MCC Ceramics Student Wins Best Of Show

MCC ceramics student MaryLou Mateja of Woodstock won Best of Show and Peer Choice awards and art instructor Tom Vician won Best Sculpture at the Clayworkers’ Guild of Illinois 12th Annual Members Show at the Old Courthouse Arts Center in Woodstock. Above, MaryLou puts some finishing touches on a lion cub clay sculpture during a recent ceramics class.

 Mateja and Vician, along with 15 other MCC students, are exhibiting their work at the old courthouse through November. 4. 

The exhibition provides an opportunity for Clayworkers’ Guild members to showcase their work and for community members to purchase items from local potters. Other MCC student artists participating in the show include Regina Lombardo, Susan Clough and Mary O’Meara, all of Crystal Lake; Belen Ashley of Fox River Grove, Patt Mills of Harvard, Kimmy Martinez of Hebron, Elaine Kadakia of Huntley, Michael Oeffling and Doug Webster, both of Johnsburg; Josie Rochell of Lakewood, Molly Tait and Andy Lechner, both of McHenry; Erica Wilson of Port Barrington, Trish Vollkommer and Ken Williams, both of Woodstock.

The show was juried by Emily Reason, a professional potter from Marshall, North Carolina. She is the author of “Ceramics for Beginners: Wheel Throwing,” published by Lark Books, 2010. She exhibits her work nationally and teaches pottery workshops around the country.

The Clayworkers’ Guild of Illinois is an organization of craftsmen and artists who use clay as an expressive medium. The guild strives to aid, encourage, advise, and work together to support each other’s endeavors. Through its various activities the clayworkers’ guild serves the community by supporting exhibits and workshops, for both its membership and the public, in all aspect of ceramics and related arts.  The guild hosts several activities during the calendar year including workshops, gallery shows, and annual sales of works in clay. 

The Clayworkers’ Guild also promotes the Ryan Long scholarship fund at MCC.  The guild also participates in the Empty Bowl fundraiser each year. This regional event helps raise money for the homeless.

The Old Court House Arts Center hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (815) 338-4525 or visit the Old Court House website at www.oldcourthouseartscenter.com.