Keynote - 15th Annual Bascom Clay Symposium

The Fall Symposium will focus on figurative ceramic sculpture, showcasing the work of Kirsten Stingle, Natasha Dikareva, and Thaddeus Erdahl, each known for their innovative approaches to clay and mixed media. The keynote address will be delivered by Bethany Chaney, Executive Director of the John C. Campbell Folk School, followed by a public reception.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy the accompanying exhibition, Forms of Inspiration: Ceramic Artists of the Bascom Clay Symposium, where select works by the participating artists will be available for purchase. This provides an opportunity to collect distinctive pieces that reflect the artists’ unique styles and extraordinary craftsmanship.

About the keynote speaker:

Bethany Chaney, Executive Director of the John C. Campbell Folk School - Keynote Speaker

Bethany Chaney is Executive Director of the John C. Campbell Folk School, a nearly 100 year-old anchor institution in southern Appalachia that offers weeklong and weekend classes for adults in a variety of traditional craft, music, dance, cooking, nature studies, and other disciplines. Founded in 1925 on the Danish non-competitive folk school model, the Folk School hosts nearly 6,000 students annually across 800 classes in addition to a variety of community events, all of which attracting students and visitors from all over the world. Prior to joining the Folk School, Bethany served more than 25 years in a variety of non-profit and public service roles, specializing in resource development, strategic planning, and community and economic development programming. She is an award-winning writer, a former NC Arts Council Fellow, and an avid maker of pine needle baskets, a craft she first nurtured as a Folk School student. Bethany holds a BA from the University of North Carolina and an MBA from Northeastern University. She makes her home in Brasstown, NC.