| The U.S. Pottery Games Sitting on the bleachers and watching the turn of the pottery wheel is one of the delights at the Cambridge Pottery Festival. The U.S. Pottery Games are a large part of the CPF. In timed events, these games challenge the professional potter in skilled competitions. |
| Prior to the start of the games, the professional potters will sign up for an allotted throwing time. Saturday morning, 15 minutes before they throw, the potters will begin to wedge their clay; a process of removing the unwanted air in the clay, and then weigh each wedge for the competitions. Each competition requires a seperate wedge of clay. The amount of clay depends on each potters weight division. Lightweights work with 5 1/2 pounds and Heavyweights work with 11 pounds. There is a scale to weigh the clay and the potters use the honor system. |
| The competition is as follows: 15 minute cylinder - given 15 minutes, the contestant must throw the tallest cylinder while still maintaining a diameter of five inches. Points are awarded based on height. 1 minute cylinder - like the 15 minute, but given 1 minute to complete. |
15 minute sphere - given 15 minutes, measurements are made of height and width, Points are awarded lesser of width and height. 15 minute platter - given 15 minutes, points are awarded on the width of the platter still standing in the allotted time. During these events our Games Master will take various measurements, while making sure that all pots have clay bottoms. The contestant may request a measurrement at anytime, but once they call for a final measurement, they can not continue to work with the piece. | |
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| Aesthetic competition |
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| The final competition is the aesthetic throw. Competitors get 30 minutes to let their creativity flow on the wheel and 30 minutes off to complete their piece. Finished pieces are then judged by a panel of three judges on a point system, and that score is then added to their combined totals from their other throws. The top three finishers in the Lightweight and Heavyweight divisions return again on Sunday morning for the Grand Champion Throw. The Grand Champion Throw is a series of 3 different wieght categories, 15 pounds, 1/2 pounds, 7 pounds, and the choice of throw is announced Sunday morning. |
The U.S. Pottery Games are a fun and enjoyable part of the Cambridge Pottery Festival. Once you have watched it mastered by the professionals, why not try it yourself at the "Hands On Learning Center". |
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