

The tour will focus on three institutions, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Western Reserve Historical Society, and the Cleveland Institute of Art, all located within a few hundred feet of one another

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Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art, founded in 1913, is acknowledged as one of the finest art museums in America.  Its 42,000-object collection has an international reputation.  CMA has now completed several phases of its expansion and restoration program, led by noted architect Rafael Vinoly.  The spectacularly restored 1916 main building has reopened and has been joined by the galleries and exhibition space of the new east wing. 

Attendees will be able to explore the museum at their leisure.  Newly reinstalled galleries include European and American art pottery, the works of Tiffany, and artists of the Cleveland School.  There will also be a special exhibition of the works of famed American ceramist Toshiko Takaezu.

 

Western Reserve Historical Society
The Western Reserve Historical Society, founded in 1867, is Cleveland’s oldest existing cultural institution. The organization has evolved into a major history library and museum.  WRHS is located in adjacent mansions: the Hay House, constructed in 1910 by the widow of Secretary of State John Hay, and the Hanna House, constructed in 1918.  In 1963, TRW, Inc. donated its collection of historic automobiles and aircraft, and an adjoining building, the Frederick C. Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, was built.  Today, WRHS is one of the largest privately supported historical societies in the country.
The mansions include Moravian tile installations and Samuel Yellin metalwork, and there will be an opportunity to explore the art pottery collection and the work of Cleveland School artists in various media.  An amazing highlight is the porcelain enamel mural made for the 1939 World’s Fair by Cleveland’s Ferro Corporation.


Cleveland Institute of Art
Lunch will be in the 1956 George Gund Building of the Cleveland Institute of Art, a 127-year-old institution that is one of the premier art and design colleges in America.  This is one of two buildings occupied by the Cleveland Institute of Art, and it houses the departments of metals/jewelry, drawing, industrial design, fiber, printmaking, and medical illustration.  After catered lunch, attendees will hear a short update on major building renovations, including to the Ceramics Department visited by AAPA members in 2007, as well as an opportunity to view and purchase student works.

The Friday afternoon, April 23rd tour will be a trip to the Cowan Pottery Museum, a unique piece of local history that has national and even international importance.  Cowan Pottery is a distinctive form of American art pottery that was produced for four years (1913 - 1917) in Lakewood Ohio, and then flourished for eleven years (1920 - 1931) in neighboring Rocky River, Ohio.  R. Guy Cowan, the founder and guiding spirit behind the Cowan Pottery, brought ceramic art and sculpture to a prominence and legitimacy not previously known in this country.  Many well-known artists were affiliated with the studio, and through these artists and their works, American ceramic art gained respect and recognition from the art world. The studio was ahead of its time with the modern ceramic sculptures and wide array of Art Deco pieces it created for its avant-garde clientele.  By the late 1920’s, the pottery grew to a staff of 35 people, had a nationwide dealer network of 1,200 outlets, and was producing 175,000 single pieces a year, ranging from stock designs to limited editions of sculptured pieces.

In 1978, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Rocky River Public Library established the Cowan Pottery Museum in order to preserve and promote this exquisite cultural heritage.  Today’s collection numbers more than 1,200 pieces, about 40% of which are shown in 24 display cases in the center of the library.

Tour attendance will be limited to ensure an intimate experience of the collection led by the museum’s director.  The tour departs the Holiday Inn at 12:45 PM and returns at 3:30 PM in time for the auction preview.

The Binns Medalists
The Binns Medal for Excellence in the Ceramic Arts was established in 1925 to honor Charles Fergus Binns at the time of his twenty-fifth year as Director of the School of Clay-Working and Ceramics at Alfred University.  Thirty-five Binns Medals have been awarded to the superstars of the ceramics world.  Some of the recipients are very familiar, such as Arthur Baggs, R. Guy Cowan, Elizabeth Overbeck, Mary Chase Perry Stratton, Frederick Walrath, and Adelaide Alsop Robineau.  Among the recipients are ten women, two brothers, and at least ten who studied with Binns.  What the statistics don’t reveal is who was held as a political prisoner, accused of plotting to assassinate Stalin; or who appeared as a regular on the 1950s television program Ding-Dong School; or who invented the first cab over the truck semi; or who was one of the first individuals to climb Mt. Marcy, the highest peak in the Adirondacks – on skis.  These amazing individuals have all been honored as the recipients of the most prestigious award for excellence in ceramics.

Dr. Margaret Carney has been a ceramics historian and museum professional for over three decades.  She served as the founding director of the Museum of Ceramic Art at Alfred University, in Alfred, New York and has taught ceramic world history at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, the Ohio State University, and elsewhere.  She currently serves as curator of the Blair Museum of Lithophanes in Toledo, Ohio.  Dr. Carney holds a Ph.D. in Asian art history, Master’s degrees in Philosophy and Asian Art History, and a B.A. in anthropology/archaeology.


An Ohio Original: Charles Clewell
Working on his own over his 50-year career, Charles Clewell of Canton, Ohio created a unique line of art pottery.  Purchasing bisque pieces from various Ohio potteries, he utilized a process to deposit a thin layer of metal over the entire piece.  This metalworker then perfected a technique to oxidize the pieces, controlling the process and creating the rich blue and green patination for which he is so well known.  He was named a Master Craftsman of the Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, and received an award at the 1937 Paris International Exhibition.  Clewell never shared his secrets, and his papers were destroyed upon his death, but the appeal and mystery of his work endures.

Janet Smoak is the Director of the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, which has about 100 pieces of Clewell pottery, the largest museum-based collection in the world.  She has more than twenty years experience as a collections curator and exhibit planner.  Her diverse projects have included editing oral histories by Native Americans and teaching history and anthropology in secondary and post-secondary settings.


The Iridescent Glazes of Pewabic Pottery and Their
Lustrous Influences in American Ceramics

Pewabic Pottery, founded in 1903 in Detroit by Mary Chase Stratton and Horace J. Caulkins, was known for their unique line of glazes.  Their iridescent glazes, often described as ‘mysterious and glowing,’ were the result of vast experimentation.  The evolution of this glaze work was inspired by both ancient ceramics and the contemporary ceramic art of the period.  Mary Stratton, a leading china painter, was supported by leading art connoisseurs and educators such as Charles Lang Freer, Charles Fergus Binns, Arthur Dow and Adelaide Alsop Robineau to interpret these influences and enter the American Art Pottery Movement.  The outcome of this work was a fusion of Persian, Byzantine and Oriental art in which Mary Stratton transformed glaze history.  The Pewabic Pottery line featured both vessels, mosaics and tile work, which can be seen in collections and major architectural installations.  Among the many achievements of the pottery were the alliances created among craftsmen and architects and the influence of the glazes upon emerging ceramicists.  Paul Katrich will give his insight on other makers of luster pottery and their techniques.

Melanie Bazil is an independent scholar on American Ceramics and the Arts and Crafts Movement.  Among her many positions in the museum and archival field, she was the Director of the Pewabic Pottery Museum and Archives from 1988-1996.  Since 1997, she has held the position as the Senior Archivist and Historian for the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan.

Paul J. Katrich is a ceramic artist and “modern traditionalist” well known to members of the AAPA.  A degreed art historian, he has focused on practical glaze research and the re-discovery of “lost” technical knowledge.  His pottery is part of numerous public and private collections.

The banquet will be held at the host hotel. Cocktail hour will be from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, Banquet begins at 6:30 PM.  The AAPA is proud to announce that Stephen Harrison will be our keynote speaker. Mr. Harrison’s topic will be The Decorative Arts of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

In the most expensive cultural facility investment in Ohio history, the Cleveland Museum of Art is undergoing both a magnificent restoration and expansion.  The project is being led by internationally known architect Rafael Vinoly, and Stephen Harrison, Curator of Decorative Art & Design at the museum, will discuss this transformation.  He will also give his perspective on the design of the newly reinstalled galleries, which emphasize an intentional blend of art media including decorative arts.  Each gallery emphasizes the collaboration and co-inspiration in each region and period, and masterpieces are strategically placed in view of entrances from adjacent galleries to invite viewers into each space.

Stephen Harrison joined the Cleveland Museum of Art in 2005 as Curator of Decorative Art & Design.  He has overseen the reinstallation of the decorative arts galleries and curated the exhibitions Design for the Modern World: The Arts and Crafts Movement in Europe and America, 1880-1920 and Artistic Luxury: Fabergé, Tiffany, Lalique.  Prior to CMA, Harrison held curatorial positions at several other institutions, including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Louisiana State Museum.  In addition to authoring several books and exhibition catalogs, he is a regular contributor to Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and lectures about 19th- and 20th-century decorative arts and interiors.  Mr. Harrison earned a B.A. in British Studies from the University of Virginia, an M.A. in historic preservation from the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.A. in early American culture from the prestigious Winterthur Program at the University of Delaware.

Meet The Author Book Signing

Pottery book authors will sign books on Friday, April 23rd , 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, during the auction preview. Come meet the authors, ask questions, hear about books in progress, and buy an autographed copy of their work. Interested authors should contact Patti Bourgeois

 

Art Pottery Auction

The annual AAPA auction will he held on Friday, April 23rd, at the Holiday Inn – Cleveland South/Independence. The auction begins at 5:30 PM, with the preview from 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM. This will be a live and online auction with over 400 lots. Greg Belhorn of Belhorn Auction Services LLC will be our guest auctioneer.

To donate or consign to the auction, please contact Greg Belhorn or Arnie Small. There is a consignment/donation form on the back of this packet, or download the form at www.aapa.info. To arrange pick-ups of items for the auction, contact Greg or Arnie.

Showcase Exhibitions

There will be three Showcase Exhibitions on display during the Show & Sale. The exhibits will compliment convention seminar topics, featuring pottery by Charles Clewell, luster pottery from Pewabic and other makers, and Cowan Pottery “From Arts and Crafts to Art Deco.”

Hotel Reservations

The host hotel is the Holiday Inn – Cleveland South, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio  44131, where all the convention activities will be held. Reservations may be made directly with Holiday Inn through their toll free number 1-888-HOLIDAY (465-4329), or directly with the hotel at 1-216-524-8050. In order to receive the convention rate of $89.00, you must identify yourself as a member of the AAPA. Group rates are not guaranteed after March 19, 2010.

Location – The hotel is located at the junction of I-77, I-480 and Rockside Road, providing easy access from all directions. The Ohio Turnpike is only minutes away.

Air Transportation – The hotel is located about eleven miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

Courtesy Shuttle – The Holiday Inn – Cleveland South/Independence offers free shuttle service. At the airport, use the courtesy telephone in the baggage claim level. The shuttle will arrive in about twenty minutes. Check with the hotel for shuttle hours.

Rental Car – The airport has a consolidated rental car facility located off the airport grounds. There is free shuttle service between the terminal and the rental car facility, which is about a five minute ride. At the airport, board a shuttle by exiting at Door 5 of the baggage claim level. The shuttle operates 24 hours-a-day.

Taxi Service – At the airport, taxis are available by exiting at the south end of the baggage claim level, next to Carousel 11. Driving time between the airport and hotel is typically under twenty minutes. The one-way taxi charge is about $30.00.

Train Transportation – The hotel is located about eight miles from the Amtrak train station in downtown Cleveland. The one-way taxi charge is about $25.00.

Driving Directions – Driving directions are available through www.mapquest.com for Holiday Inn – Cleveland South, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio 44131.

Contacts

General Convention information:
ARNIE SMALL – 609.407.9997 – E-Mail: potsinacnj@aol.com  

General Registration:
DIANE COLE – 706.779.2044 – E-Mail: DiAntiques@alltel.net 

Show & Sale information:
DON GILL and PATTI BOURGEOIS – 508.679.5910 – E-Mail: PatsPots1997@charter.net

Auction information: GREG BELHORN – 614.921.9441 – E-mail: auctions@belhorn.com

Website & Advertising Information: BARBARA GERR – E-mail: potsinacnj@aol.com

 

 

During the AAPA Convention, there are great destinations and events in Cleveland waiting to be discovered!  Come early….stay out late….linger an extra day!

Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and \ Museum
From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen
It’s all about The Boss at this first major artifact-driven exhibit about Springsteen’s legendary career and his music.   www.rockhall.com

Cleveland Museum of Art
Art of the American Indians: The Thaw Collection. This exhibition from the Thaw collection of the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York is a re-introduction to American Indian art in a broad survey that samples Native artistic accomplishments and explores Native perspectives both before and after the arrival of Europeans.   www.cma.org

Western Reserve Historical Society
Do You Know Your Lincoln? – A series of exhibits, events and programs about Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War is a tribute to the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth in 2009 and the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War beginning in 2011.   www.wrhs.org

Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland
Now in its 31st year, this is one of America’s best jazz festivals. April 15 – 25, 2010, at various venues.
www.tricjazzfest.com/tric-jazzfest.asp

Playhouse Square Center
This five-theater complex, the second largest performing arts center in America, hosts Broadway plays, musicals, concerts, comedy, dance, opera, and international artists.  Check the schedule at: www.playhousesquare.com

Sports
NBA - Basketball – At the end of April, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and the Cavs may be in the middle of playoff action at The Q!  Check the playoff game schedule at: www.nba.com/cavaliers

Antiquing and Gallery Hopping
Brochures highlighting local antiquing and gallery districts will be available at the AAPA registration table.