Forming a New Perspective: How a Conference Reshaped our Arts Practices

Written by Candace Day ’25 and Caroline Warr ’27

During the spring semester, we had the opportunity to visit the small town of Newberry, SC, for the 10th annual South Carolina Clay Conference (SCCC). SCCC partners with influential and experienced ceramic artists to teach students, educators, and hobbyists their techniques and to promote experimental learning in the studio. 

As upper-level ceramicists, when our professor, Dr. Mary Carlisle, brought the Newberry Arts Grant to our attention, we were quick to take advantage of the opportunity and applied to represent Converse at the conference. The Newberry Arts Grant provided the financial support that launched our initiative to pursue our studies in ceramics, and then bring new knowledge back to the classroom.

We also had the chance to run a shared sales booth at the Clay Conference. By participating in the sale, we were taught about commissions, how to create inventory lists, conduct sales, and make meaningful table arrangements that appeal to customers.

We spent the weekend soaking up as much knowledge as we could from the two presenters, Martha Grover and Julia Galloway, so that on Sunday morning, we could finally get our hands on some clay during a hands-on demo class with Julia Galloway. Julia taught with enthusiasm beginning our class like any other, with a lecture and PowerPoint presentation. We then eagerly carved away at our porcelain cups exactly how Julia taught us, with a tipless X-Acto knife. 

“The conference space nurtured career relationships by providing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and shared learning experiences with like-minded people.”

At this demonstration, we became equals with Dr. Carlisle as we were now all students of Julia’s. This environment influenced us by fostering open communication, collaborative learning, and consistent engagement with our professor. This dynamic allowed us to discuss research interests, career advice, and current events related to ceramics outside of office hours and in the presence of other artists, who often contributed to our conversations. 

Our fellow SCCC attendees made the experience all the more memorable. The conference space nurtured career relationships by providing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and shared learning experiences with like-minded people. Through group outings, we found that, like us, many of the attendees were from South Carolina, allowing us to make connections with colleges, community studios, and galleries within our very own state. Now we are confident in a swift and friendly acceptance into the South Carolina clay scene once we graduate. 

From Candace Day ’25, BFA Studio Arts Major

As a BFA with an interest in studying ceramics, the chance to attend South Carolina’s Clay Conference sounded like the perfect place to start planting seeds that would lead to my success in the art scene. While attending the conference, I made connections with fellow emerging artists, ceramic studios, and galleries all within my home state of South Carolina, and built up my confidence to enter the art world after graduation. 

Our presenter, Martha Grover, was particularly inspiring to me. She began college studying engineering and just happened to make her way into an advanced ceramics course where her STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) skills really began to shine. Grover took a risk and went headfirst into a career as a ceramic artist despite her peers trying to guide her to a more “stable and traditional” career in engineering. 

 “The chance to attend South Carolina’s Clay Conference sounded like the perfect place to start planting seeds that would lead to my success in the art scene.”

Candace Day ’25

During her demos, it was very obvious that she worked differently, she focused on precise math, chemistry, and form, in a way that reminded me of my own practice. Her story prompted me to stay persistent in my work, that ceramics is not magic and art is not instant, you must study and you must put it to work. 

I found that Martha reflected the ideals shared at our liberal arts institution such as critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and a broad curriculum as her techniques morphed ideas from many disciplines in a way that worked for clay. A technique that stood out to me was cutting gussets to create space in new forms which is appropriated from textile arts. I was able to quickly interpret these new techniques into my own work and have left me looking beyond the ceramics studio for new ways to work with clay.

The other featured artist and professor, Julia Galloway, led our demo on Sunday. She taught us the foundations of the craft in a spunky manner and as Dr. Carlisle’s work study assistant, that meant I had notes to take and plenty of work to do once we returned to Converse. Julia’s demo class introduced ceramic decoration and incorporated new alchemy in ways both Dr. Carlisle and I knew had to be brought back to the Converse Ceramics Department.

My experience at the South Carolina Clay Conference opened my eyes to the world of possibilities and careers beyond my undergraduate studies. The connections made have and will continue to aid me once I graduate. 

From Caroline Warr ’27, Arts Education Major

As an art education major with a primary focus in ceramics, the opportunity to attend the South Carolina Clay Conference was both exciting and professionally enriching. During the conference, I connected with a wide range of artists and fellow art educators, broadening my understanding of both creative practice and teaching approaches.

“As an art education major with a primary focus in ceramics, the opportunity to attend the South Carolina Clay Conference was both exciting and professionally enriching. “

Caroline Warr ’27

One of the featured presenters, Julia Galloway, provided valuable insight into her teaching methods. She emphasizes the importance of thoroughly introducing foundational techniques, such as wheel throwing and handle pulling, while integrating personal narratives from her extensive field experience. One story she shared was particularly impactful: during a hands-on gallery exhibition, a visitor picked up one of her ceramic pieces, designed to produce a rattling sound when gently shaken. When the piece failed to make any noise, the visitor appeared visibly disappointed and asked her, “Why have you silenced this pot?” This moment prompted Galloway to reflect on the importance of allowing artwork to “speak” for itself, reinforcing the idea that artists should avoid diminishing the expressive potential of their work. Additionally, her teaching style involves encouraging students in a supportive yet challenging manner, helping them reach the full potential of their artistic abilities.

The conference also featured Martha Grover, who, while not a university professor, contributes significantly to arts education through her community-based practice. She teaches pottery classes from her home studio in Maine, where she and her husband have cultivated a vibrant and engaged creative community. Through this work, Grover demonstrates how ceramics can serve not only as an artistic discipline but also as a means of fostering connection and shared learning within a community.

This conference was a valuable asset to my education, and I am so grateful to Dr. Carlisle for helping us secure the Newberry Arts Grant. I learned so much, and I have brought back so many techniques to adapt and use in my personal ceramics work and also in my future classroom.

Transforming our Practices

Ultimately, attending the clay conference has significantly influenced not only our own practice but also the ceramic department. By providing exposure to new techniques, ideas, networking opportunities and knowledge from established artists, the South Carolina Clay Conference has played a pivotal role in our studies. These experiences have broadened our artistic horizons, enhanced our skills, and offered pathways for further education and career development. Looking to the future, our goal is to attend larger clay conferences and keep gaining knowledge that we can spread to our peers and future students.