conner burns studio
209 franklin street
natchez, ms 39120
tel: (601) 446-6334
e-mail: studioburns@aol.com
natchez clay moves to new location
conner burns created and operated natchez clay for 5 years. in that time natchez clay has had an amazing impact on the local, regional and national clay community as well as acting as a catalyst for the local artist community of natchez and the region. in june 2008, conner burns sold the teaching studio called natchez clay to local potter's donna jones and jaque stahlmann. natchez clay has a new location at 101 clifton avenue in natchez (just blocks away) and conner's gallery and personal studio will remain at the current location of 209 franklin street. conner will continue to be a part of the natchez clay community including teaching classes and workshops at natchez clay. this change will help natchez clay move to the next phase as it continues to develop and support a creative clay community that serves our local, regional and national populations.
conner burns was selected to speak about his art and the art process at the ceramics focus exhibit at the craftsmen's guild of mississippi facility - the mississippi craft center.
conner burns had his image of a tall lobed lidded vessel included on the 2008 geil promotional poster. the promotional poster for 2008 was introduced at the national council on eduction in the ceramic arts (nceca) national conference in pittsburg in march. the poster included images from selected artists that fire in a geil kiln. tom coleman designed the 2008 poster.
the nurse practitioner conference held in natchez in may 2008 selected an image of conner burns working in his studio to use on the registration brochure. this image was one of three used to represent the community of natchez. in addition to the image, conner was invited to be a part of the conference during the reception where his work was on display.
3rd annual UAM cup show
university of arkansas - monticello
conner burns curated the 3rd annual national cup show at the university of arkansas at monticello. over 150 images of cups were submitted and had to be reduced to 40. there entries were of exceptional quality. conner regrets that he could not include more than 40 cups in the show. the competition was of great quality.
conner burns was awarded the 2007 fellowship and grant from the mississippi arts commission. this award is given annually to an individual artist that creates work of exceptional quality.
conner burns speaks at local kiwanis meeting on the economic impact of art and craft in the united states. he speaks of national impact, state of mississippi impact, natchez impact and also discusses the impact on individuals.
burns pottery is changing to natchez clay. founded by conner burns, natchez clay is a community of clay artists that hosts weekly classes, weekend and week-long workshops and has studio space for clay artists. the name change helps to accurately reflect and clarify the difference between the studio of conner burns and the community of clay artists - natchez clay.
once a year the studio transforms and hosts a kids clay camp during the last week of july. two sessions of 16 students come daily for a week to the studio where three teachers guide them through the ceramic process.
burns pottery holds empty bowls benefit to raise money for local stewpot which faithfully serves food to those in need. burns pottery raises $11,700 for the stewpot. local artists donate bowls, burns pottery donates kiln space and glazes for firing and a great friend of the stewpot makes great gumbo. only about 270 tickets were sold (sold out two weeks prior to the event) for $25 each - which gave ticketholders the choice of a handmade bowl, allowed them to fill it with great gumbo and either eat on the courtyard at burns pottery or take it to go. the bowl is belongs to them - to remind them that there are those in our community with empty bowls and that the stewpot strives to fill those bowls. 100% of ticket sales goes to the stewpot. this event occurs in february of even odd years. (2005, 2007 etc)...
burns pottery, a studio that teaches classes from beginners to professionals, hosts workshops, rents studio space to clay artists and houses a gallery.
