Happy Patrons

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Spencer Ceramic Stack

Twenty years ago Beth and Richard Myers purchased this stack from me at Ceramic Showcase — the biggest all pottery show in the U.S. They recently sent the nicest note and this photo just a couple weeks after this year’s edition of Showcase.

It is always great to see where pieces become placed — in this case at their front entrance. They have taken great care to keep it clean and bright! Their tip: using a little Johnson’s Paste Wax on it after washing it with dish soap.

As I wasn’t able to attend Showcase this year due to some long-overdue travel to visit friends and family, I greatly appreciated this connection and blast from the past arriving right after we returned home.

Wood Camp 2024

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Here are a just few before and after photos of a recent Korean-Style anagama wood firing I was able to do in October. They show only a fraction of this summer’s story of wood and kiln prep, planning and pottery making by a dozen potters (and significant others) connected to the kiln. As much as we all work on, and stress, over the making, glazing, wadding, planning and prep for the 40+ hour firing itself, the real reason we all come together is for friendship, fellowship and great food.

Getting a few good pots is just a bonus… if we’re lucky.

Over the years, manual wood processes became aided by motorized wood splitters and chop saws, and new ultra-thin shelves allowed our older and less strong backs to muster what was necessary to get ‘er done.

Much thanks to the firing culture and amazing place in the Coast Range established and nurtured by instructor, mentor, and potter Jay Widmer. For over three decades, he planned, financed, built, and continued to improve the Digger Mtn Anagama kiln and firings into something magical.

Much gratitude to Jay and his family for letting us be a part of it all.

Work on View…again

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July 31 – August 18, 2024, two of my sculptures were on view in Then & Now: Art as Foundation, at the Corvallis Museum and Cultural Center in downtown Corvallis: Trophy Wife and Could it Be? — two oldies but goodies. Then and now celebrated the longevity of two organizations (The Arts Center, 61 years, and Blackfish Gallery, 45 years) by honoring the vision of founding members, while embracing new members’ ideas. 

Along with works from Hanna Theiss, Clint Brown, Jennie Castle, Barbara Black, I was honored to be in a show with two pieces from Emily Steele, from The Arts Center’s sculpture collection. During the show’s run, the museum also hosted a panel discussion with two representatives from each organization discussing shared founding values, evolution as needed, and where we go from here. It is fun being seen as an artist again!

Stoneware ceramic torso sculpture with one gold arm making a fist in a triumphant "make a muscle" pose, with an older Asian woman standing next to it copying the pose.

Passing the Torch – New Beginnings

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On June 30, 2024, I had the pleasure of passing the torch to a new Executive Director at The Arts Center and retire after serving the greater Corvallis community for the last ten years. While I’m still doing a bit of volunteer work for my beloved TAC, am happily back in the studio and creating a few pieces for a fall anagama firing at Digger Mountain with my wood camp peeps.

Remember, no donation is too large to gift to The Arts Center!

Art Elements Gallery

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Could it BeBeing a new artist in a gallery brings a new sense of responsibility for me. It feels like my duty to publicize the gallery and the other artists as much as my own work there because I want us all to succeed. The more people who know about the fine work there, the better chance our artwork will wind up going home with just the right person someday.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to meet several of the local artists who are part of the Art Element Gallery family and chat with some of their First Friday Art Walk regulars. Romona Youngquist is the flagship artist there, with many luscious oil paintings. Jay Noller is a Corvallis artist (and neighbor) and his paintings feature earth pigments that fit the Newberg area’s fascination with jory, red hills soil. When Pam Nicols had a show last year they created a short video of her talking about how she incorporates rusted paper…yes, rusted paper, into her encaustics.

Regular artist talks held at the gallery have created engaged customers and many fans. Thanks to Loni and Lauren for bringing me in to such a wonderful space.

My page on the Art  Element Website

Shape and Form at Art Elements Gallery

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Shots of my show with Mike Baggetta at Art Elements Gallery, Newberg. Our work is a wonderful pairing of 2D & 3D with both of us employing energetic lines, layers of color and mysterious meanings. Thanks to Loni and Lauren for a super installation of our various pieces.

ART ELEMENTS3

ART ELEMENTS2

“Tango” on the left, Mike’s works that have multiple ways they can be hung

ART ELEMENTS

“Green Lookout” in the foreground

CYNTHIA ART ELEMENT2

“Blue Dream Boat” in foreground with three strong monoprints by Mike Baggetta

"Time Will Tell" in foreground and a look into the rest of the Gallery

“Time Will Tell” in foreground and a look into the rest of the Gallery

"Great Expectation" and ""Sweet Dreams" go great with Mike's dreamy layered, plast and wax painting

“Great Expectations” and “Sweet Dreams” go great with Mike’s dreamy layered, plaster and wax painting

My Name in the News . . .

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Always terrific when the press turns an interested eye toward arts and crafts. Our local Alt Newspaper, The Corvallis Advocate has been running a number of artist profiles and so got my turn in the limelight thanks to reporter Mandy Clark. It was a fun show and tell since she was so enthusiastic.

Mandy is someone to watch. Not only has she run a successful Etsy shop while finishing school and working full time, she also is on the editorial board of a NW press, blogs faithfully about pizza (YUM!) and luckily for us is sharing her talents with The CVO Advocate. Here’s a link to the feature she wrote about lil ole me:

http://www.corvallisadvocate.com/2014/local-potter-cynthia-spencer/

LBCC Invitational Show

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I’m in good company at the North Santiam Gallery on the Main LBCC Campus. William Park, S Tellez and Kristen Kuhns amazed me with their work and I look forward to hearing their comments at the Artist Talk and Reception, noon-1 pm, Thursday, January 30, 2014.

Thanks to Rich Bergeman for a beautiful installation with large pieces, small pieces, bold color and brown woodfired pots. (That little pedestal to the left is my “Impossible Dream” next to William’s biggee.)