Ceramic artists are to show their work at the Bermuda Clayworks in Dockyard this evening.

The artists themselves will be on hand for the exhibit opening, part of Bermuda Clayworks' Summer Gallery Nights series.

Six of the eight participants have studios onsite. As such the evening will also feature hands-on activities and a tour of the various workspaces.

"Those artists who are there will be happy to talk about the art, provide insight to those wanting help who are just starting in the craft and be available for individual behind-the-scenes tours," said Bermuda Clayworks owner Sundee Faulkner.

Techniques used to produce the work vary. According to Mrs. Faulkner some of the pieces were thrown, others handcrafted and others slip cast.

"To decorate the work, again there are just as many varying techniques, some work such as the tableware is handpainted in signature designs using food safe commercial underglazes special pigments designed for pottery and are then glazed in a translucent glaze.

"Others use commercial glazes with special effects for non-tableware items that produce varying results such as textural or crackled surfaces. Others make their own glaze recipes or use slips to decorate their work. One artist uses salt in the firing process to create an orange peel texture known as 'salt-glazed' pottery."

She added: "There is also a broad variety of clay bodies used porcelain, terracotta, paper clay, white earthenware and stoneware.

"There is a mixture of high-fired and low-fired clays, which refers to the temperature ranges at which they are fired. The majority of work is fired in controlled setting [using] electric kilns, whereas the salt-glazed stoneware is fired in a hand-built brick kiln that is fired environmentally using only recycled waste vegetable oil contributed by the surrounding restaurants."

Mrs. Faulkner said the event is designed more as a social event than an formal exhibit.

"The Gallery Nights provide the artists an opportunity to prepare for our November show by creating monthly deadlines for producing work, for experimenting in a safe environment [with] new designs or ideas that they want to explore in preparation for the show, and to practise the various other requirements for executing a successful exhibition that we as artists often lack the skills in such as marketing and self-promotion.

"We have chosen Friday nights since there are no ships in port in Dockyard as we want this to be an event that caters primarily to locals and hotel guests as they are the ones who support us year round when the cruise season has ended. We have a strong local following of collectors and supporters. Not only is this our way of showing them that despite the busy pace of the summer season, we still are working hard after hours to create new work, it is also a way that we can show our appreciation for our supporters by putting on this casual fun evening each month."

For more information telephone 234-5116 or e-mail clayworks@ibl.bm. Time: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.