Carmel resident DeGan to display pottery items

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Judy DeGan was considering majoring in art while in high school.

“Then I woke up one morning and thought, ‘I might want to eat,’” DeGan said. “So I decided to do something practical.”

ND 1017 DeGan pic 2So she dropped ceramics to take physics at her suburban Chicago high school.

“I was a medical technologist,” said DeGan, a Butler University graduate. “I then had kids and, for various reasons, ended up a special ed teacher.”

Two years ago, she retired to return full time to her love of art.

“I started doing clay as a break from raising four kids,” DeGan said. “I started taking art classes at Broad Ripple High School. I moved on to Indianapolis Arts Center and got such fabulous instruction that I became an instructor.”

The longtime Carmel resident has been in the Local Clay Potters’ Guild for more than a year. DeGan is eager to hosting another display at the annual show.

“I was in it last year for the first time, and it was spectacular,” DeGan said. “It was fun. It was well-attended.”

The 20th annual Pottery Show and Sale is set for from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 3 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Bloomington Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave. Admission is free.

DeGan said it draws a strong crow because it is held in conjunction with two other artists’ guilds. The Local Clay Guild show is on the second floor and the Bloomington Glass Guild and Bloomington Spinners & Weavers Fiber Art Guild are on the bottom floor.

“They are separate shows, but we work together as far as advertising,”  said DeGan, whose specialty is stoneware. “We have joint grant money to get the venue. People have the opportunity if they travel that far to see three different shows.”

To be a member of the Bloomington-based Local Clay Potters Guild, the member has to live within 75 miles from Bloomington. DeGan just makes it.

“I make pitchers, mugs and bowls,” DeGan said. “We’re allowed to bring in the neighborhood of 200 pieces. We might not put them all out at once. Everyone has assigned tasks, and one of them is making sure if there are holes in the display,”

DeGan has had a space at the Carmel International Arts Fair for several years. She had information promoting the Bloomington show last month.

“I was amazed at the people that had been to Bloomington show before or took the cards and were interested,” she said.

DeGan, who teaches a Monday day class for clay beginners at the Indianapolis Arts Center, has participated in art fairs since 2001. This one is special, she said.

“When you go to this, you are immediately greeted with someone welcoming you and all sorts of ceramic plates with homemade cookies,” she said. “There is an area called Potters’ Choice, which highlights each artist. There are photographs and samples of their work. There is a sculpture gallery for our sculptures. The remainder of that room is everyone’s work blended together.”

DeGan said it’s great to be part of the Guild because you grow professionally.

“You feed off each other technique wise and also combining marketing,” DeGan said.

For more on DeGan, visit pieceofmypeace.com.

20th Annual Pottery Show and Sale

Where: The Great Room at the Bloomington Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave.

When: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 3 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 4

Website: Visit localclay.net.

Admission: Free


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