The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts’ 60th Annual Conference, Volumes, took place in Pewabic’s hometown of Detroit from March 25 - 28, 2026. The pottery was fully engaged throughout the week and welcomed over 1,000 visitors on Saturday, March 28 alone.
Mutiple buses shuttled conference attendees to Pewabic from Downtown, Detroit.
Visitors explored the pottery during strolling and docent-led tours.
Views from the recently updated Pewabic Museum in the upstairs galleries.
Pewabic Education Director and Archivist, Annie Dennis, assembled various working groups, involving every department at Detroit’s nonprofit pottery, in the two years leading up to the conference. As a leader of ceramic education in the Detroit community, Annie recognized how important this week would be not only for Pewabic but also for the many artists, past and present, who have contributed to the organization’s ongoing legacy.
Annie addressed the entire working staff after the conference concluded, reminiscing, “Staff exhibited artwork, participated in lectures, and served as ambassadors for Pewabic across the city. And that's in addition to the meaningful interactions we had with visitors right here in our own space. Because of all we did, Pewabic was experienced not only as a welcoming, community-centered arts organization, but also as a place of serious ceramic practice.”
Countless women, named and unnamed, have made crucial contributions to ceramic art and education spanning thousands of years. Much like Pewabic Co-Founder, Mary Chase Perry Stratton, a pioneer of her time, women throughout history have used this “respectable” art form as a way to break through traditional expectations and barriers. On Friday, March 27, Annie presented “Mary Stratton and her Pewabic Pottery” to a large audience at the 60th annual NCECA conference. Annie’s lecture detailed Mary’s many achievements, including owning a thriving art business at a time when women were still unable to vote in Michigan. This presentation celebrated Mary’s contributions to the arts and aligned with the conference theme, which recognized many women who have left an indelible mark on the craft.
Attendees gathered to learn about Mary Chase Perry Stratton and her Pewabic Pottery during the NCECA conference.
Mary Chase Perry Stratton is pictured laying out tiles for the iconic Rainbow Fountain at Cranbrook, courtesy of the Pewabic Pottery Museum Archives.
The Ben Chamberlain Memorial Exhibition, organized by Ceramic Material Engineer Alex Thullen, was held on Pewabic’s kiln pad during the NCECA conference.
Family and friends gathered at Pewabic after hours to celebrate the life of artist and steward of Pewabic Pottery, Marie Woo.
The work of beloved Pewabic student and prolific artist, June Clare Mabarak, was offered to visitors free of charge. We thank our Education Studio team members and June's family and close friends for organizing this beautiful dedication.
Pewabic accepts the Regional Excellence Award at the 60th Annual NCECA conference
Pewabic was awarded the Regional Excellence Award, honoring organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to the ceramic arts and the cultural life within the region of the conference host city, presented by NCECA Board President, Shoji Satake. We wanted to share Shoji’s words about Pewabic Pottery while thanking him and the entire NCECA community for allowing us to share our history and continuing story with a larger network of artists, art enthusiasts, and ceramic educators.
Shoji writes, “Pewabic represents a distinct and powerful voice within this ever-evolving landscape. And yet, what binds us together is a shared generosity of spirit, a willingness to mentor, to push boundaries, to give of yourselves in ways that elevate not just your own mission, but all of us around you. That is no small thing. And it does not go unnoticed.
It was truly an honor to celebrate Pewabic, not only for its achievements, but for the integrity, curiosity, and care that Pewabic brings to this community. Organizations like Pewabic remind us what is possible when dedication meets purpose.
On behalf of NCECA, thank you for all that you and Pewabic have given, and continue to give. Please know how deeply valued you are. Our community is stronger, more vibrant, and more meaningful because of your contributions.”
Pewabic team members assembled to accept the Regional Excellence Award at the 60th Annual NCECA conference in Detroit, Michigan. Photo by Germaine Watkins.
The Story of Pewabic Pottery: A Tribute to a Detroit Icon
Written by Shoji Satake
Now, when we talk about the history of Detroit, we usually talk about steel. We talk about the assembly line. We talk about the roar of the engines that put the world on wheels.
But there’s another story of Detroit. It’s a story that isn't written in iron, but in clay.
It’s a story that began back in 1903. At a time when the industrial revolution was revving up, an artist named Mary Chase Perry Stratton and a kiln builder named Horace Caulkins decided to do something a little different. They decided to slow down. They decided to honor the human hand. And from that vision, Pewabic Pottery was born.
See, while the rest of the world was looking toward the future of mass production, Mary and Horace were perfecting the iridescent glaze, a shimmer that you can’t just "manufacture." It’s something you must earn through craft, through fire, and through a whole lot of patience.
Pewabic Co-Founders Mary Chase Perry Stratton and Horace James Caulkins, from the Pewabic Pottery Museum Archives.
And for over 120 years, Pewabic hasn't just been a building on the East Side. It’s been a National Historic Landmark. It’s been a heartbeat for this city.
If you walk through the streets of Southeast Michigan, or, frankly, across this entire country, you see the legacy of Pewabic. You see it in our schools. You see it in our churches. You see it in the homes where families gather. Those tiles aren't just decoration; they are part of the very fabric of our lives. They are a reminder that even in a high-tech world, there is still a deep, spiritual necessity for the hand-crafted.
Today, Pewabic is a non-profit. It’s a team of fifty dedicated folks, artists and educators, who wake up every morning with a singular mission: to enrich the human spirit through clay. They aren’t just making ceramic art. They’re sustaining a tradition. They’re teaching the next generation that you can take something as humble as the earth beneath your feet and turn it into something beautiful. Something that lasts... Something that connects us all.
So, as we celebrate this "vibrant cultural destination," let’s remember what Pewabic represents. It represents the grit, the soul, and the enduring beauty of Detroit.
Because in the end, that is what art does. It reminds us who we are.
The Endangered Materials Project
Notable within Pewabic’s presence at the 2026 NCECA conference was a presentation by Annie Dennis and Alex Thullen on Thursday, March 26, detailing their Endangered Materials Project. For years, Annie and Alex have been collecting and preserving the iconic packaging of ceramic materials that are on the brink of extinction. Annie set to the task of documenting each of these beloved materials through a series of watercolor paintings. Many NCECA attendees and visiting artists took a special interest in their presentation, as these material shortages are strongly felt. Follow Annie and Alex’s ongoing work on Instagram @endangered_materials_project.
You can now purchase various prints and postcards on our website, including the 18” x 24” Endangered Materials Watercolor Poster by Annie Dennis and the custom Letterpress Print of Geo Tiles and postcard by Alex Thullen in collaboration with Signal Return, pictured below.
Education Director and Archivist, Annie Dennis, holding the 18” x 24” Endangered Materials | Watercolor Poster. Photo by Emily Berger.
Ceramic Material Engineer, Alex Thullen, holding the 8” x 10” Geo Tiles Letterpress Print he designed in collaboration with our neighbors, Signal Return. Photo by Emily Berger.
Your support helps ensure Pewabic Pottery will continue to thrive for the next century and beyond
For those of you who visited Pewabic, participated in a tour or workshop, shared laughs, celebrated with us, attended a lecture presented by our team members at the conference, and supported our community, words cannot express our gratitude.
Our world may seem to place less value on art communities, nonprofit organizations, and art education. Meeting and reconnecting with you all has strengthened our resolve that the future of art and art education is bright and worth fighting for.
If you would like to learn more about how you can support the pottery or become a Pewabic Member, please visit our Join + Support webpage. You can always reach us through our social media channels. Find us @pewabic. We’d love to hear from you!
Dedicated to the late artists and stewards of Pewabic Pottery, June Clare Mabarak, Diana Pancioli, Marie Woo, and Ben Chamberlain.
