This is the second in the 2019 Art Lecture series at Historic Yellow Springs.

Jack Troy taught for 39 years at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, beginning in 1967. In 1978 he built Pennsylvania’s first anagama-style kiln at Juniata College, and personal anagamas at his home in 1987 and 2006. His work is in many private and public collections, including the Smithsonian Institution, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park (Japan), Auckland (NZ) Museum of Art and the Kalamazoo (MI) Institute of Art. Jack Troy is known for his books Salt Glazed Ceramics, Wood-fired Stoneware and Porcelain, and Calling the Planet Home; he has authored more than 60 articles for major pottery periodicals; and he has presented more than 230 workshops.

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts awarded Troy two Craft Fellowships for his work in ceramics, and a Fellowship in Literature for his poetry. He was selected by the Council to make the awards for the 2005 Governor’s Awards for the Arts. In 2012 Troy received the Excellence in Teaching Award from NCECA, the National Council for Education in Ceramic Arts.

“Throwing Words; Composing Clay”: Troy will speak on this theme in a style that engages the audience in its weaving of words and images with his experience and knowledge of pottery. A humble master of both clay and language, his anecdotal stories include valuable technical and aesthetic considerations, humorous depictions of artistic challenges as a potter, and inspiring new ideas. Also included in the presentation, slides of Troy’s pottery reveal sources of inspiration as well as his understanding of ceramic history and its continuity to the present day. Troy adds, “In addition to documenting my work in clay with images, I will also be reading and reciting some of my poems—many of which are pottery related—that are important aspects of my expression.”  If you have a passion for clay, art, poetry, or the process of transformation, this is an opportunity not to be missed. The lecture will take place on Monday April 15 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Washington Building in Historic Yellow Springs. Tickets may be purchased in advance as well as at the door the day of the event. Pottery, throwing sticks, and publications by Jack Troy will be for sale at the event.

HYS Wood-Fired Kiln Rebuild Campaign:  All proceeds from sale of lecture tickets will go towards the HYS Wood-Fired Kiln Rebuild Campaign. Historic Yellow Springs currently has a dual-chamber noborigama kiln and offers frequent private and community firings. A project is underway for a kiln rebuild and Historic Yellow Springs is honored to launch its funding campaign at this event.