Emotion Made Material
RICHMOND ART CENTER
Exhibition: September 24 – November 20, 2025
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 27, 1pm-3pm | Learn More…
Artist Talk and Circle Making: Saturday, October 18, 2025, 11am–1pm | Learn More…
Sausalito Center for the Arts – OPEN – October 19 – November 16, 2025
Opening Reception:
Date: Saturday October 25th
Time: 5:00PM to 7:00PM.
Location: 750 Bridgeway, Sausalito
Present: Mari Emori, Sean Free Alcala, Julie Taber, Sally Jackson (recorder), April Zilber, Jan Schachter, Emil Yanos, Tamara Danoyan, Scott Jennings, Piper Christine, Ren Lee, Iver Hennig, Susie Rubenstein, Barbara Prodaniuk, Cheryl Costantini Absent: Vicki Gunter, Chris Johnson, Lee Middleman Guest: Deb Sullivan
The meeting began at 5:15 p.m.
Welcome (Mari)
Financial Report (Julie)
Total assets as of August 31 are $161,635. Income for this year is $139,000, which is $7000 over budget. We expect additional income in December from membership dues. Income for the Clay and Glass Festival was $120,000. Expenses for the festival were less than expected this year. Julie will look into moving some money into higher-earning investment accounts, and will share some options with the Board at our next meeting.
Exhibitions (Jan, Deb Sullivan, Iver)
Jan was recently invited to the New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) by ACGA member Janet Wolfe. They discussed the possibility of having an ACGA exhibition there, and Jan will report more as the opportunity moves forward.
Member Deb Sullivan reported that the Sausalito Center for the Arts will host an ACGA exhibition in collaboration with fiber/Dimensions, a Bay Area fiber arts organization, around February 14-March 12. Deb is negotiating with a potential juror associated with the American Craft Council. Applications will open in mid-October with notification in November. Deb hopes to arrange various local drop-offs around the Bay Area for delivery to the gallery.
Iver continues to plan an exhibition at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. This will be a ceramics show, scheduled for September 2026-January 2027. It will include 20 invited artists and 40 artists juried in by juror Stan Welsh. The application deadline will be in May 2026.
Festival Report (April)
April and the Palo Alto Art Center have established dates for future Clay & Glass Festivals:
July 11-12, 2026
July 10-11, 2027
July 15-16, 2028
July 14-15, 2029
July 13-14, 2030
Festival Financial Report (Piper)
Total sales for 137 artists in the 2025 Clay and Glass Festival were $511,606, topping last year’s total of $427,000 for 124 artists. Average sales were $3734, and the top seller took in $19,450. Both numbers are higher than last year. The Art Center site can possibly accommodate 140-143 artists, but that would be the upper limit. The Board discussed strategies to address the variation in sales during the two days, Saturday generally being more profitable. Piper added that she would like to calculate previous years’ sales in today’s dollars, just for comparison.
Jury Report (Scott)
Scott thanked all who have helped publicize ACGA’s next jury call for festival eligibility. He would like to add one more glass artist to his group of jurors. He has had requests for mentorship during the application process. He is also working to address frustration among rejected applicants who received unedited comments after the last jury. The next jury will announce results in November. Ren will boost the announcement again on social media.
Festival Eligibility Revisited (carryover from the last meeting) (Cheryl)
The Board considered a suggestion that lifetime festival eligibility be withheld until a new artist has participated in the festival once and jurors have been able to actually see their work. After a brief discussion, this idea was deemed too complicated and frustrating for new artists and jurors alike. The ACGA seeks to have only the best quality of work accepted in its digital juryings; that said, one of the main appeals of the festival is the range of work and the range of customers who come to shop.
Next President & Board of Directors Nominations (Mari)
The Board discussed nomination possibilities for our next ballot in December.
The meeting ended at 6:50 p.m.
Date of Next Meeting: October 20, 2025, 5:15 p.m. via Zoom
Pint Size 3, in its third iteration at the Transmission Gallery, 770 West Grand Ave, Oakland, features small scale work from across the USA. Diana Greenleaf’s, pit fired Pug is part of the exhibit. Show runs until November 1, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 12-5pm.
Ceramics Tour 2026
14 days will be filled with visits to museums, artists studios, tool shops and points of interest along the way. Plus, hands-on workshops lead by master craftsmen; Yixing style Teapot making with Master Gu, Meiqun and Naked Raku with Kim, Young Soo and opportunity to make work and wood fire!
Are you ready for your next journey?
Beginner friendly. In fact, no clay experience necessary. Just love for ceramics and culture.
More info and to register: icexconnect.org
Once again, Miki Shim and Quail Run Wines host a one-day, handbuilding workshop to explore the teapot form!
We will work with a pinch pot and slab work in combination to create a functional and sculptural teapot. Bring your imagination and hang out in the beautiful surroundings for an inspired day of playing with clay.
Fee: $325 Limited to 10 participants
When: Sunday, October 12, 2025
Where: Quail Run Estates
Address upon registration
Time: 10am-6pm
Email: MikiSR.mail@gmail.com
Social: @mikisr_ceramics
Register: Mikisr.com/shop
My show at Big Basin Vineyards tasting room in Santa Cruz summarizes my transition from cone 10 reduction in my Seattle studio to cone 6 oxidation in my new Merced studio.
Very bright and shiny, like Central Valley California.
Present: Mari Emori, Chris Johnson, Julie Taber, Piper Christine, Sally Jackson (recorder), April Zilber, Jan Schachter, Lee Middleman, Ren Lee, Susie Rubenstein, Barbara Prodaniuk, Sean Alcala, Emil Yanos, Tamara Danoyan, Scott Jennings, Iver Hennig, Vicki Gunter, Cheryl Costantini (late)
The meeting began at 5:15 pm
Welcome (Mari)
Mari thanked Vicki Gunter for organizing and facilitating the “Arts of Fire” exhibition at NY2CA Gallery in Benicia. The show runs August 7 – September 21. Mari also noted her own solo exhibition at Blue Line Arts in Roseville, as well as the Contemporary Japanese Ceramics show at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
Exhibition Update: “Arts of Fire” Reception (Vicki)
The opening reception for “Arts of Fire” was very successful and attracted a large crowd to see the art, listen to live music, and enjoy refreshments. Bruce Pizzichillo, Hannah Nicholson and Alana van Altena, Karen Urbanek, and Julie Kumar received awards for their glass creations. Claudia Tarantino, Clayton Thiel, Vicki Gunter, and Amanda Klimek received awards for ceramic work. Bruce Pizzichillo and Clayton Thiel also received awards from Pam Dixon in tribute to Robert Arneson and Manuel Neri.
Festival Jury Voting: Unfinished Business (Mari)
The new Jury Coordinator is Scott Jennings. He will be assisted by Tamara Danoyan, and Chris Johnson will serve as an advisor.
Festival Report (April)
The 2025 Clay & Glass Festival accounting is still in progress, but overall the numbers look great. Next year’s festival dates are July 11-12, 2026.
Festival Financial Update (Piper)
Piper reported that total sales this year were over $500,000, a first for this event. ACGA’s net profit will be in the neighborhood of $30,000. The Board voted to fully refund an artist who had to cancel on short notice for a medical issue (17 yes).
Post-Festival Volunteer Update (Sean)
Sean reported that 20 festival artists did not get volunteer slots at the festival and still need jobs. Please let Sean know if you have ideas for how these artists might serve in other arenas.
Financial Report (Julie)
As of July 31, ACGA has $173,000 in the bank, and almost all festival expenses are paid. We are $10,000 ahead of budget for the year. Membership renewals in December will provide additional income. Julie added that she and Festival Treasurer Piper Christine are discussing whether to consider changing banks.
Exhibition Updates: Sausalito (Jan & Emil)
Jan reported that ACGA might co-host an exhibition with Fiber Dimensions in Sausalito in February/March 2026. The details are still being worked out. Emil reported that he’s been in contact with someone who wants to organize a festival like Clay & Glass in Sausalito, possibly as early as September 2026.
The meeting ended at 6:55 pm
Next Meeting: Monday, September 22, at 5:15 pm
Diana Greenleaf is pleased to participate in Visions in Clay 2025, August 28 – September 25 at the San Joaquin Delta College, LH Horton Jr. Gallery. Juror, Nancy Selvin, selected “Perfect Loaf”. Opening reception, August 28, 5-7 at the gallery on 5151 Pacific Ave, Stockton.
The Art of Play, August 9 – September 7, includes Diana Greenleaf’s “Swimming Dogs”. The opening reception, August 9, 2-4 and multi media exhibit explore play, reflecting juror Cas Holman’s interest in playground and toy design. Holman is featured in the Netflix series Design for Play. Exhibit at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S High St, Sebastopol.
Present: Mari Emori, Sally Jackson (recorder), April Zilber, Julie Taber, Piper Christine, Emil Yanos, Tamara Danoyan, Jan Schachter, Sean Free Alcala, Lee Middleman, Scott Jennings, Susie Rubenstein, Iver Hennig, Vicki Gunter, Barbara Prodaniuk, Chris Johnson (late) Absent: Cheryl Costantini, Ren Lee
The meeting began at 5:15 p.m.
Welcome (Mari)
Festival Update (April)
At present we have a full festival with 140 booths. April thanked Piper for all her contributions as our new Festival Treasurer. Because of sparse voting and sign-ups, we are not offering People’s Choice awards again this year, nor do we think it worthwhile to conduct a gift certificate drawing for people who sign up for our mailing list. April will bring this last decision point to the festival committee. We will however continue collecting emails to add to the mailing list, both with a QR code on signs, and through mailing list sign-ups in artists’ booths. We have 25 new artists this year. They will have bright-colored labels for their booths. We will have a paid CERF+ staff person. We are still seeking one person to staff Clay for All in the courtyard. This job will pay minimum wage.
Website Report (April)
We have a new Festival landing page on our website. It was designed by the Mega Jewell Agency and we can refresh it each year. The Board discussed how to best archive Festival landing pages from past years. One suggestion is to keep the most recent ones easily accessible with live links to the artists, and archive older ones as PDFs or screenshots.
Meyer Fund Proposal (Scott)
Scott and Vivien Hart have been exploring ways to use the funds donated to ACGA by James Meyers. They propose funding a robust selection of needs for ACGA members rather than restricting awards to a narrow category. Examples might include travel or tuition funds for conferences or workshops, jury and booth fees, organizing a workshop, and so on. Vivien and Scott would review the applications for amounts in the $250/$500 neighborhood, available to all ACGA members in good standing. The Board discussed when the application period might fall, and whether the awardees would be required to report on how they used the money. Other questions arose as to how to verify need, and whether we can enlarge the fund with contributions from other donors. The Board will discuss these questions further at a future meeting.
Exhibitions: Arts of Fire (Vicki)
The call for Arts of Fire received entries from 83 clay and glass artists, most submitting multiple pieces for consideration. Jurors Lisa Reinertson and Demetra Theofanus selected about 40 pieces by 34 artists. Income from entry fees and membership sign-ups was robust. Vicki acknowledged valuable help from James Aarons, Ren Lee, and others. The Board discussed how to feature the show on our website. Options include a page of thumbnail images or simply a written list of the artists with a link to the NY2CA Gallery page featuring the artwork. Vicki will look into the costs. The opening reception for Arts of Fire will be August 17, 6-7 p.m., at NY2CA Gallery in Benicia.
Financial Report (Julie)
We currently have $130,000 in the bank. $32,000 of that is in PayPal at the moment, reflecting payment of booth fees for the Clay & Glass Festival. Julie is moving it gradually into our bank account. Income in May was boosted by the Arts of Fire entry fees. Expenses were high as is usual at this time, when we are paying for many of the festival expenses. Paperwork for Piper to have access to our Bank of America account is finally complete and has been submitted to the bank.
Jury Process: Proposed Changes & Discussion (Mari)
Before the Board met, Mari wrote and shared a document listing proposed changes or refinements to the jurying process. Topics included jury frequency and structure, jury committee and role clarity, scoring and meeting format, and communications with applicants. Discussion of these important and complex subjects will continue in the coming weeks until the Board feels prepared to vote.
Date of Next Meeting: Monday, August 18, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. via Zoom
Present: Mari Emori, Sally Jackson (recorder), Julie Taber, April Zilber, Piper Christine, Cheryl Costantini, Susie Rubenstein, Barbara Prodaniuk, Scott Jennings, Jan Schachter, Tamara Danoyan, Vicki Gunter, Iver Hennig, Sean Free Alcala, Ren Lee, Emil Yanos Absent: Chris Johnson, Lee Middleman Guest: Diana Greenleaf
The meeting began at 5:15 p.m.
Welcome (Mari)
Arts of Fire Exhibition (Vicki)
The deadline to submit entries to Arts of Fire is May 21. To date there are 36 complete entries and several more pending. Most of the entries are clay rather than glass. When the jurors have made their selections, Vicki will coordinate carpooling for delivery to the NY2CA Gallery in Benicia. The gallery might need to borrow some of ACGA’s pedestals for the show. Jan commented on the excellent publicity for this call.
Santa Cruz Exhibition (Iver)
Iver and fellow artist Carlos Dye have written a successful proposal for an exhibition of clay and glass at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. Museum curator Marla Novo has blocked September 26, 2026 – February 27, 2027 for this show, which will accommodate around 20 invited artists and 40 juried artists. It will also include a pop-up sale of work by accepted artists in the museum’s gift shop. It may be necessary to use some of ACGA’s pedestals stored in Santa Clara. ACGA will assist in organizing the exhibition, but all artists in California will be eligible to apply to the Call for Entries.
Financial Report (Julie)
Our total current assets are $163,863, higher than this time last year. Year-to-date income is $20,000 more than we budgeted, and expenses are slightly over. The large pool of applicants for the last jury and the high number of booth applications for the festival have boosted our bank balances.
Zoom Orientation for Festival-Eligible Artists (Cheryl)
Around 20 artists attended the virtual orientation that Cheryl and Susie presented on Zoom on May 4th. The hour-long event went well, with good discussions and sharing of information. Participants appreciated the document that Cheryl and Susie had put together. Cheryl thinks that this orientation should be held annually. ACGA artist Diana Greenleaf, who had originally suggested the gathering, reported that it was very useful. Suggestions made by artists during the presentation have been passed on to April.
Jury Discussion (Mari)
The next window to apply for festival eligibility will be September 1-30, 2025. The jurors’ decisions will be announced in October. The Board discussed pros and cons of having two juries per year (fall and spring) as opposed to only one (fall). One jurying in the fall is simpler and gives all artists equal chance to sign up for the festival when booth applications open in January. The Board also discussed whether to limit the number of applicants for juries, since the last cohort was unusually large (44 applicants). Additionally, the protocol for sharing jurors’ comments with applicants needs improvement, especially when the comments are negative. These topics will be discussed further at our next Board Meeting.
Festival Report (April)
The Clay & Glass Festival is fully booked. Waitlisted artists have all been admitted. Cancellations are still possible, but even so it will be a robust show. April is still working on matching artists with volunteer jobs. Some jobs formerly assigned to volunteers will be done by paid staff. April is still looking to fill the paid slot for staffing the CERF+ booth.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Next Meeting: 5:15 p.m., June 16, 2025 via Zoom
It good working order. These sell for $1500 new, I would like $500 OBO
email me at jtceramics@mindspring,com
I first heard about the Startup Art Fair in 2017. I don’t know when it started—possibly in 2015, but since then, the fair has expanded from San Francisco to Houston and Los Angeles. I didn’t know much about it, only that artists took over the Hotel del Sol in San Francisco and transformed their rooms into their own personal gallery spaces. I applied in 2020 but a week after being accepted, the country went into lockdown and the fair was cancelled. In early 2025 I was excited to learn of the fair’s return to San Francisco in April. I applied and was accepted.
The Startup Art Fair was developed by Artist Ray Beldner to give independent artists the opportunity to take control of their careers and connect directly with collectors and curators in an intimate boutique hotel setting. The three day event, running concurrently with the San Francisco Art Fair, attracts visitors already in the area who are interested in art.
Upon acceptance, each artist selects a room (at varying rates) which will become their exhibit space. All existing furniture in the room must remain. Some artists choose to flip up their beds, buttressing them against the wall, and store other furniture in the bathroom or closet. These are good options if you don’t plan on spending the nights in the space. I brought in ProPanel walls to display my work, since the recommended 3M Command strips would not support my ceramic wall sculptures.
There is a food and a drink vendor on-site for the duration of the fair, along with various performances, including music and dance. This helps create a festive environment, which encourages visitors to stay and see all 60+ artists.
The fair is a ticketed event, limiting the amount of walk-in visitors, but it is marketed to art professionals attending the San Francisco Art Fair to discover and buy art. I found a wide variety of visitors including art students, families, and many representing industries that support the arts.
Ray uses his experience as an artist to lead his team to organize and facilitate the process for participants. They are available prior to the fair if any questions or concerns arise. Helpful emails go out to artists alerting them of timelines and other pertinent information for a successful event. If you are considering this as a selling option, its a good idea to visit the actual event. Look for announcements near at the beginning of the year or go to startupartfair.com and get on their mailing list.
May 17, 2025
11 am to 5 pm
ART: Enjoy over 70 juried Artists, including four ACGA Artists; Leo Peck, Karen Winograde, Daniel Wooddell, and Emil Yanos; proudly showcasing their fine art, sculptures, ceramics, photography, jewelry, live music, and more at this free art event.
SIP: Taste wines from over 20 of our fantastic local Wineries and Tasting Rooms with the purchase of a Tasting Package.
STROLL: The event is spread out between two sites in the center of Town. While you saunter, local food vendors will be located throughout the event with delicious food available for purchase or make reservations to dine at one of our fabulous Yountville restaurants.
Art League of Lincoln
April 25th – June 29th
580 Sixth Street, Lincoln CA
The internationally renowned clay competition was founded by local ceramicist Ray Gonzales in 1987 and was held annually through 2011 at the Gladding McBean Clay Factory. In 2024 the exhibit was rekindled regionally, and in 2025 the competition is now national.
Rhonda Willers, juror, renowned ceramic visual artist, educator, and author selected 48 out of 330 works. ACGA artists included in the selection are Pierre Bounaud, Deborah Bridges, Diana Greenleaf, Susie Rubenstein, and Emil Yanos.
First Place went to Kansas City artist Casey Whittier for “year After Year”. She formed beads using clay sourced from her backyard. Using weaving techniques she created a “tapestry”.
A merit award was given to Deborah Bridges for “Such a Graceless Age”.
May 17 – June 15, 2025
Sausalito Center for the Arts
750 Bridgeway
Sausalito, CA 94965
Opening reception Saturday May 17th, 5 – 7:30.
The Sausalito Center for the Arts, in collaboration with the National Sculpture Society (NSS), presents The Art of Form: Perspectives from The West, a juried sculpture exhibition showcasing contemporary works from 40 accomplished sculptors across the western United States, features 57 works selected from over 100 submissions includes ACGA artists Jane Grimm and Emil Yanos.
This dynamic exhibition celebrates the power and presence of sculpture—its dimensionality, tactile appeal, and ability to transform space. Jurors include celebrated sculptors Paige Bradley and Rod Zullo, both NSS Fellows, along with SCA Executive Director Shiva Pakdel. The exhibit emphasizes traditional craftsmanship and natural inspiration, a hallmark of NSS’s 130-year mission to promote excellence in sculpture.
A $1,000 Best of Show award, sponsored by the Fantasy Fountain Fund, will be granted to one artist during the run of the show.
Set against the scenic backdrop of the San Francisco Bay, Sausalito offers the perfect setting for this immersive art experience. The Sausalito Center for the Arts provides an expansive, accessible venue where form and creativity come to life.
Visitors are invited to explore sculpture in its fullest expression—from classical techniques to bold contemporary statements—in this landmark West Coast exhibit.
Present: Mari Emori, Sally Jackson, Julie Taber, April Zilber, Piper Christine, Jan Schachter, Lee Middleman, Scott Jennings, Barbara Prodaniuk, Susie Rubenstein, Cheryl Costantini, Iver Hennig, Ren Lee, Vicki Gunter, Chris Johnson, Sean Free Alcala, Tamara Danoyan, Emil Yanos
Welcome (Mari)
Mari reported that in March the Board voted via emails to contribute $500 to Stewards of the Coast Redwoods to sponsor their inaugural fundraising event at Pond Farm Pottery in Guerneville. An anonymous donor matched our donation for a total of $1000. The event will take place on April 27th and is part of an ongoing effort to restore and use this historic property.
ACGA Merchandise at the Clay and Glass Festival (Cheryl)
Cheryl has been investigating the cost of ACGA-branded items that could be made available at the festival, either as gifts or for sale. Aprons and water bottles were two that she presented to the Board. T-shirts were also proposed. After some discussion, the Board decided that this type of sale is not a priority for ACGA, whereas gifts for, e.g., new artists and throwdown contestants are. Sean proposed handmade gifts with the ACGA logo. Cheryl will pursue this idea with a subset of Board members who are interested in helping. The Board approved a $600 budget for this.
Festival Report (April)
There are 144 artists signed up for the 2025 Festival, with a short waitlist. Twenty-one of those who’ve registered are first-time participants. Annie at Messenger Events is working to ensure that she has enough staff for this larger festival. April has spent a great deal of time investigating the regulations and insurance requirements if we want to sell wine and beer at the festival. The costs will be significant and logistics complex. After discussion, the Board voted unanimously to forgo alcohol sales at the festival for at least the next two years (18 yes).
Orientation on Zoom for Festival Artists (Cheryl)
Cheryl and Susie are creating a document for festival artists, particularly first-timers, that will help them prepare for the weekend. They will also conduct an open Orientation on Zoom on Sunday, May 4, at 10 a.m. All artists are invited.
Corporate Sponsorship (Lee)
Lee proposed that ACGA pursue more corporate sponsorship and that we could offer free ad space for sponsors in return. Ren countered that while she is in favor of ACGA seeking contributions, she does not recommend that we take on any model that requires someone with expertise to solicit funds, design ads, and update them regularly.
“Arts of Fire” in Benicia: Exhibition Update (Vicki)
The “Arts of Fire” call has received several entries and will remain open until May 21. Vicki has had postcards printed and is distributing them widely in an effort to encourage more entries. She will also send out an email to our members. The clay juror is Lisa Reinertson and the glass juror is Demetra Theofanous.
Santa Cruz: Exhibition Update (Iver)
Iver and fellow ceramicist Carlos Dye have been working with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History to organize a four-month-long exhibition of clay and glass work. The museum’s deputy director, Marla Novo, is enthusiastic. This show could take place possibly as early as fall of 2026 in the museum’s main gallery.
Jury Report (Chris)
The six jurors for the March jurying met twice and accepted 25 out of 44 applicants for festival eligibility. Of 33 clay applicants, 18 were accepted. Of 11 glass applicants, 7 were accepted. A Jury Committee will convene soon to discuss best practices for future juries. Jan suggested limiting future juries to a more manageable number of applicants. Chris feels that the large number was not an issue.
Financial Report (Julie)
Julie reported that we have $171,000 in assets, held in our bank accounts and PayPal. She is working with the bank to get account access for Piper, our festival treasurer.
Guest Artist Talk/Presentation on April 5th (Mari)
On April 5, ACGA hosted a well-attended event featuring visiting artist Adil Writer from India. The event was live-streamed on Instagram and Facebook. Mari expressed her appreciation for all who helped make this possible: Guangzhen “Po” Zhou, Lee Middleman, Iver Hennig, Ren Lee, Sally Jackson, and the Palo Alto Art Center.
The meeting ended at 6:30 p.m.
Next Meeting: Monday, May 19, at 5:15 p.m. via Zoom
Present: Mari Emori, Sally Jackson (recorder), April Zilber, Vicki Gunter, Lee Middleman, Julie Taber, Ren Lee, Sean Free Alcala, Susie Rubenstein, Iver Hennig, Piper Christine, Jan Schachter, Emil Yanos, Barbara Prodaniuk, Tamara Danoyan, Scott Jennings, Cheryl Costantini, Chris Johnson Absent: Vicki Gunter Guest: Britt Jensen
The meeting began at 5:15 pm.
Welcome (Mari)
Lapsed Membership Survey (Emil)
Emil sent surveys to 46 non-renewing members asking why they chose to let their membership lapse. To date five surveys have been returned. Emil will share the results before our next meeting and we’ll discuss them in more detail.
Festival Update & Media Consultant Festival Page Redo (April & Ren)
As of now, 122 artists have registered for the Clay & Glass Festival in July. Piper reported that the new map offers space for 142 booths. Invitations to newly-juried artists will go out later this week. Our media consultant has drafted two examples of what a new festival landing page could look like on our website. Ren and April felt that either one would be suitable. The main benefit would be a more professional platform with greater connectivity to our larger festival publicity efforts.
Festival Swag (Cheryl)
Cheryl has found an infinite online supply of merchandise that can be printed with ACGA’s logo: thermal water bottles, aprons, shopping bags, etc. The Board discussed whether selling this kind of merchandise is beneficial, either from a financial standpoint or as a way to spread ACGA’s brand. We would likely need to pay someone to handle sales at the festival, which would be hard to organize for this year. Ren advocated for a strong marketing plan before jumping in. This year, branded merchandise might be a source of prizes for throwdown contestants or gifts for new artists. Cheryl will provide a proposal for our next meeting.
Exhibitions (Jan)
Jan would like to step down as head of the Exhibitions Committee and encouraged the Board to find a successor. Iver is exploring a couple of exhibition possibilities in the Santa Cruz area. Many galleries and other venues are still recovering from Covid. Jan and Sally are also exploring a possible show in Sebastopol for 2026, but details are yet to be determined.
Handwork 2025 Participation (April & Ren)
Craft in America’s project “Handwork: Celebrating America Craft 2026” will showcase the importance of the handmade and highlight stories of craft artists and organizations. Next year it will involve exhibitions, documentaries, workshops, how-to videos, publications, and more. Its website will maintain a calendar of events across the country and live links to organizations, studios, etc. The Board voted unanimously to join this initiative (17 yes).
Financial Report (Julie)
Our current assets are $170,000.
Approval to change month-to-month bookkeeping from accrual to cash basis.
Julie reported that our accountant recommends that we shift our monthly reports from accrual basis accounting to cash basis accounting, since that is how we file our taxes.
Her motion to approve this change passed unanimously (17 yes).
Banking Approval
Piper was voted in as the Festival Treasurer and Julie was reapproved as the Board Treasurer at the January board meeting. Julie made a motion to remove April Zilber from all banking accounts (including; Bank of America, Checking, Festival Checking, and Savings account – Fidelity account – PayPal – and other banking/money collection accounts belonging to ACGA) and add Christine Piper to all those accounts as an additional signer. Julie also asked for approval to get a Bank of America credit card, using the same main account, for Christine Piper. The motion passed unanimously (17 yes).
2024 Taxes
Julie presented the 2024 Taxes prepared by our CPA, Peak Accounting Services. Our income last year was high enough that we need to pay California taxes this year. Although ACGA is a non-profit entity at the federal level with the IRS, the entity didn’t apply for non-profit status with California so has been paying CA tax each year. Usually this is equal to $800, the minimum CA tax due annually. The calculation is the greater of $800 or 8.84% of net income. For 2024, that 8.84% calculation resulted in total tax of $1,232 so there is a balance due of $432 for 2024 and the 2025 CA tax estimate (based on prior year income) is $1,200 instead of the normal $800. If it turns out the entity’s net income for 2025 is less than in 2024 (actually less than about $9,000), then it’ll go back to the normal $800.
Julie made a motion to pay the additional $432 in taxes due for 2024 by April 15th, plus the base amount of $800. She also asked approval to pay the 2025 CA tax estimate of $500 on 06/15/2025. In 2025, if we do not owe more than the $800 we usually have to pay, we will recoup the $500 from the IRS next year. The motion passed unanimously (17 yes).
Upcoming Event: Artist Talk at PAAC (Mari)
ACGA will host ceramic artist Adil Writer at the Palo Alto Art Center on April 5, 2025. He will talk about his journey in ceramics, his work, and his collaborations with other artists in India, where he is a partner at Mandala Pottery. He will also show two short films. The event will be free and open to the public. We’re also planning to livestream the event on Facebook and Instagram.
Member Survey Responses: Open Discussion
Festival Survey (Piper): Piper summarized a survey of members who participate in the Clay & Glass Festival. Of the responding artists, 15 said that they dislike leaving their booths to volunteer during the festival. A smaller number said that they would like an easier way to pay their commissions. Piper suggested setting up online commission payment using credit cards, with card fees covered by the artists. Some of those responding suggested that ACGA hold sales at other times of year. This is a difficult proposition given the time and staff needed to organize a sale and the necessity of holding it indoors. Ren reminded the Board that the survey only represents a small number of our artists.
Exhibitions Survey (Britt): Britt summarized a survey asking members to comment on ACGA’s exhibition opportunities. There were 25 responses. 85% said that they are interested in participating in exhibitions. The location of the gallery was the most important factor influencing whether an artist applies for an ACGA show. Most artists avoid applying to shows that are geographically distant. Most respondents would like to see more opportunities for shows, and cited positive experiences with shows in the past. Britt summarized some of the things we should be asking, i.e., how can we get artists outside of the Bay Area involved in organizing shows for their regions, how can we ensure that shows do not lose money, and are there ways to put on exhibitions that are less cost-prohibitive?
Spring Jury Quick Update (Chris)
There are 44 applicants for festival eligibility in the current jury pool. Jurors will make their final decisions on March 18 and Chris will send out notifications shortly thereafter. April will then invite the accepted artists to register for booths at the festival.
The meeting ended at 7:00 pm
Next Meeting: Monday, April 21, 2025 at 5:15pm via Zoom
