Taking place every summer in Silver City, New Mexico since 2012, the Silver City CLAY Festival gathers together artists, educators, entrepreneurs, families, youth, adventurers, and life-long learners to explore clay in its many forms as well as its impact on our history, present, and future.
The Silver City CLAY Festival – an Arts & Cultural District Signature Event – is an annual celebration of clay, its history, and its cultural impact where locals and visitors can experience artist workshops and sales, lectures, demonstrations, films, archaeological tours, and various social activities.
The festival intends to foster an entrepreneurial spirit that engages local businesses, artists, and the global community in a unified enthusiasm for clay leading to rural economic sustainability.
TOURS:
Cliff Dwellings
LeBlanc/Zipin Home
Pitchfork Ranch
Syzygy Tile
Silver City Labyrinths
Youth Mural Project Tile Sites
MUSEUM EVENTS:
Silver City Museum - Two special exhibits: one showcasing the diversity of women of the West and the other showcasing the regional ranching and cowboy culture.
WNMU Museum: Temporary exhibit of Mimbreño culture & pottery, including the NAN Ranch Collection.
GALLERY EVENTS:
Opening for 'Drinking' Juried Exhibition - July 26 - Blue Dome Gallery
Opening for 'Interwoven' Juried Exhibition - July 29 - McCray Gallery - Western New Mexico University
Exhibition - Barb Campbell & Javier Cervantes - Blue Dome Gallery at the Bear Mountain Lodge
Exhibition - Hopi Pottery - Tree Spirit Gallery
Exhibition - Stephani Stephenson - Ravens Nest
Exhibition - Interpretations of the Clay - 208 North Bullard - Clay through the eyes of Grant County Art Guild members: including Mimbres/Paquime Gourd Art, Photography, Still Life Paintings/Drawings and Clay vessels. There will also be a display of early Juan Quezada pottery and ancient Casas Grande/Paquime pieces. Daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Exhibition - Jeremy Dillar, Marghie Seymour, Penny Flick, Mata Ortiz artists (Ivan Castillo, Eleazar Cantano, Lucio Soto) - Soul River Exhibition - Arturo Rios (Oaxacan hat designer to the stars) - Vintage Fantasy
YOUTH:
CLAYplay at Regional Libraries
Beth Menczer in Gila - morning & afternoon July 25
Zoe Wolfe in Silver City - afternoons of July 25, 26, 27 and 28
Kathryn Allen in Bayard - afternoons of July 25, 26, 27 and 28
CLAYmation Films - July 29
Outdoor Youth Events - July 30 partnering with the Silver City Food Co-Op & Silver City Farmers Market
SPECIAL EVENTS:
CLAY Poker Fundraiser - July 23 - Old Elks Lodge
Meditation in CLAY - July 24
CLAY Film Festival - July 25 - Silco Theater
CLAY Film Festival - July 27 - Silco Theater
CLAY Gala Fundraiser - July 28 - Seedboat Gallery
Artist Meet & Greet - July 29 - McCray Gallery
CLAYfest Market - July 30 - downtown Silver City
Closing movement and meditation activity - July 31 - Lotus Center