CLAY LA ceramic marketplace at Craft Contemporary

Craft Contemporary’s CLAY LA returns to Los Angeles this weekend, turning the museum’s courtyard into a three-day ceramic marketplace and fundraiser from April 24 to 26. (craftcontemporary.org) The event is the ninth edition of CLAY LA and runs at Craft Contemporary, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., with a Friday preview night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and market hours on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (craftcontemporary.org) Friday’s preview costs $20 for the general public and $15 for members, while Saturday is included with the museum’s $9 admission and Sunday is pay-what-you-wish. (craftcontemporary.org) CLAY LA is built around direct sales from potters and ceramic artists, not gallery consignment, so visitors can meet makers in person while shopping handmade work. Craft Contemporary says the event brings together emerging and established artists from across Los Angeles. (craftcontemporary.org) The marketplace also doubles as a fundraiser for the museum’s mission and programs, tying weekend shopping to Craft Contemporary’s ceramics workshops, exhibitions and broader craft programming. The museum says past editions have drawn hundreds of artists and thousands of visitors. (craftcontemporary.org) This year’s lineup includes more than two dozen named vendors, including Angel Prudencio, Chunmei Ceramics, Devin Devon Taaffe Pottery, FHAR Studio, Greg Lowe Arts, People’s Pottery Project, Sergio Noe Studio and Tierra del Sol. (craftcontemporary.org) The weekend schedule adds free drop-in air-dry clay activities from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with material support listed from Laguna Clay & Glaze Co. An opportunity drawing will feature selected pieces from participating artists, with extra entries sold on site for $5. (craftcontemporary.org) PBS SoCal included CLAY LA in its April 20–26 events roundup, and its event listing describes the Friday night preview as an outdoor evening with complimentary refreshments and music. Discover Los Angeles lists food and drink vendors Seedy and Wawa Coffee Stand for Saturday and Sunday. (pbssocal.org 1) (pbssocal.org 2) (discoverlosangeles.com) For Angelenos, the pitch is simple: show up between Friday, April 24, and Sunday, April 26, buy directly from ceramic artists, and help fund the museum hosting them. (craftcontemporary.org)