2012 PMC Conference in my rear view mirror

This weekend I attended the final PMC Conference.  The reasons for the PMC Guild closing down shop and taking our beloved conference with it are too confusing and fraught with mixed emotions for me to process just yet, so I’ll keep those thoughts to myself.

My feelings about the people I’ve met and the amazing artwork I’ve seen up close as a result of the conference are not mixed at all.  Our metal clay community is just amazing!  I’ve never met a friendlier, more open group of people, and it’s so wonderful to come together in person to  share ideas and re-ignite our artistic passions.

This is my third metal clay conference.  I attended the PMC Conference in 2012 at Purdue University and the Metal Clay World Conference in 2011 in Chicago.  At each event I’ve met new friends and deepened my relationships with those I’ve met before.  Many of these relationships have started online and flourished in the “real world”. I felt like part of the family from the very first event, and that feeling has grown.  These people make me feel connected, understood and so very proud of the medium in which I create my art.  Here are just a few of my metal clay buddies who made the event so special. Click, then click again to see a big version.

1-Helga Van Leipsig greeting Donna Penoyer, 2-Juanita Burton and me, 3-Zoe Nelson and me, 4-Gail Lannum, me and Cris Leonard, 5-Lori Magno and Evelyn Dombowski, 6-Sue McNenly and me, 7-Lorena Angulo, Lora Hart and Cindy Silas, 8-Me and Robin Ragsdale, 9-Katie Hanrahan, Cathy Paetz and me, 10-Kim Paige and Michelle Loon, 11-Helga Van Leipsig, Janelle Delicata, me and Katie Hanrahan, 12-Birgitta Kastenbaum and Amy Brandenburg

Of course, the conference is about more than making friends and socializing.  We all invest our time and funds into getting there so we can learn new skills and get inspired to push ourselves and our art.  I learned a great deal in hallway and mealtime conversations because metal clay artists are very willing to share tips, techniques, suppliers, marketing strategies and more.  The programs were excellent with too many great options and not enough sessions to see all the speakers I wanted to attend.  I was completely blown away by the demo by Japanese artist Ms. Nishida.  We watched in awe as she created intricate sculpted flowers in metal clay using just a few simple tools, and she works so fast!  Here you’ll see Ms. Nishida on the left with a lovely woman who acted as her translator, plus an example of one of her silver flowers.

With the conference in my rear-view mirror, it’s time to get back to the work that doesn’t feel like work.  It’s time to get my hands in the clay and create something new and exciting.  Of course, I must first fill two wholesale orders that have end of the month deadlines.  I’ll fill those demands happily and thank my lucky stars for my good fortune and success.