One of the highlights of NCECA was at the Mission terracotta sewer pipe factory, where a handful of artists were given giant extrusions to decorate.

Artists are a funny bunch, who are often happy to walk industrial yards, and this was exciting. On the way in we walked past rows and rows of this beautiful pipe.

The generous plant manager was pleased to let us tour the kilns where these 1800 pound pipes are loading in rows 2 high to prepare for their long heated journey… more than a week to heat up, and another week or two to cool down.  These babies go up to 2040.

And next, into the warehouse where we were greeted first by a Jun Kaneko, followed by the recent sculptures by Joe Hawley, Don Reitz, John Toki.

It took everyone’s breath away, and each arriving artist wanted to know how to get their hands on their very own sewer pipe to go crazy on.

Joe Hawley actually brought a ship’s wheel, and the sewer plant guys helped him rig it to a strong motor, and he made wheel thrown marks on his sewer pipes with a fork lift, sticks, an auger, and the mighty chain saw. His pieces had such a delightful motion, tears, and raw trimming marks that made his pieces feel in motion and alive.

This exhibit was an inspiration.