Dori DeCamillis

One finds the most interesting tools and implements at the Alabama Clay Conference. 

The main event of the Alabama Clay Conference is the demonstration stage where four presenters work for two days on their clay, explaining process, inspiration, and philosophy. A large audience can see details on big screens above the presenters. As always, this year's presenters were amazingly talented and well-known artists from around the country. Bonnie Seaman, Florida Daphne Rohr Hatcher, Texas Peter Beasecker, New York Gary Hatcher, Texas The Presenter Stage

The Alabama Clay Market boasted a royal turnout, great sales, and an excellent exhibit. I came away with a few prizes myself. Posts about the rest of the Alabama Clay Conference  (which continues through today) to come...

 Tonight marks the kick-off of the Alabama Clay Conference. The Clay Market exhibit and sale features 30 celebrated artists from around the state. I'll be there taking photos, so come say hi, meet creative people from all over Alabama, and buy some work.

Ceramic artist Rain Harris showed her work at Red Dot Gallery when we first opened almost 10 years ago. Her work has gone though transformations over the years, and I still adore it. Her work is well-crafted and decorative with a dark side. She has an exhibit opening on February 28 at one of my favorite galleries, Duane Reed in St. Louis.  Check out more of Rain's work and Duane Reed's website .

Above: the ceramic work of Bonnie Seeman, presenter at the Alabama Clay Conference in Birmingham. The Conference opens next week. Happy Valentine's Day. See more about Bonnie's work and her career at bonnieseeman.com

My husband, ceramic artist Scott Bennett, is director of the 29th Annual Alabama Clay Conference this year. It will be held in Birmingham's Boutwell Auditorium on February 20-23, 2014. The illustrious presenters are Daphne Roehr Hatcher and Gary Hatcher from Mineola, Texas, Peter Beasecker for Syracuse, New York, and Bonnie Seeman from Boca Raton, Florida.  Conference Overview Clay Market The conference begins Thursday night February 20th at 6pm with a reception celebrating the 3rd Alabama Clay Market, a pottery and sculpture sale of some of the state’s best ceramic artists. Held at  Christopher House Antiques , the Market brings together the work of approximately 30 ceramic artists, with styles ranging from folk to modern. The event will be open to the public, and all pieces will be for sale. The sale will be open through Saturday, February 22nd until 5pm. On-Site Registration Friday morning onsite registration and vendors will open at 8am, and our a...