Phoenix area's 5th annual Ceramic Studio Tour a Feast for the Eyes

TEMPE, Ariz. - More than 45 ceramics artists, many with regional and national prominence, will participate in the fifth annual Self-Guided Ceramic Studio Tour organized by the Artists Advisory Committee of the Arizona State University Art Museum Ceramics Research Center. The tours will take place at artist studios throughout the Phoenix metro area, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 25 and 26, 2006. The tour is free to the public

Several new artists will join already established artists for this exciting tour. Artists will exhibit and sell their work at their private studios. Each studio will host between one and 10 artists. A percentage of tour sales help benefit the Ceramics Research Center's education programs. The annual self-guided studio tour attracts a wide variety of visitors who vary from ceramic collectors to those who are curious about pottery.

Tour participants will have the unique opportunity to meet artists face-to-face and go behind-the-scenes to see where the art is created. Artists captivate visitors with wheel-throwing, hand building and glazing demonstrations throughout the two-day tour. Volunteers who coordinated last year's event reported record numbers of people taking the tour.

A brochure that includes pictures of artists' work, directions to the studios, and a schedule of demonstrations will be available after Jan. 15 at the Ceramics Research Center, or in PDF format at http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu/ceramicsresearchcenter/index.htm.

This year's tour coincides with the Ceramics Research Center's gala dinner & auction, Ceram-a-rama: California Dreamin' , Sat., Feb. 26 at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. For more information about the studio tour or gala, call the Ceramics Research Center at 480-965-7092 or go tohttp://asuartmuseum.asu.edu/crcgala/.

The Ceramics Research Center is part of the Arizona State University Art Museum, which was named "the single most impressive venue for contemporary art in Arizona" by Art in America magazine. It is a division of the Herberger College of Fine Arts at Arizona State University. To learn more about the museum, visit http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu.

Media Contact:
Denise Tanguay 
480.965.7144
denise.tanguay@asu.edu