ASU Art Museum Ceramic Studio Tour 2016: A Field Guide to the Metro Phoenix Event

Once a year, ASU Art Museum gives both artists and sculpture fans the chance to converse over all sorts of ceramics — from decorative to functional. Those eager to elevate their skills can watch demonstrations by some of the state's best-known ceramic artists. And those who like to go behind the scenes can explore studios of ceramicists working in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa.

The 15th Annual Self-Guided Ceramic Studio Tour takes place Saturday and Sunday, February 20 and 21. This year's line-up includes 13 open studios presenting several guest artists and demonstrations — plus an exhibition at the ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center & Brickyard Gallery. There's even a Saturday night shindig called Ceram-A-Rama — which benefits the Ceramics Research Center.

It's a lot to take in during two days, and there are a couple ways you can approach the tour. Some favor hitting studios for their favorite artists; others opt for exploring studios for artists outside their usual orbit. Efficiency buffs know you'll get more done if you group your stops by geographical region, so that's how we've organized this guide. 

The tour runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, and all activities (except Ceram-A-Rama) are free. Here's the lowdown on what happens when:

Phoenix Studio Tours
Patricia Sannit hosts guest artists Magda Gluszek and Constance McBride at 2631 East Cortez Street. Demonstrations take place Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., as well as Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Info: www.patriciasannit.com or 602-510-6971.

Char Applen hosts guest artists Stephen Bunyard, Kaori Fujitani, and Thomas Kerrigan at 1402 East Highland Avenue. Demonstrations take place Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Info: [email protected] or 480-213-7286.

Deborah Hodder hosts guest artists Bradley Klem and Susan Risi at 1515 West Catalina Drive. Demonstrations take place Saturday at noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., as well as Sunday at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Info: [email protected] or 602-750-0268.

Halldor Hjalmarson hosts guest artists Tom Budzak, Miro Chun, and Jon Higuchi at 45 West Lynwood Street. Demonstrations take place Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Info: www.claybeware.com or 602-254-1222.

Katheryn Sins hosts guest artists Frank Krevens, April Watt, and Danielle Wood at 1402 West Tuckey Lane. Demonstrations take place Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Info: www.katherynsins.com or 602-841-9618. 

Scottsdale Studio Tours
Jan Peterson hosts guest artists Sylvia Fugmann Brongo, Jaye Lawrence, and Les Lawrence at 6726 East Thunderbird Road. Demonstrations take place Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Info: [email protected] or 480-998-1596.

Nicholas Bernard hosts guest artists Larron Lerdall, Joan Waters, and Loren Yagoda at 6234 North Cattle Track Road. Demonstrations take place Saturday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., as well as Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Info: nbernard.com or 480-998-1541.

Julius Foranzo hosts guest artists Heather Couch and Linda Painter at 3030 Civic Center Plaza #6. Demonstrations take place Saturday and Sunday at noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Info: 480-295-5519.

East Valley Studio Tours
2014 ASU Graduate Ceramics Studio hosts guest artists Bill Jamison, Elliot Kayser, Carlos Kessler, Hakyoung Kim, Shane Lutzk, Jonah Skurky-Thomas, Priya Thoresen, and Shiyuan Xu at 730 South Alpha Drive in Tempe. Demonstrations take place Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m. Info: 480-965-6680.

Sandy Blain hosts guest artists Esmeralda Delaney, Jane Kelsey-Mapel, and Sandra Luehrsen at 491 West Courtney Lane in Tempe. Demonstrations take place Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m., as well as Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Info: [email protected] or 480-893-2133.

Beth Shook hosts guest artists Sarah Brodie, Sam Hodges, and Genie Swanstrom at 1410 West Guadalupe Road, Building 1, Suite 103 in Gilbert. Demonstrations take place Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., as well as Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Info: [email protected] or 602-292-1485.

Diane Watkins hosts guest artists James C. Gamble and Lisa Harnish at 6301 South Four Peaks Place in Chandler. Demonstrations take place Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Info: [email protected] or 602-571-5025.

Farraday Newsome and Jeff Reich host guest artists Jesse Armstrong and Tiffany Bailey at 6931 East Indigo Street in Mesa. Demonstrations take place Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Info: [email protected] or 480-354-7202.

Studio tours are especially cool because they help art lovers get to know the local artists behind their works. In that same spirit of connecting art and craft to its makers, the Ceramics Research Center is presenting an exhibition pairing photographs of significant 20th century ceramicists with their works. And they’re hosting a benefit for the center, so ceramics fans have yet another place to see a cool assortment of works while mingling with artists and fellow aficionados. Here are the details:

CRC Exhibition
“Paul J. Smith Portraits: A Photographic Journal of the Ceramic Community,” which continues through March 26 at the ASU Ceramics Research Center, will be on view during this year’s Ceramic Studio Tour.

CRC curator Garth Johnson lined walls in one space with photographs of renowned ceramicists by Smith, who is Director Emeritus of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, and filled an adjoining space with works by artists shown in the photographs. It makes for a fun bit of sleuthing, since you can move between the two areas while matching specific art works to photographs of the people who made them. Featured ceramic works are part of the CRC’s collection, but some haven’t been shown in some time.

The CRC is also home to hundreds of works, many grouped by decade, exhibited in giant display cases – where interesting text panels convey their cultural context and significance. And they’ve got outdoor patio seating, which means you can take a load off after doing the whole self-guided touring thing – or pause to share the ceramics love on social media. Admission is free.

"Mud Works"
Check out works by ceramic artists participating in the Ceramic Studio Tour during an exhibition titled "Mud Works," which continues through Friday, February 26 at ASU's Harry Wood Gallery, located inside the ASU School of Art building on the Tempe campus. 

Ceram-A-Rama
If you’re going to throw a ceramics party, give it a catchy name. That’s just what the CRC did for their benefit shindig, which happens at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 20. It’s the only Ceramic Studio Tour event that’s ticketed because, well, it’s a fundraiser. The CRC describes the event, which takes place at the ASU Art Museum Brickyard (home for the CRC), as “an unforgettable night of drinks, appetizers, silent and live auctions and music.” A $35 ticket will get you complimentary appetizers, an open bar, silent and live auctions, and free parking.