What’s this Com Fusion thing all about?
This page will have special one of a kind creations that will be available through silent auction or by purchasing raffle tickets (it varies depending on the item). The funds raised from these items will be added to a savings account to get Com Fusion, the Ceramics Community Center Mariana Sampaio and I are building, off the ground in Portugal (we need to raise money for renting the physical space, ceramics equipment like kilns, wheels, tools, glazes and clays, building a website, and doing other outreach). If we exceed our goals for equipment purchases, we will use additional money to help other artists come to Portugal for an immersive residency program.
How did I come to meet and collaborate with Mariana? Click through to learn more.
The pieces you see here are collaborations between myself and other artists. Since we are building a community clay center, it only seemed appropriate to work with my community to help get things started. I’ll be posting about new artist collaborations on my blog, and sharing the progress on Instagram. As new pieces are completed, I’ll be adding them to the queue here. Each piece will be available for a set amount of time. At the end of the specified time, pieces for silent auction will be sold to the highest bidder, or in the case of a raffle, one winner will be chosen at random from all entries. I’ll update the total we’ve raised after each raffle is completed so you can see how far we’ve come. Our hope is to start working out of Mariana’s small studio in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal by the end of 2024, and move to a larger space once we have the funds to support it. We have already secured a space for artist residencies and retreats, but will need to build out the studio space within that space.
Additional fundraising will be happening through crowdfunding, and a donations page here. There will also be work trade opportunities for those interested in coming to Portugal. My new home will have a guest house, and I’ll be looking to trade lodging and some food & transportation, in exchange for help building out the residency studio.
Thank you for supporting these collaborations and helping us make this community center a reality! Keep an eye out for future raffle items to support building the community center.
Fundraising Goals:
$50,000
This will cover the expense of 6 potters wheels, a large kiln, slab roller, clay sink, shelves + carts, work tables, clay sink, initial clay delivery, 6 months rent, and administrative items (computer/printer, packing materials, basic photography equipment, website costs, office supplies).
Stretch Goal
$75,000
Additional funds raised will support the artist residency program, including an additional kiln, 2-3 pottery wheels, basic studio equipment (tools, clay, tables) and beds/dressers for resident living spaces.
Current Funds Raised
$1,674 (as of April 12, 2024)
*Note the goals also include consideration for taxes and fees that will need to be paid on money raised. Updates on fundraising will include, taxes and fees to be deducted.