By Mary Thomas, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Consider this a heads-up to anyone who loves clay — potters, ceramists, collectors, decorators, fans of craft, art and art-craft: Between March 19 and 22 there’s going to be more clay exhibited in the city than we’ve ever seen at one time, or are likely to see again in the near future. And almost all of those exhibitions will be free and open to the public. Frequently work is for sale, and usually there are good buys to be had.

If 2007 was the Year of Glass in Pittsburgh, this is the year of clay, though much of it is going to take place in a more concentrated time period. The impetus for such activity is the annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), which this year is expected to draw 5,000 participants to Pittsburgh.

Estimates on the economic impact the conference will make on the city range from $4 million to $12 million, depending upon who’s doing the study and what’s included (meals, plane travel, etc.), according to Josh Green, Manchester Craftmen’s Guild director of Arts and Education Strategies and NCECA 2008 on-site liaison….

For the full Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08065/862431-42.stm