NCECA

Call for Nominations - Board of Directors Elected Positions 

The NCECA BOARD OF DIRECTORS has both appointed and elected positions; in 2012 there will be three open Board positions: President-Elect, Director at Large, and Student Director at Large. 

NCECA's bylaws require the Board to present two nominees each for President Elect and Director at Large for consideration and election by the membership at the conference. Additional nominations for the position of Director at Large and Student Director at Large may be made at the conference from the floor at the First Member's meeting. A final election vote is taken at the Second Member’s meeting.  

The Board of Directors carries broad areas of responsibility: policy, and organizational development; hiring and evaluation of the NCECA Director, serving on committees and specific project management, fundraising and support development, as well as a personal commitment of one's time and consideration, and an annual financial contribution to the organization. All board members must attend the two annual Board meetings, the annual conference, and regularly communicate and participate in NCECA Board activities.  NCECA supports the out-of-pocket board member's expenses.

President-Elect (to be filled for 2012-18 at the 2012 Conference in Seattle) is an elected position requiring a 6-year commitment: 2 as President Elect, 2 as President and 2 as Past President. The Committee for Nominations must put forth two candidates that are approved through a majority Board vote for election by the membership. Nominations from the floor are not permissible. The Nominees must have successfully completed a full term of another Board position prior to the nomination, however, the Board may, at its option, waive this requirement. The President-Elect serves as Chair of the Council in the absence of the President and is prepared to assume the office of the Presidency at the end of the term of the incumbent President. The President-Elect serves as liaison officer of the Council, representing the Council to other groups, and assists the President and Past-President as is necessary.

Director at Large (one position to be filled in 2012) is an elected three-year position. DAL's hold varied responsibilities including aspects of conference and program planning, as well as committee and Board responsibilities.  DAL's oversee many projects such as scholarship programs, emerging artists, breakout sessions, residency programs, fundraising projects, and new initiatives.

Student Director at Large (one position to be filled in 2012) is a two year position that is open to either Graduate or Undergraduate students. The student must be 21 years old, and a full-time student for at least one full year of her/his term, March 2010 to March 2012, and committed to a degree in ceramics.   This is one of the highest honors for a student dedicated to a career in ceramics. SDAL duties:

• Helps to coordinate all aspects of the National Student Juried Exhibition, including juror selection, contracting, artist support, etc.
• Serves on the jurying committee for student fellowships and scholarships
• Serves on the NCECA membership committee
• Runs the Annual Student Design Competition
• Coordinates the Student Critique Room
• Attends 2 in person board meetings, the conference, and NCECA conference calls
• Supports student initiatives and acts on the concerns of the student constituency
• Creates opportunities and programming for NCECA’s student membership
• Has the opportunity to create initiatives of their own!
  

If interested, please read the following:

• On Thursday, nomination for the SDAL position will be held at the first NCECA business meeting at the NCECA conference in Philly. Nomination from the floor must be done by and for NCECA members. 
•   On Saturday, at the 2nd Membership Meeting, each of the nominees presents a 3-minute talk to the membership and a final vote is taken.  The new Board members must be at the Saturday Members meeting and attend both the Open Board Meeting and the Closed Board Meeting, which follow the closing ceremonies. (Please plan travel accordingly)

For more information or with questions regarding this opportunity please contact: Chanda Glendinning at chandaz@ksu.edu

MEET THE BOARD CANDIDATES

NCECA President Elect

Deborah Bedwell - 2012 NCECA Board Nominee for President Elect

Deborah Bedwell is the founding director of Baltimore Clayworks, a non-profit ceramic arts center in Baltimore, Maryland.  She is a potter and has exhibited her work nationally at the Renwick Museum Shop, The Clay Art Center in Port Chester, NY., The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, and with Baltimore Clayworks at four NCECA conferences. Her last solo exhibition, An Abundance of Cups, was hosted by Baltimore Clayworks in January 2009.

Bedwell served as the on-site liaison for the 2005 Baltimore NCECA Conference, and with her staff, organized Tour de Clay - 200 concurrent curated/juried exhibitions. Bedwell has fostered the professional careers of dozens of young and emerging ceramic artists through residencies, publications, and exhibitions. She has also crafted more than 26 collaborations of 2 months to 4 years duration with ceramic artists and organizations to bring programs of authenticity and meaning to marginalized adults and children. In 2000, Bedwell was invited to lecture on community involvement at the opening of Yingge Ceramics Museum in Taipei, Taiwan.
 
Bedwell is a graduate of Berea College (KY), holds a master’s degree in ceramics from Towson University (MD), and studied arts management at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In 2001 and again in 2004, Bedwell was named one of Maryland's Top 100 Women by The Daily Record, a business and law journal.  

Paul Wandless - 2012 NCECA Board Nominee for President Elect

Born in Miami, Florida and raised in Delaware, Paul Andrew Wandless currently lives, teaches and has his studio in Chicago, IL.  He has taught as a professor since 1999 and joined the faculty at Harold Washington College in 2009.

His Board experience includes serving as Vice President for the Potters Council Board of Directors (2009 - 2012), the Board of Directors for National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) as a Director-at-Large (2001– 2003) and NCECA Presidential Appointee for the Demonstrating Artist Video Program as the Video Editor/DVD Creator (2003-2009). 

As a writer, Wandless authored Image Transfer On Clay (Lark Books, 2006), co-authored Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques (Lark Books, 2004) and 500 Prints on Clay  (Lark Books, 2012).  He has written over 20 articles for several publications including Pottery Making Illustrated magazine and the Southern Graphics Council GC) journal, Graphic Impression.  Since 2000, Wandless has given over 60 workshops on his art, techniques and research around the U.S. and Canada.

He holds an M.F. A. - Arizona State University (’99), an M. A. - Minnesota State University-Mankato (’97) and B.F.A. - University of Delaware (‘95).  Awards include 2002 Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Minnesota State University, Mankato and 2007 NCECA Outstanding Achievement Award. 

NCECA Director at Large

Stephen Wolochowicz - 2012 NCECA Board Nominee for Director at Large

Stephen Wolochowicz has lived and worked in many areas of the country including the Northeast, Southern California and the Midwest. This semi nomadic artist lifestyle has contributed greatly to his personal and artistic identity. He now resides in Ogden, Utah, where he is an Assistant Professor of Art in Ceramics at Weber State University. He holds a BFA from the University of Delaware (2000) and an MFA from Miami University of Ohio (2005). He has also taught ceramics at Central Michigan University, The University of Central Missouri and The University of Notre Dame. As part of his professional practice, he actively conducts and maintains a schedule of workshops, public lectures and exhibitions on the national level.

His current work utilizes abstract industrial shapes coupled with organic features. His metallic surfaces are counterbalanced with the use of vivid color and texture. This adds a playful aesthetic to his underlying concepts.  They deal with the human invention, environment and progress through networks of industrial themes. He incorporates a ceramic pipe, or tube, in his work to symbolize a connection from the individual to a greater system. You can view his artwork at StephenWolochowicz.com

Garth Johnson - 2012 NCECA Board Nominee for Director at Large

Garth Johnson is a writer, artist and educator who lives and works in Eureka, California. He is an assistant professor of art at College of the Redwoods. Garth has written for magazines like CRAFT, Readymade, FiberArts and Hand/Eye. His first book, 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse was published by Quarry in November, 2009. He has also contributed to books like Handmade Nation, Craftivity, Craft Corps and World of Geekcraft. His work has been exhibited internationally, as well as featured in magazines such as The Observer, Ceramics Monthly, American Craft, Metropolis and The Artist's Magazine.

Garth is also a curator, with two recent exhibitions under his belt. His first exhibition, "Renewal Notice" was curated for the 2010 American Conservation Film Festival in Shepherdstown, WV. His second exhibition, "Era Messages" was curated from the permanent collection of the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, Oregon. That exhibition was on display at the museum from January-June 2011.

Currently, Garth is serving as the guest editor for an upcoming issue of Studio Potter magazine.

PLEASE NOTE: Potential candidates are encouraged to contact via e-mail the President, Keith Williams at williamsnceca@csp.edu,  and Nominations Committee Chair, Patsy Cox patsycoxnceca@gmail.com, in advance of the conference to discuss the details of the position. 

Interested in Running for the NCECA Board?
NCECA Board elections are open to anyone who has been an NCECA member for at least one year. Board candidates for nominations will be considered by the Board of Directors at its October 2011 meeting in Houston.  Information about the Board’s Nominees will be posted on NCECA’s website following this meeting. Additional nominations for the Director at Large position and one opening for Student Director at Large will also be accepted at the First Members’ Business Meeting tentatively scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, March 29 during the 2012 conference in Seattle.  Elections will take place at the Second Members’ Business meeting that will take place on the final day of the Seattle conference on Saturday, March 31, time TBD.