Jessie Cotkin: 1944-2010

ACGA member Jessie Cotkin passed away on Saturday, February 6, 2010. She struggled
with overwhelming health issues for the past 10 years including advanced
rheumatoid arthritis and cardiac complications. Jessie died at home in her
sleep.

A member of ACGA since the early eighties, Jessie was proud of her
membership, and of the fine quality of craft that we represent. She served
on the Board of Directors for several years, and coordinated the jury for
about six years. Also during the eighties, she participated in the American
Craft Council shows, and became a member of the ACCI Coop Gallery in
Berkeley, of which she was still a current, exhibiting member. Jessie was a
member of the Berkeley Potters Guild for 25 years.

Jessie's work in clay was of functional porcelain. She worked with lusters
on the high-fired surface, and also did precise carving and inlay on some
pieces. She enjoyed producing dinnerware sets from special orders and used
subtly-colored Chun glazes to rim the glossy black backgrounds of plates,
bowls, and cups.

Jessie was born in the Bronx, New York on July 24, 1944. Her family moved to
Southern California in 1957. After becoming a second grade elementary school
teacher for several years, she discovered a passion for clay. She left the
security of a tenured, pensioned teaching position to make her way as a
potter. Her technical and historical knowledge of ceramics was impeccable.

Her indomitable spirit carried her through many difficult times.

Jessie is survived by her sister, Kalya, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and her
brother, Spencer, in Minnesota.

--Margaret Grisz-Dow

ACGA Emeritus Member Nancy Yturriaga Adams

I would not be where I am today without the help of ceramic artists with more experience who like to help out younger people. One of those people is nationally known clay artist and ACGA member Nancy Yturriaga Adams. The first time I met Nancy was at the Palo Alto Festival about 10 years ago. She came marching into my booth and bought a piece. I had no idea who she was until my neighbor said, "Do you know who just bought a piece from you? That was Nancy Adams!" I was suitably impressed and flattered.

Nancy was kind enough to take me under her wing. When some of my images were rejected from a website because of the poor quality, I was furious. How dare they say my images were poor! I paid good money for those slides! This was back when everything had to be shot as slides, and they did cost a pretty penny. Nancy looked at my slides and said calmly that they were, indeed, poor. Her opinion finally penetrated my fury and made me realize I needed to step it up a notch. Nancy sent me to Hap Sakwa, and I never was rejected on the basis if poor slide quality again.

Nancy and I spent more time drinking tea and talking about life than pottery, but to know I had such a heavy contender in my corner gave me a boost early in my career. Nancy now has her dream ranch in Applegate, Oregon, so our tea drinking and chatting is a rare and special occasion. Nancy was recently featured in her local paper, the Daily Courier, and there is a short video on her at their website. Check her out there!

letter from the President

Dear ACGA members,
This is my first opportunity to say “hello” to everyone as your new ACGA president, having just taken over from Barbara Sebastian who has served as president for the past two years. A big “thank you” goes to Barbara, as well as to the ACGA members who gave me their vote of confidence to take over the president’s chair. Thank you. Having served on the ACGA Board of Directors for several terms, I knew that at some point I would step up to serve as President, and that time has come. I’m equal parts excited, intimidated, anxious, and ready.

My position as President represents new leadership on several fronts. When I juried in as an exhibiting member in my late 20’s, I was the youngest member of the ACGA. Over ten years later, I am now surrounded by other ACGA artists of my generation, and I am happy to see them showing at the Palo Alto Festival, serving on the Board, and taking part in the running of ACGA. This gradual handing over of the baton to the next generation is a necessary part of the ACGA continuing to remain relevant and serve our art community, now and in the future.

As your President, my aim is to usher in some changes to the ACGA, which I hope will promote our members and their work more widely and efficiently while creating an opportunity for all of us to participate more actively in this wonderful community we are all a part of. For starters, this “Letter From the President” will be posted in the new ACGA blog, and you can go there right now and give me your reactions, your ideas, and hopefully, your support. This blog has open comments, so all you need is an internet connection to say what’s on your mind.

While change is new and exciting, let’s all remember that it’s the steady hand of experience that keeps this ACGA ship sailing. The ACGA is a successful organization because of the time and dedication of a select few of its members, who have served faithfully—literally-- for decades. The passion of these members is what gives you amazing exhibiting and show opportunities, a website, reports from other parts of the world, and a balanced budget. My question for you is: What is your passion other than making your art? And how can that passion translate into continuing to make the ACGA totally fabulous?