About The SPG
The Sacramento Potter's Group (SPG) is comprised of clay and hot-glass artists in and around the capitol city of California.  Our award-winning artists produce original wheel-thrown or hand-sculpted artworks which are sold in stores, galleries, art shows, artist studios, and on the Internet.

Meetings
We meet the first Monday of every even-numbered month at the home or studio of SPG members )and in 2008 at the Shepards Garden and Art Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento, CA).  A variety of subjects are discussed at these informative meetings, from upcoming art shows to glazing techniques to tips on closing the sale. 

Ceramics Shows
The SPG will sponsor the annual "Seconds Sale" at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center (5330-B Gibbons Drive in Carmichael, California, on Saturday, January 12, 2008).  This will be the last year at the SFAC and starting in 2009, the Seconds Sale will take place at the Shepards Garden and Art Center. It is highly recommended that participants bring a large bag, suitcase, or pushcart to the FAST-PACED, hugely popular, Seconds Show so they can more easily carry all of their wonderful purchases. 

Additionally, in mid-May, during the world-renowned "Feats of Clay" art show at the Gladding McBean Clay Factory in Lincoln, California, SPG members participate in the ClayFest just down the street from the Clay Factory (on May 3, 2008, from 10 AM to 3 PM).   SPG members are heavily involved in the fun "ClayFest" - check out pictures and stories from previous year's events.  Additionally, SPG member Laurie Kneppel put together an awesome pictorial tour of the Gladding-McBean clay factory, located in Lincoln, California.  To view the tour from her website, click on the following link: Gladding-McBean Tour.

The Annual SPG Pot Show will finally return on
June 14, 2008, at the Shepards Garden and Art Center (3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento, CA).  For a vendor application, click here  and here for a map of booth spaces.


Newsletter
The bi-monthly newsletter sent to SPG members provides a wonderful resource that recaps SPG meetings, lists upcoming art competitions and shows, assists the buying and selling of clay-related equipment and goods, profiles our members, and reports on the art world in the Sacramento California area.  If you have items of interest for an upcoming newsletter (e.g., articles, book reviews, upcoming art shows, equipment for sale or purchase), please e-mail the Newsletter Editor.

Field Trips and Events Pictures
Periodically, the SPG hosts field trips to various clay-related establishments.  The SPG Events page contains pictures and member articles describing a 2003 trip to ceramics stores and galleries in Berkeley, as well as the 2003 maiden firing of a huge wood-fire kiln in Oroville, California. 

Clay Classes
A number of clay-related classes and resources are available in the local Sacramento, California, area.

Joining SPG
If adults are interested in joining the SPG, please completely fill out the membership application form and mail it and your check for $20 to PO Box 3435, Auburn, California, 95604.

2008 SPG Officers
President:          Connie Chadwick
Vice President:     Mary Classen
Secretary:          Laura Kneppel
Treasurer:          Mary Classen
Seconds Sale:       Jon & Barbara Mehr
Newsletter Editor:  Anita L. Lowe
Webmaster:          Kanika Marshall

History
The SPG began in June 1976 with current members John Reiger and Mary Classen being part of the original group.  The Groups' newsletter was called the "Sacramento Potters Newsletter" and in 1981 "Seconds" became the official publication of the SPG.

The first few years the group had show-and-tell meetings with various potters showing slides of their crafts ranging from stoneware to raku to fine art sculpture.  The original group was comprised of potters with two to 20 years of experience who taught at public high schools, junior colleges, other college levels, or were Studio Potters.  Their yearly income from pottery sales had to be from 10% to 100% of their individual total income to be members. 

The first annual Pot Show was held on Fathers Day weekend (June 17 & 18, 1977) at Country Club Plaza.  The purpose of the Pot Show was to provide Sacramento Area Potters with a faire that would offer a good sales opportunity, get to know other potters and their work, and also increase public knowledge of, and appreciation for, hand made pottery.  The Sacramento Potters Show continued for 21 years at the Country Club Plaza Mall with the last show being held in 1997.