Texas Clay Festival

Texas Clay Festival

The Texas Clay Festival held annually each October on the grounds of Buck Pottery in Gruene in Texas, features over sixty of Texas's finest clay artists. The festival offers visitors the opportunity to meet the artists, view and purchase their latest work and watch demonstrations. It's been called a two-day clay love-fest.

Students and educators, professionals and collectors – anyone with an interest in clay — can be found in Gruene on the fourth weekend in October to celebrate the ancient art of ceramics. Having a good time, celebrating the media of clay and educating the public in the ceramic arts has been a goal of the festival organisers since its inception in 1993.

Clay enthusiasts are invited to observe demonstrations in wheel throwing, sculpture, hand building and surface decoration techniques throughout the weekend. This is the perfect time to watch and learn the ceramic techniques that the participating artists use to shape and decorate their work.

Crowds also gather to watch raku firing demonstrations. In this firing method, pots are quickly heated in a small gas kilns. The pot is removed while glowing red-hot. Using tongs, the potter carefully places the red hot pot in a container filled with straw, woodchips, newspaper or other organic materials. After a short cooling period, the finished pieces are revealed - a shimmering, glazed pot with the mark of the fire. During demonstrations questions and feedback are encouraged in a casual and friendly atmosphere that is a hallmark of the festival.

At the information tent, festival visitors can purchase t-shirts and bid on clay work donated by participating artists at a silent auction that takes place on both days of the event. Auction proceeds are used to help potters in need, award clay related scholarships, and fund festival events.

Texas Clay Festival - When, Where and More Info Please

More Texas Clay Festival