SRU plans ‘Mini-Mud’ ceramic program

Radhames Carela, a Dominican Republic-based potter, will be one of the featured artists during Slippery Rock University’s March 30-April 2 “Mini Mud” ceramic demonstration program.

March 24, 2016

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University will offer its ninth annual "Mini-Mud" ceramic demonstration March 30-April 2 in the Art Ceramic Building. Featured guest ceramists will demonstrate their craft and students and community residents will be able to use the pottery wheels and firing ovens to convert "mud" into ceramics.

Radhames Carela, a Dominican Republic-based potter, and Lisa Ballantine, the former director of FilterPure, a water purification company in the Dominican Republic, are the featured artists.

The potters, on behalf of the Potters Guild at SRU, will work with students from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 30, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 31. Richard Wukich, retired professor of art who taught ceramics, and other potters and humanitarians will join the duo April 1-2 for a water filter conference on silver-enhanced water filters. Wukich makes water filters for distribution in third world countries.

Tricia Bishop, SRU assistant professor of art who teaches ceramics, will be on hand for the ceramists' demonstrations and filter sessions.

Both guest artists are experience potters. Carela fashions life-size sculptures of people and tabletop figurines.

Ballantine, a Chicago native, spent 10 years developing clay water filters for use by villages in the outskirts of Jarabacoa in the Dominican Republic, and for villagers in Haiti. She oversaw the production of 4,500 ceramic filters a month.

In January, FilterPure was integrated into Wine to Water, a U.S.-based company working to provide clean water to those in need. Ballantine serves as the volunteer coordinator of the Chicago chapter.

The Potters Guild at SRU, a registered student organization, is involved in several programs promoting ceramics. It recently hosted its third annual ceramic mug sale on campus and is also involved in making bowls for SRU's annual Empty Bowls event.

MEDIA CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine | 724.738.4854 | gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu