Feats of Clay star of Lincoln Arts

It was with real sadness that I heard the news that Lincoln Arts has been going through some tough times. More than half of the board resigned last month, reportedly from disagreements over the direction of the nonprofit arts organization. Like many nonprofit groups, Lincoln Arts has been going through some lean times financially and, perhaps, some dwindling attendance at its functions.But the star in the crown of Lincoln Arts is, of course, Feats of Clay " and this is a star that I can only pray will continue to blaze brightly.I cannot overstate the absolute wonder that is Feats of Clay, even at the risk of sounding like the biggest booster this region has ever produced. Feats of Clay is a national juried competition of ceramics held inside a historic terra cotta factory " but this description doesn't even begin to do it justice. If you have never gone to Feats of Clay, shame on you.When I first married my husband, Tom, Lincoln was " dare I say it? " pretty drab. I always tell people there were no stoplights in town. I think that's an exaggeration " there were one or two. But honestly, as you drove through town, all you really saw were the gas stations and the feed store. Not exactly a cultural destination " or so I thought.But that first year, Tom took me to Feats of Clay and I fell in love. Over the years, Tom and I have made a point of checking out art as far away as Santa Fe and as close as San Francisco, but Feats of Clay always holds a special place in my heart.Back then, of course, the tours were much looser. I can remember lugging our son Spencer, then an infant, up those dusty stairs in his stroller. These days, no children younger than 12 are allowed. We were allowed to wander pretty much at will through the factory, peeking into the design studios and looking over the molds for the gargoyles that grace so many buildings in New York City and San Francisco.There have been some years when, I will admit, I wasn't that crazy about the selections made by the juror. Usually, though, there are enough pieces that appeal to me that I wish for deep pockets.But no matter how often I go, I am always entranced by the atmosphere, by the mysterious nooks and crannies of the plant. And every time I go, I wish I had a good camera and that I knew how to use it, because Gladding, McBean is a photographer's dream.The exhibit is always beautifully staged. Part of it is high up in Gladding, McBean's factory, with oversized historical photographs showing the last 100-plus years of the factory's work. The tour then takes you back down through the kilns, where " if you go at the right time " you will see plenty of workers bustling around. There will always be a kiln or two or three going full blast, and the docents will tell you all about what it takes to fire the sewer pipe that is the life blood of the factory. The heat from the kilns can be overwhelming, so be warned " if it's going to be hot day, you should go early in the morning.The last part of the exhibit is housed in one of the beehive kilns, providing visitors with an up-close and personal view of the inside of one of those furnaces.So, you see, Feats of Clay is not just a ceramic exhibit. It is so much more. I have heard some people say that after you go once, there isn't much point in going again. I just can't see it that way. Even if it didn't mean the opportunity to see nearly 100 amazing pieces of art from all across the United States, Canada and Mexico, Feats offers an unparalleled chance to get inside those high fences and explore a different world. And for one short hour, I am able to reaffirm my love affair with Gladding, McBean " and to forgive them for the sirens that wake me in the morning and the clay dust that continually coats the inside of my home.I can only hope that Lincoln Arts, with its new board, will manage to stay the course " and will continue to nurture Feats of Clay. Because to lose such a stellar event would be truly devastating for this town.