Rocky Mountain Clay Fest 2024
ClayFest is coming up and we are SO excited.
I had a chat with Peter, from Clay Arts Vegas about ClayFest this year.
Here’s how that conversation went.
Laura: “This year’s Rocky Mountain Regional Clay Fest is the largest yet. Can you tell us a little about how it started?”
Peter: “The festival started with chance meetings, people willing to trust, and the magic of how art interconnects. I was working for Casper College in my other role as a theatrical designer, I saw a plume of smoke rising from the hill below walked down, and introduced myself to Mike Olson as he fired the wood kiln. Over a few years of my working on shows at CC Mike and I became friends and he invited me to a wood firing. I asked if I could bring some students from Vegas and he said “sure the more the merrier”. I wanted my students to see Casper and Wyoming with the same love that I see it. I figured the best way was to connect them with local artists. So I went to ART 321 and talked to them about starting a summer clay festival. I agreed to do the work if they would provide the space. Any money made would go to ART 321 programs. They trusted me for whatever reason and a festival was born.”
Laura: “I’m so glad they trusted you! The last several years have been a challenge for arts organizations and events. How do you think this year’s Festival and Clay Marketplace be different?”
Peter: “Coming out of shutdowns, staff changes, and an ever-changing world is not easy on the arts. This year we started very early finding artists, planning workshops, and working on the 100-year butterfly installation. We have committed to offering workshops that are both for people who identify as artists and also for people who just want to explore clay. We made the gallery shows both national calls to artists so that we would have a bigger selection of work and also so we could use the shows to hunt for future workshop artists. We have tried hard to connect with artists in every corner of the state and in neighboring states so the market on July 13th is filled with exciting work.
Laura: “One of the first things we talked about was when you sent me the final schedule was how affordable, and family-friendly the workshops are. Do you want to talk about that a little and explain why this was so important to you?”
Peter: “Workshops must be affordable to people. Our guest artists for all of the 3-hour classes are working for free so 100% of the money raised goes directly to programs at ART 321. We also received wonderful support from the Laguna Clay Company, Mayco Glazes, Bick Art Supplies, and my own company Clay Arts Vegas. We want art to be available for all not just people who have more income.”
Laura: “One of the things I’m most excited about is the butterfly installation we’re working on for our 100-year celebration. Can you tell people more about it?”
Peter: “We have made between 3000 and 5000 clay butterflies. These have been painted by community members, artists, and anyone who wants to be part of it. These will cover the front of the building for all of July and most of August. We felt it represented ART 321's rebirth into its next 100 years. When our installation comes down, we’re donating the butterflies to the Casper Children’s Clinic.”
Laura: Alright. A lot of people have said it, so I’ll ask it. You’re not from Casper, and a lot of the artists you have listed supporting this event are also not from Wyoming. Why is it that these people want to contribute to this organization?”
Peter: “I feel that arts connect people. It is like being part of a family or tribe. When you as an artist see a great place like ART 321 and a community that has historically given lots of support it makes you want to help. The artists who have made pieces for our gala auction see how important a place like this is. They understand that by investing in communities we are developing the next generation of art lovers as well as artists. ART 321 is a gem and Casper is so lucky to have this community resource. There are lots of people in town who do not know there is a gallery or a gift shop, or that there are classes and workshops. I think it is beautiful that artists who have never been in the space are supporting it. There are some incredible pieces in this auction. I know I have my credit card ready to bid on a few items.”
Laura: “Where would like to see Clay Fest go?”
Peter: “Clay Fest has always been an event to support Art 321 by bringing people from all over to Casper. I would love to see Clay Fest become a national destination event. Casper has such great clay resources with the College, Art 321, and Sanctuary Pottery. Let alone all of the small home studios. To have a yearly arts event like this that brings people together to share, explore, and enjoy would be fantastic. We are well on our way to this. Right now 321 is in a great place to make this and other growth happen. We have a 100-year celebration, a great board, and a new executive director. The sky is the limit!”
Learn more about 2024 Rocky Mountain Regional ClayFest here!