Historic Handcraft Saved from Closure
Coming next: More conference details!
There are only four tile potteries in the U.S. today that can claim longevity:
Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Doylestown, PA (1898); Van Briggle Pottery
in Colorado Springs (1901); Pewabic Pottery in Detroit (1903); and Handcraft Tile Co.
in Milpitas, California, just north of San Jose (1926).
Just a few months ago we reported that Handcraft owners Shirley Dinkins
and Frank Patitucci were anticipating having to close the factory as each was needing
to pursue other interests. Although the company was for sale, there seemed to be little hope
that the right people would come along and save the historic company. In mid-April it was
confirmed that new owners had in fact been found and the company would continue with the
same production staff and product lines, tiles virtually identical to those made 80 years ago!
Sarah Goodwin and Andrew Wedin: we certainly wish you all the best!!
On Saturday, June 24, 2006 the"1st Annual Northwest Handmade Tile Festival" will be held
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Phinney Ridge Community Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N. in Seattle.
The one-day event will bring together the Northwest's amazing tile creators with other tile artists,
buyers, designers, architects, home owners, and anyone else who is interested in or passionate about
handmade tiles. The show will not be juried; spaces will be offered on a first come, first served basis.
Deadline for signing up: June 1st.
The festival is presented by Artisan Tile Northwest, a newly formed group of
local tile artists and artisans that wishes to support its members' creative and
professional efforts by bringing visibility to handmade tile art through public
education and exhibitions. For details email Carol Dean at info@deantile.com,
call 360 331-1295 or write to Artisan Tile NW, P. O. Box 84872, Seattle, WA 98124.
Coverings is truly a tile extravaganza. With over 1200 exhibitors from more than
50 countries and with more than 33,000 people milling around over the four-day period,
it is an incomparable experience. Add to this the educational programming, both the
lecture series and the installation demonstrations each day; there is no way to do it
all. You get to pick and choose your favorites. In that way it’s like a massive candy
store for tile enthusiasts!
“Historic Tiles in Architecture,” the audio/visual display presented by
Tile Heritage at Coverings was certainly apparent and seemingly well received by attendees.
In addition to the big screen presentation in the main lobby of the Orange County Convention
Center, the show appeared on two massive screens prior to the opening ceremony when the
Spectrum and Prism Awards were presented. And during the week “Historic Tiles”
appeared on multiple screens on the convention floor in between the installation demonstrations
sponsored by the Tile Council and NTCA. The video included twenty-three historic installations
in seven countries, over 160 images in all. Moving at a comfortable pace were the ruins of the
Roman Empire in Italy, the majestic remains of medieval abbeys in England, the ornate royal
palaces of Portugal and a series of grand mansions in the U.S. It is an honor for Tile Heritage
to provide a historic perspective of this quality at the convention. Special thanks to
Audio Visual Innovations, the group that provided the technical expertise for the show,
and to Coverings for sponsoring it. We hope you’ll see more from us in Chicago.
Yes, Chicago where Coverings will be held next year! The dates are April 17-20, 2007
at McCormick Place.
“CERF's emergency relief work continues to be heavily focused on artists in the Gulf region.
Requests for aid come in at a rate of about 4 per week. Since August 29, we have distributed over
$200,000 in direct aid to 68 professional craft artists to help cover both basic needs and recovery
costs of rebuilding and retooling homes and studios. We have also helped hundreds of artists with
information and resource referrals, connecting them to a wider circle of support locally and nationally.
Recovery for most continues to move at a snail's pace. Essential services are still limited and
uncertainty reigns from leadership to rebuilding plans. What is certain is that we need to remain
committed to these artists for the long haul, perhaps for years. Though post-Katrina/Rita stories
from the Gulf Coast no longer are front page news, we at CERF are determined to insure that
the field stays current about and involved in the prolonged reconstruction process. We ask for your
continued support so that we can let these artists see that there is a community around them who really
cares about their future.”
Tile Heritage Foundation has pledged $2400 to CERF, and at this point we are about half way
through our pledge. We strongly recommend this remarkable organization; check it out.
Visit www.craftemergncy.org. Let’s not forget.
Congratulations to Karin Kraemer, who has just been awarded $3717 from the Doty Research Grant Committee
to produce a full color map of historic and contemporary tile and mosaic sites in the “Twin Ports,” Duluth,
Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. The map is being prepared for “Tiles of the Northern Plains: Building
on Tradition,” the national tile conference being held in the Twin Ports and the Twin Cities
September 13-17, 2006 presented by the Handmade Tile Association and Tile Heritage.
Karin is a maiolica tile maker and potter at her own Duluth Pottery; she also teaches ceramics at
Lake Superior College. She is an active member of the Handmade Tile Association and has assumed the
responsibility of planning the portion of the upcoming tile conference that will be held in the Twin Ports
area on Wednesday and Thursday, September 14-15.
A Tile Heritage salute to Karin and to all those Tile Heritage members who make the grant possible by opting
to donate to the Doty Research Grant when they renew their THF membership each year. 100% of these
contributions go to the grant fund. When you are renewing next time, please give this fund some special
consideration. It works for us all!
Let’s take a quick peek at the workshops that are being planned for Minneapolis.
For tile makers and mosaic artists: Join with Eric Rattan, nationally recognized
general contractor, designer, stone mason and mosaicist in a 3-day intensive, hands-on workshop
designed to acquaint the artist with successful trade-approved techniques for permanent tile and
mosaic installations. If you are at the stage of installing your mosaics or handmade tile in or
on buildings in frame floors, decks, shower enclosures, backsplashes, etc. this workshop may be
for you. Sunday-Tuesday, September 10-12. See www.santafedesignstudio.com.
For tile makers: Norma Hanlon and Kirsten Halstead, known nationally for their SoMi
tiles (formerly Fresh Fish), will be presenting a two part, hands-on tile making workshop.
The opening 3-hour session will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 12th. A second session will be held later
in the week. See www.somitileworks.com. Roger Mayland and the staff at
North Prairie Tileworks will focus on developing base glazes in its 4-hour workshop mid-day
on Thursday. Visit www.handmadetile.com.
And for mosacists: come away with your own mosaic mirror from the 4-hour, hands-on workshop
with Mercedes Mattila at her Mercury Mosaics Studio on Wednesday, the 13th and enjoy
gourmet Italian cuisine while you work! See www.mercurymosaics.com. Or visit the studio of
mosaic artist Sharra Frank who will demonstrate her notable talents.
Go to www.sharrafrank.com.
All Wednesday workshops will end in time for participants to drive the 2-1/2 hours to Duluth for
the reception and dinner at Glensheen. (See April’s “E-News” for more details.)
To reserve a room in Minneapolis contact the Holiday Inn Metrodome at 800 448-DOME.
Special rates have been arranged for the Tile Heritage Foundation (at the moment if you are a
Priority Club member or a AAA member, your room rate may be lower than the rate we negotiated;
be sure to check it out!). The hotel is located east of I-35W, just north of the I-94 freeway.
If flying to Minneapolis, there is now a Light Rail from the airport to downtown. The
Holiday Inn picks up at either the Cedar Riverside station or the Metrodome station. Call the
hotel for a ride once you reach the station.
More details in our next report.
(Available each month to Tile Heritage members who e-mail the Foundation from the address they
would like
E-News sent to. Contact: foundation@tileheritage.org)
PRINTED VERSION
Here’s What’s Below:
Artisan Tile Northwest
Coverings: they got us “covered”!
CERF Update. Let’s not forget.
Twin Ports Tile Map Granted!
MN Tile Conference: Preview of Workshops
Tiles and Mosaics in Chicago
Historic Handcraft Tile:
Saved from Closure
Northwest Handmade Tile Festival
Coverings:
they got us “covered”!
Indeed, mark your calendar!
Update from CERF.
Let’s not forget.
From the Executive Director of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, Cornelia Carey:
Twin Ports Tile Map
Granted!
MN Tile Conference:
Preview of Workshops
For glass enthusiasts: Chris and Stacey Kelly will open their FK Art Glass Studio
for two separate 4-hour workshops. The first will feature fused glass tile on Wednesday, the 13th,
and the second on cast glass tile the following day.
MN Accommodations
