Photos by Alex Eicher
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Branch of the Cincinnati Public Library is hosting an art installation of boats, fish, and waves by Whistle Stop Clay Works through March 24th in celebration of the NCECA 2023.
The conference, which is geared toward art educators, ceramicists, and clay enthusiasts, will be held in Cincinnati from March 15 through 18 at the Duke Convention Center. NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) strives to promote and improve the ceramic community through education, community building, research, and creative inspiration. They offer programs events and publications to support the ceramic field and communities in with ceramic organizations’ work.
The theme of NCECA 2023 is ‘Current’, so boats, fish and waves were chosen to signify the importance of the Ohio River to the area.
On Saturday, January 7 the Loveland library and Whistle Stop Clay Works (WSCW) co-hosted a three-hour event to make the objects for the art installation. Children and adults made clay boats, sails, waves and fish out of clay to be used for the installation. In addition to clay projects, there was an opportunity for people to make origami boats. There was a similar event held at WSCW, where people could make clay items for the installation as well.
“This is a fantastic partnership between artists and the public library. These were free events, so that helped make it accessible to a wide variety of people,” said Bonnie McNett, one of the organizers. “In addition, people can come back to the library and find the exact boat they made because they stamped a unique number on the boat they created.
The artists can pick up their art after March 24th.
“It’s really an interactive event,” continued McNett. “The Library and Whistle Stop wish to thank the 20 volunteers who helped make the art installation possible and also want to thank Kentucky Mud Works for donating the clay used in the creation of the clay armada.”
The library is at 649 Loveland Madeira Road in the Shoppers Haven Plaza in Loveland, Ohio. Information about NCECA can be found at www.NCECA.net.
Whistle Stop Clay Works is located in Historic Downtown Loveland. Learn more HERE.
