Featured Clay Artist Program
About the opportunity
Every fall, VisArts hosts our annual Chili Throwdown—a fundraiser where neighbors come together to celebrate our clay program and taste-test chili from beloved restaurants across Richmond. All bowls and chili are donated by our community members and partner organizations. All proceeds from tickets and additional purchases directly support VisArts’ mission to celebrate and support the creative life of all people.
For the Chili Throwdown, VisArts’ clay team has a goal to create 1,000 handmade ceramic bowls. To hit this goal, VisArts relies on the Featured Clay Artist to contribute a minimum of 150 bowls and support in hosting community Throw-a-thons.
Expectations
- The Featured Clay Artist must create a minimum of 150 bowls between August and September. These bowls should be functional, beautiful, and all united by a consistent and recognizable style. The artist should be comfortable working towards a semi-production level project in a community studio.
- The artist must also be able to support the VisArts clay team at community Throw-a-thons on two Sundays in August.
Benefits (Valued at $1,800)
- Honorarium of $750
- Artist spotlights on VisArts’ social media, website, and email newsletter
- Headshot + bio featured on signage at the Chili Throwdown in October
- Free studio access for personal use at VisArts through December, including free firing + dedicated shelf space (Cost of studio access: $500 to VisArts members, $600 to the public; Cost of firing 50 pounds of clay: $100)
- Opportunity to sell works in the VisArts Artist Shop at Craft + Design in November (Cost to participate: $100)
- One free VisArts class (Cost of average 8-week clay class: $350)
Applications
Applications are now closed for 2025.
2024 Featured Clay Artist
Conor Dimond is a ceramic artist based in Richmond, Virginia. His journey into ceramics began with a simple terra cotta colored painting he created in the studio of bronze sculptor John Soderberg during a regular babysit visit. Conor spent many evenings with the artist who encouraged him to explore his mind and the world around him without limitations.
Years of travel interrupted any form of stability for Conor to focus on a particular discipline until he enrolled at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Inspired by his childhood painting he enrolled in ceramics where he had the privilege tolearn the basics of wheel throwing from his professor Bethany Benson. He became a studio technician working with then adjunct professor Rob Boryk who helped ignite his passion for high fire ceramics.
Conor’s work draws upon the aesthetics of the desert’s warm hues, high mountain meadows, and the earth tones of riverbeds. His work often features glazes rich in history such as Shino, Celadon, and Tenmoku as a means of paying homage to potters before and after him. By harnessing earths picturesque imagery and integrating tradition; Conor strives to provide his viewers with a sense of familiarity. To achieve this, he sticks to functional pottery. He invites you to interact with each and every crevasse, and texture of his work, hoping that you feel a moment of presence and a welcomed seat at his table.