A Potter's Guide to NCECA

NCECA Portland, March 8-11, 2006

14th Jan 2006

I've been going to NCECA since 1982 when it was held in San Jose, Calif. I thought it might be fun for new potters to NCECA to have a guide to the manufacturers and suppliers exhibit hall. My only disclaimer is that this is based on the last couple NCECA's and I by no means was able to visit all the booths. I did talk to 2 dealers this week to make sure of what they were giving away. Scutt kilns and Chinese Clay Art.

We'll start with the free stuff

  1. Scutt Kilns-stop by and look at the kilns and say "Hi" to Jim Scutt. Pick up a free large strong plastic bag with handles to put all your loot in. They also have a free poster and last year gave out a clay kiln god magnet. I have 2 Scutt kilns and love them.
  2. Geil Kilns-sign up on their mailing list and ask for a free tee shirt. Say Hi to my friend, Tom Coleman.
  3. Soldner Clay Mixers-Take your Geil tee shirt and have a free silk screen design by Paul Soldner put on it and get a free poster signed by Paul.
  4. L & L Kilns-check out the kilns and get a free poster tube to put all your posters in.
  5. Chinese Clay Art-Po Zhou is giving away a free navy denim "Clay Art" bag and stainless steel fettling knives. He also has a great tool kit for $5. Another new thing he has is a denim split leg potter's apron with a zipper that unzips the bottom part of apron so you can attach it around your legs while you are throwing. It is $9. I love mine. Booth 207/209
  6. Ceramics Monthly-great free poster and sometimes a free copy of CM.
  7. Art Esmalglass/Opulence Glaze - free bottle of water.
  8. Many booths have free posters and other free gifts. Near the NCECA booth or in the hall there is usually a table with many free posters, post cards and show announcements. Take a rubber band with you to put around the posters.
  9. One last free thing not in exhibition hall. I collect postage stamps with pictures of pottery on them. I Xerox them and make magnets and bookmarks. I give them away free in the Clay Art room which will be at the Red Lion Hotel, near the convention center. Please come and have one as a gift from me (Barbara Brown) They will be a box sitting on one of the tables or counter.

Next is the good buys:

  1. Mecca Tools-great hand carved wood pottery stamps at very reasonable prices. I always get some for myself and my students.
  2. Euclid Kilns-great pottery tee shirts. I got a black one with an outline of a teapot in red that says "I Love Clay" They sell great kiln elements.
  3. Xiaoping Studio-pottery tools and tie dye Asia jackets and much more.
  4. Bison Tools and Dolan Tools both have great tools.
  5. All the ceramic magazines have a booth and it's a great time to sign up for a subscription.

Many suppliers also sell pottery books at a discount (Axner) and even have the author there at certain times to autograph them for you. I am sure there are many more free things and good buys that you will find if you visit all the booths. Have fun!

Barbara Brown
bbrown3@webtv.net