The 2022 annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) is coming to Sacramento this March, highlighting the rich local ceramic arts scene for which this region is so well known. Several venues in Sacramento and the surrounding area will host exhibitions in conjunction with NCECA’s Fertile Grounds conference.

Local ceramic artists will be spotlighted in many of these Sacramento area shows. Among the shows featuring UC Davis art studio alum are:

• “And Salt the Earth Behind You” organized by Emily Gordon (M.F.A. ‘22) and showing works by Gordon and Whitney Vangrin (M.F.A., ‘22). “And Salt the Earth Behind You” will be on view at the Shepard Garden and Arts Center in Sacramento from March 15 to March 19 with a reception on Friday, March 18 from 5-8 pm.
• “Everything is Possible; Nothing is Probable: The Legacy of the Candy Store Gallery in the Sacramento State Art Collection” celebrates the enduring influence of the Candy Store Gallery, Folsom, California (1962–1992) through works in the Sacramento State art collection. Curated by Kelly Lindner, the exhibition features artists Clayton Bailey, Robert Brady (M.F.A., ‘75), Arthur Gonzalez (M.F.A., ‘81), Irving Marcus, Joan Moment, Jim Nutt, Jack Ogden, Sandra Shannonhouse (B.A., ‘69, M.F.A., ‘73), Chris Unterseher (M.F.A., ‘67), Peter VandenBerge (M.A., ‘63), and others.
• “Everything is Possible; Nothing is Probable: The Legacy of the Candy Store Gallery in the Sacramento State Art Collection” will be on view from March 14 to May 27, 2022 at the University Library Gallery at CSU Sacramento.
• “Belonging: the 2022 NCECA Annual” is the featured annual exhibition hosted by the Crocker Art Museum and curated by Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy. ”Belonging” features Daniel Alejandro Trejo (B.A., art studio and art history, ‘13). Belonging is on view until May 8.
• “No End in Sight” is curated by Daniel Trejo at the Verge Center for the Arts in Sacramento. This show features local artists Debra Broz, Cathy Lu, Paolo Mentasti, Cristina Tufiño and Jordan Wong and runs from March 12 to May 14.
• “Melchert, Shaw, and Brady” features three of Northern California’s veteran clay artists James Melchert, Richard Shaw (M.F.A., ‘68) and Robert Brady (M.F.A., ‘75). On view at B.Sakata Garo in Sacramento from March 2 to April 2.
• “The Candy Store: Funk, Nut, and Other Art with a Kick” presents the work of Robert Arneson, David Gilhooly (B.A., ‘65, M.A., ‘67), Sandra Shannonhouse (B.A., ‘69, M.F.A., ‘73) and other Funk artists who exhibited at the Candy Store Gallery in Folsom. On view at the Crocker Art Museum until May 1.
• “Divinations” in the Campagno Room, Sheraton Hotel, features John Roloff (B.A., ‘70) and Neil Forrest exploring cuneiform clay tablets and divination practices in ancient Sumer.
• “Real ID” is an exhibition addressing the themes of identity and connectivity at Consumnes River College Art Gallery and includes work by Arthur Gonzalez (M.F.A., ‘81) among others. 
• “Pay Dirt” at the Blue Line Arts in Roseville shows California artists, including Lisa Reinertson (M.F.A., ‘84), mining our relatioship to our environment.
• “On the Edge: CCA Clay,” at the Pence Gallery in Davis, pays homage to Viola Frey and her role at the California College of Arts in Oakland. Several UC Davis affiliates are featured in ”On the Edge: CCA Clay,” including Squeak Carnwath, Robert Arneson, Mary Alison Lucas (M.F.A., ‘08), Arthur Gonzalez (M.F.A., ‘81 and Professor at CCA) and Claudia Alvarez (B.A., ‘99). On view from March 16 to May 15.
• “Tree of Ceramics” at the John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis will explore the ceramics family from its beginnings to the present with Robert Arneson, Robert Brady (M.F.A., ‘75), Victor Cicansky (M.F.A., ‘70), Donna Billick (M.F.A., ‘76), Esther Shimazu, Margaret Keelan, Patti Warashina, Irina Zaytceva, Beth Lo.
• “Tap Roots: Ceramic Artist Educators of Northern California” features Richard Shaw (M.F.A., ‘68), Lisa Reinertson​ (M.F.A., ‘84), Peter VandenBerge (M.A., ‘63) and John Roloff (B.A., ‘70). “Tap Roots” is a joint exhibition on view at Epperson Gallery of Ceramic Arts in Crockett from March 1 and April 10, and at Arts Benicia from March 16-19.
• “Modern and Contemporary Bay Area Ceramics,” at Modern Art West in Sonoma, highlights works by Peter Voulkos, Viola Frey, Clayton Bailey, Stephen DeStaebler, Maija Peeples-Bright (M.F.A., ‘65), Manuel Neri, and others. “Modern and Contemporary Bay Area Ceramics” is on view from March 15-22.
• “Bay Clay” features artists Arthur Gonzalez (M.F.A., ‘81), Mary Alison Lucas (M.F.A., ‘08), Stan Welsh, Bill Abright, Claudia Tarantino, Andy Ruble and Robert Brady (M.F.A., ‘75) all showing three pieces Brady’s studio. On view from March 15-20 at Trax Gallery in Berkeley.

In many instances, opening receptions will be held in coordination with the conference on Friday, March 18 from 5-8 pm. Please visit the conference exhibition schedule to confirm if this applies to the exhibition you wish to visit.

NCECA ”Fertile Grounds” will be open in person and remotely from  March 16-19 at SAFE Credit Union Convention Center.

A full event schedule is available on the conference site.