Next month, I will be visiting the Twin Cities in Minnesota, a nurturing place I lived for many years before moving to San Francisco. As part of this year’s National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) programming at Concordia University, I am excited to show a new body of work alongside my stepfather’s poetic paintings. This year’s conference theme, Claytopia, is a foundational idea in both of our practices as we both delve into the subconscious search for a resplendent, serene and idyllic non-places. Below is a short description of the show and the conference as a whole. I hope to see you there!

…

Return to Concordia features the sculptures of Natasha Dikareva, who was artist-in-residence at Concordia University 1997-1999. This exhibition merges ancient mythological figures with a personal iconography to push the boundaries of the ideal and discover a hidden utopic vision. Paintings by Vladimir Dikarev explore a similar landscape of forgotten worlds and future dreams. The father/daughter duo opens a window into a wondrous view. Mar 14- April 10.

 ⇓

H. Williams Teaching Gallery

Hours during conference week: Mon–Sun 10am–7pm (Fri until 9pm).

 …

Claytopia, NCECA’s 53rd annual conference will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota March 27-30, 2019. Since the 1960s, the Twin Cities region has played a pivotal role in shaping a renaissance in studio pottery and craft as cultural forces. Adaptation of Mingei-inspired ideals within the American heartland drove a vision of artfulness in daily life. Claytopia will engage regional, national and international artists, thinkers, curators, educators, and students to produce an array of exhibitions and experiences that build on, respond to, celebrate, and push against ceramic art’s diverse legacies. Together, we will expand critical discourse on teaching, learning, aesthetics, social impacts, design thinking, and artistic production.