Anyone who has ever been curious about the art and process of wheel-thrown ceramics is invited to attend this free live demo by Newport Visual Arts Center Director and Ceramic Artist Chasse Davidson.
6pm-8pm
Wednesday, June 18th
Newport Visual Arts Center
2nd Floor (Room 205)
To help ensure an enjoyable experience for all, we kindly encourage guests to consider attending fragrance-free in support of those with allergies and sensitivities.
Of note: Davidson’s exhibit, A Little of This, A Little of That, is on display May 30 – July 27, 2025 in the COVAS Showcase.
My journey with clay began in 1994 when I was first exposed to the medium through an elective at North Salem High School taught by Stu Chalupsky. My connection to clay was immediate. I took every class I could and then began some independent study. Mr. Chalupsky remains in my life today as a mentor and a friend. Beyond the satisfaction that comes with having success with pieces that make it through all the stages of bringing ceramics to fruition, I found immense peace during the creating process. A feeling that I have been drawn to ever since. I have always been able to sit down with clay and start creating without hesitation. Whether I have a project in mind or not, I have confidence that it will come to me as soon as I put my hands on the clay. The same has not been true for me with other mediums.
From the beginning I knew I wanted to share my passion for ceramics with others and had hopes of teaching. My early ceramic work was sculpting, pertaining heavily to female form. Then in 2000 while attending Chemeketa Community College I began my love affair with wheel throwing. I continued my education and focus in ceramics at Western Oregon University, where I received my Bachelor of Science in Studio Art in 2005. My participation in raku firings at WOU had a lasting impact. My connection to the earthy element of clay now included a deep fascination with the open flame firing technique. I began feeling equally drawn to the fire element. During this time the scale of my work was increasing and I was exploring how the proportions of the vessel forms interacted with the hostile but magic firing technique of raku. I couldn’t get enough, if I wasn’t working with clay I was thinking about it.
My Professor, Don Hoskisson’s wife Cindy, also a potter, was a stay at home mom/ceramic artist. She inspired me. I immediately realized that someday I wanted that lifestyle for myself. I wanted to be able to continue my craft and be at home with my babies. In 2007, my husband and I moved to the coast, started a family, and with his great support I started a small home studio. And began experimenting with raku firing independently.
In 2010 I met Dave Silwones who was opening a community clay studio in Toledo, Oregon. I immediately reached out to him and shared my desire to help his venture succeed by offering my knowledge of institutional ceramic studio equipment and design. Once Toledo Clayworks was up and running I began teaching wheel throwing classes.
Dave also encouraged me and provided opportunities to begin showing my work in his gallery space. In 2013 I became involved with the Toledo Arts Guild (TAG) where I served as president 2014-16. During this time, I became very dedicated to expanding the art community in Toledo. In 2015, in an act of incredible generosity, Dave passed the reigns of ownership and management of Toledo Clayworks on to me. Because my relationships with many Toledo artists stemmed from TAG, I was able to invite local artists to show their work in the gallery space at Clayworks. My work traversed varying techniques during my time at Clayworks as I was constantly exploring methods used in teaching classes. Horsehair raku and a sodium silicate stretching techniques were two that stuck. I continued to work at perfecting form proportions in relation to the aesthetic of these surface decoration applications. My years at Toledo Clayworks were chalked full of learning how to run a business, teaching classes, maintaining studio functions and equipment, putting on shows, and my favorite part–connecting with others through our passion for clay. With a very heavy heart I closed Toledo Clayworks in March 2020 due to Covid 19.
Through an incredible construction effort by my husband, I am able to once again have a studio space at home. For eight months I was unable to work with clay as the project was underway and the negative mental impact was undeniable. The restoration of my sense of well-being followed immediately after I started working again. In my mind I have always been conscientious of the health benefits of practicing creativity. I went on to assist the Newport Visual Art Center in establishing a new clay studio and began teaching classes.
In 2022 I came on as Director of the VAC, where my passion for encouraging, educating and providing artistic opportunities for others has been given the chance to bloom. I have maintained my home studio where I continue working with clay and other mediums as means of expression and mental health.