MSClayworks 2023

2nd clay conference in Mississippi
​August 25-27, 2023, in Tupelo.
Registrations are still open.

Conference program

Thursday, August 24
1pm - 5pm
  • Vendors and potters for the pottery market may drop off their boxes in the storage area of the Cadence Conference Center. (375 E Main St, Tupelo, MS 38804)
6pm
  • ​Opening of the Juried Show in the Link Centre (1800 W Main St, Tupelo, MS 38801).

Friday, August 25
6am
  • Doors will open for vendor, pottery market, and demonstration setup.
7am-10am 10am-12pm 12pm-1pm
  • Lunch. There are several restaurants and fast-food places in downtown Tupelo, close to the conference center. 
1pm-5pm
  • Clay demonstrations in the Cadence Conference Center.
  • Pottery market open to the public.
  • Empty bowls making for the Salvation Army.
Clay demonstrations at MSClayworks in Tupelo Mississippi by David MacDonald, Eric Botbyl, Stacey Hardy. This conference is the 2nd clay conference in Mississippi.
MSClayworks 2023 Conference
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Map of Cadence Conference Center
Saturday, August 26
9am-11am
  • Registrations for Saturday conference
9am-12pm
  • Clay demonstrations in the Cadence Conference Center. (David MacDonald, Stacey Hardee, Eric Botbyl)
  • Pottery market open to the public.
  • Empty bowls making for the Salvation Army
12pm-1pm
  • ​Lunch. There are several restaurants and fast-food places in downtown Tupelo, close to the conference center.
​​1pm-5pm
  • Clay demonstrations in the Cadence Conference Center.
  • Pottery market open to the public.
  • Empty bowls making for the Salvation Army.
6pm
  • Closing ceremony of the Invitational exhibition in the Gumtree Museum of Art. (211 W Main St, Tupelo, MS 38804)
  • Keynote speaker David Lewis (Director of Mississippi Arts Commission)
Sunday, August 27
9am - 9:30am
  • Annual MSClayworks meeting.

Round table discussions:
  • 9:30 - 9:50 Rob and Cat La Warre (All Artists Making a Living - AAMAL)
  • 9:55 - 10:15 Amanda Koonlaba (Arts education of the Mississippi Arts Commission)
  • 10:20 - 10:40 Shelby Jane Toole (Social Media)
  • 10:45 - 11:05 Tim Kenard (Ceramic Glazes)
  • 11:10 - 11:30 Antoinette Badenhorst (From hobby potter to professional)
  • 11:35 - 11:55 Koos Badenhorst (Art Photography)
Up to 1.5 CEUs will be available for teachers who attend the conference. 
Read more about CEUs at the conference.
August 25-26
Demonstrations
Cadence Conference Centre
​​David MacDonald | Eric Botbyl | ​Stacey Hardy

​August 1-26
Invitational Exhibition
​Gumtree Museum of Art

​August 25 - September 29
Juried show
Link Centre​
Open to ceramic artists from
Mississippi and neighboring states

​August 25 - 26
Pottery market
Empty bowls
​Open to the public

​August 25 - 26
Vendors and Suppliers
​Open to registered potters
August 27
​Round table discussions

MSClayworks 2022 (flashback)

MSClayworks 2022​​​, the first clay conference in Mississippi, had a stunning end when Danny Meisinger used his pottery flame thrower to light up the clay dragon made by Sam Clark. The clay demonstrations were in the Meridian Community College. Click on the images below to see some of the videos on our blog.
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Click on the image to see how Sam creates his clay sculptures
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Click image to see how easy Danny recovers from disasters on the wheel.
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Click on images to see Susan's demos
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Click image to see how Susan and Danny cut a big wheel thrown vessel.
2022 Conference program Flashback
Friday, October 7
Meridian Community College
9am - 3pm
Conference sign-in.
Exhibitors and artists setup. 

4pm  
Conference organizational meeting in Auditorium.
  • Steering committee annual feedback.
  • Future activities and plans for MS Clayworks.
  • Elect 2023 MS Clayworks steering committee.
Meridian Museum of Art
9am - 11am
Clay demonstration by Terry Cherry
​
6pm
Formal opening of the Invitational Exhibition.
Keynote speaker Malcolm White, former Executive Director of the Mississippi Arts Commission.
Exhibition remarks by Antoinette Badenhorst.
The MAX
Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience
11:30am - 1pm 
Musical performance by Holley Rumbarger

1:30pm-3:30 
​Clay demonstration by Allen Chen
Saturday, October 8
Meridian Community College (MCC)
8am - 10am
Late conference sign-in at the Meridian Community College.

9am – 5pm (Lunch time 12pm - 1pm) 5:30pm
​Closing reception and award ceremony at the Miller Art Gallery for the Juried Show.

7pm 
After party at the Threefoot Hotel for the conference.