Adelphi University is pleased to host and welcome artists, students, teachers, and ceramic enthusiasts of all talents to its Garden City campus from June 27 to 29, 2008 for "Island Clay," the second Potters Council Regional Conference to be held in the New York metropolitan area, and co-sponsor the conference with the Amaco & Brent Company, Ceramics Supply Inc., Elizabeth T. Busby, and Susan Kadish.

The ceramics conference, featuring presentations by prominent ceramic artists and instructors in the Long Island area, commences with a reception at the Ruth S. Harley University Center, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Friday, June 27. Featured artist Jeff Shapiro will deliver the opening keynote address, "The Romanticist and the Pragmatist: Finding Common Ground." The weekend sessions, designed to give attendees practical experience in various firing techniques through hands-on experimentation with their own clay pieces, will be conducted at the University's Adele and Herbert J. Klapper Center for Fine Arts. The weekend events also include a keynote address by Arthur Goldberg, major collector of historical American stoneware, on Saturday, June 28 at 1:00 p.m. entitled "The Pottery of the Enslaved African-American Potter, Dave" and a third keynote address by Judith Schwartz, published author, curator, and critic, on Sunday, June 29, at 1:00 p.m. entitled "Confrontational Ceramics: The Clay Artist as Social Critic."

Influential ceramic artists from the New York region will be featured in the "Island Clay" Ceramics Invitational exhibitions at the Ruth S. Harley University Center Gallery and Adele and Herbert J. Klapper Center for Fine Arts Exhibition Hall. Works by the ceramic students from Adelphi's Department of Art and Art History will be on display at the Swirbul Library Gallery. The reception for all the exhibitions will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 27 at the Ruth S. Harley University Center Gallery.

Featured presenters

include:

Anti Liu, an adjunct professor at Adelphi University, who will lead a seminar on the methods of salt firing, as well as discuss the different ways to build a salt kin.

Hugh McElroy, a local artist who has devoted more than 40 years to pottery and fine art photography, who will teach a session on the primeval technique of pit firing, as well as discuss the relation of contemporary ceramic trends to Native American pottery design.

Mena Romano, an assistant professor at Nassau Community College and artist with more than 30 years experience, who will instruct a session on the techniques of saggar firing.

Jeff Shapiro, an internationally distinguished artist with more than 35 years of experience, who will discuss his perspective on problems encountered in the artistic process, as well as share excerpts from his memoir in progress on the unique artist-patron relationship he experienced in Japan.

Bill Shillalies, full-time faculty member at Nassau Community College and an adjunct professor at Adelphi University, will guide a session on naked raku firing as well as demonstrate different methods of glazing and surface treatment.

Advance registration is required. For more information regarding the conference or to register, please visit http:///www.potterscouncil.org/islandclay, or contact Professor Puneeta Mittal at mittal@adelphi.edu.