SCHEDULE FOR GALA WEEKEND BUS TOUR

Thursday, Feb. 21

5:30 p.m. | Meet bus at the ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center

6 p.m. | Lieberman dinner and home tour
Sip a glass of wine and tour the renowned collection of Sara and David Lieberman. In 2007, the Liebermans extensively renovated their Scottsdale home to accommodate their world-class collection of ceramics and baskets. Their international ceramic collection is sure to bolster your enthusiasm for the weekend's auctions, and their contemporary basket collection forecasts a new direction for the ASU Art Museum collection. After viewing the collections, enjoy a private dinner with the Liebermans.

Friday, Feb. 22

8:30 a.m. | Meet at the ASU Art Museum
Brunch and A Human Impulse preview
Enjoy brunch and welcome by ASU Art Museum Interim Director and Senior Curator Heather Lineberry and Curator of Ceramics Peter Held. Then enjoy a special preview of A Human Impulse: Figuration from the Diane and Sandy Besser Collection.

10:45 a.m. | Meet bus at the ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center

11:15 a.m.-noon | Krosnick home tour
Travel by bus to Dr. Arthur and Evelyn Krosnick’s Scottsdale home to view an extensive furniture collection by George Nakashima and ceramics by Toshiko Takaezu.

12:30-1:45 p.m. | Lunch and presentation at Cervini Hass Gallery
Enjoy lunch at the Cervini Haas Gallery in Scottsdale. The gallery is hosting a ceramic invitational featuring gallery artists. Artist Chris Antemann provides an overview of her work. Antemann’s ceramic sculpture pays homage to a hybrid of influences of figural vignettes, from Staffordshire to Asian.

″My work reclaims the figurine from its origin of multiplicity, pushing it back into the world of the original object," Antemann says of her work.

After the talk, the group crosses the street to visit the Udinotti Gallery and view the Rudy Autio memorial exhibition of ceramics and prints, as well as works by noted ceramist Don Reitz.

Free time to visit other Scottsdale galleries

3:30 p.m. | Meet bus at the Victoria Boyce Gallery, 7130 East Main Street, for the return trip to the ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center

7:30 p.m. | Lost Friends: Rudy Autio and Rudy Turk
Enjoy a reserved-seating talk and short documentary honoring Rudy Autio and Rudy Turk presented by Don Reitz. Coor Hall, Room 170 on the ASU Tempe campus.

Rudy Autio, a pioneer in the contemporary ceramics movement, passed away in 2007. Known for his clay vessels with activated surface drawings, painterly plates and silkscreen prints, Autio was recognized as the ″Matisse of Ceramics” for his vivid color and masterful drawing. Born during the Depression in the rough-and-tumble mining town of Butte, Montana, Autio drew inspiration from his immigrant Finnish heritage and working class background. He was inspired by universal mythological themes. He spent most of his career in Montana, teaching at the University of Montana from 1957 to 1985, where he influenced two generations of artists. His career spanned 55 years.

Rudy Turk, ASU Art Museum director emeritus, also passed away last year. He oversaw the construction of the current museum building. Much of what it is today has its roots in priorities he put into place during his 25-year tenure. He helped build the core of the ASU Art Museum’s ceramics collection. It was a sound base upon which the Ceramics Research Center has grown, becoming a resource of national importance. Turk also taught art history and ran the gallery at the University of Montana – Missoula, where befriended Rudy Autio, who headed the university’s ceramics program. Turk was an artist, teacher, and, by his own self definition, ″an eclectic collector.” He is survived by his wife, four children and five grandchildren.

Reception: A Human Impulse
Following the presentation, walk to the ASU Art Museum to attend a special reception for A Human Impulse: Figuration from the Diane and Sandy Besser Collection with collector Sandy Besser. Refreshments are served.

Saturday, Feb. 23

10–11:30 a.m. | Figurative Ceramics Panel Discussion
Take part in a reserved-seat panel discussion on figurative ceramics moderated by Edward Lebow, independent arts writer and City of Phoenix Arts & Culture public art program director. Panelists include collector Sandy Besser, Montana artist Adrian Arleo and Russian-born artist Sergei Isupov. Coor Hall, Room 170, ASU Tempe campus.

11:45 a.m. | Meet bus at the ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center

12:15–2 p.m. | Lunch and a tour at the Cattle Track Arts Compound
The historic Cattle Track Arts Compound in Scottsdale is a one-of-a-kind artist colony. Headed by owner and arts maven Janie Ellis, the colony offers art exhibitions, artists' studios and work spaces, a colonial antique gallery, Women's Theater performances, as well as limited-edition, fine art books beautifully crafted on an old-fashioned letter press.

2:30–3:30 p.m. | Armstrong-Prior Inc. visit
Armstrong-Prior Inc. is a multi-faceted arts business encompassing fine arts printing, publishing, and arts brokering. Joan Prior has curated some of the most prominent private and corporate art collections in Arizona. John Armstrong is a master printer, artist, fine-art framer and exhibition designer. Artists who have printed with Armstrong include Rudy Autio, Jun Kaneko, Don Reitz and Akio Takamori.

Bus returns to the ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center in the late afternoon
6 p.m. | Ceram A Rama: Soul on Fire
The highpoint of the Ceram A Rama weekend is the gala, an evening of festivities, including a cocktail hour, sumptuous dinner, a live auction of 25 ceramic works (Isupov, Lucero, Shaner, Takamori, Weiser, among others) and a silent auction of more than 150 pieces, followed by music and dancing. Proceeds benefit the exhibition, education and collection programs of the Ceramics Research Center. Catch a sneak preview live and silent auction pieces at http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu/crcgala2008/auction.

Sunday, Feb. 24

9:30 a.m. | Meet bus at the ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center

10 a.m.–noon | Private brunch and presentation at the Udinotti home
Travel by bus to a private brunch at gallerist Agnese Udinotti’s Paradise Valley home. Greek-born Udinotti is a longtime Scottsdale gallery owner. She represents nationally recognized ceramic artists Rudy Autio, Stephen DeStaebler and Don Reitz (guest of honor during the brunch). In November 2007, she opened the Udinotti Museum of Figurative Art on her property, which is available for tour during the brunch. Udinotti is also artist working in the figurative tradition. Her home and studio reflect her unique heritage and artistic interests.

Saturday & Sunday, Feb. 23 & 24

10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 7th Annual Ceramic Studio Tour
Enjoy a Valley-wide tour featuring 50 artists’ studios and homes, as well as the ASU Herberger College ceramic graduate students’ studios.
http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu/ceramicsresearchcenter/studiotour08.htm