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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 25 July 2017 25 July 2017

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy, except where marked as Courtesy of Diana Ingalls Leyba

After the dedication of the Big Ditch mural of the Youth Mural Program, five artists who work in clay faced off in a Mud-Slingin' Rodeo competition.

Five potters' wheels were set up for five artists taking part in six competitions.

 

Each potter was vying for bragging rights to the tallest cylinder, using 10 pounds of clay; the largest platter, using 15 pounds of clay; the most pots thrown off in three minutes; the fastest teapot; blind-folded; and craziest.

Claude Smith, retired ceramics professor at Western New Mexico University, and Curtis Dinwiddie, adjunct professor, served as judges of the rodeo.

The results from the Clay Rodeo are as follows: Event #1, the tallest Cylinder-Tolley Rippen, 24 1/2"; Event #2, the widest platter-Tolley Rippen, 22 1/2"; most bowls thrown off the hum in three minutes (min. 3" diameter)-Patty Countryman, 10; Fastest teapot- Louie Albertson; blind-folded pot form-Tolley Rippen; and the Craziest pot -Chris Souers.

The Overall top competitors were #1-Tolley Rippen, #2 Chris Souers; and #3 Louie Albertson.