Pots-n-Prints, the traveling ceramic and screen printing trailer at University of Texas Permian Basin, has been added to the 2024-26 Texas Touring Arts Program through the Texas Commission on the Arts.
The Texas Touring Arts Program is designed to ensure that all Texans have the ability to enjoy performances and presentations in their own communities by outstanding Texas‐based companies and artists, according to a letter from TCA to Mario Kiran, Professor of Art/Chair, Department of the Arts.
Roster placement doesn’t guarantee bookings and there are no funds reserved in their name, but the letter said those interested in booking Pots-n-Prints will contact them directly to arrange a booking, negotiate fees, and to enter a formal contractual agreement.
Kiran has earned a National Endowment for the Arts grant for Pots-n-Prints since 2013. The grant cycle is annual.
“For us, it’s unbelievable,” said Chris Stanley, Associate Professor of Art. “The community I don’t think understands how important those NEA grants are, especially for small rural regions like us, so much so that” the mobile studio has gained national attention.
Stanley added that it’s very difficult to get on the TCA touring roster.
Kiran said they applied twice and got it on the third try.
“What that does is it’s going to put our Pots-n-Prints project into the whole state. Now literally, within the last three weeks since our project is now statewide, which is unbelievable. It’s kind of one of those things where it’s unheard of, especially in our region to have a UTPB project have that kind of impact,” Stanley said.
A Midland illusionist named Bronson Chadwick also got on the list.
Kiran said anyone in Texas can get in touch with them and they will work with them to put together a plan. The entity that wants Pots-n-Prints to visit can write to the Texas Commission on the Arts for financial support. Pots-n-Prints doesn’t get money from the Texas Commission on the Arts.
“Let’s say for example, a school district out here wants to bring us in, they will get in touch with us. Then we put together the contract. … Based on the number of kids, you’re going to be working with, there’s a budget, so they will agree on the budget. Then they can write a grant to the Texas Commission on the Arts so they will have to find matching funds and they will get the money to bring us in,” Kiran said.
There are deadlines to get the matching funds, so whoever wants the studio gets in touch with Pots-n-Prints beforehand and then submits the application for matching funds before the deadline.
“What this is going to do is open us up to a greater service area and statewide,” Stanley said.
Daniel Ramirez has been helping with setup and teaching kids for two years. He is a senior at UTPB going for a bachelor in fine arts. He plans to graduate in December.
“It’s fun. It’s also a good way to see other places,” Ramirez said.
Over the years, Stanley said 25 to 30 students have helped with Pots-n-Prints. He added that many of those students have gone on to become art teachers or graduate students.
“The kind of subtle recruiting part for this is the students that help us with this grant also get exposed to a whole bunch of different teaching situations from elementary to high school. We want to expand that into other types of teaching careers and art making careers and so between the teaching profession and graduate school, the grant itself has been an incredible success,” Stanley said.
He added that it’s also helping the Nancy Fyfe Cardozier Gallery on campus.
“It’s starting to morph into documentation and curation of artists. The Pots-n-Prints idea is starting to expand … It’s controlled growth. We’re not trying to do it all at one time because we just can’t … this is not part of our teaching. This is, if you will, an extracurricular type of activity that goes on for recruiting but then also kind of being the Pied Pipers of art,” Stanley said.
There is a national juried show in the gallery right now with artists from around the country.
“Instead of having local shows, or even regional shows, we’re moving into that national and then quite possibly international within the next year or so. All those things work to build up the reputation, help our students get exposed to a bunch of different ways to work. All (of those) meet those educational outcomes, which is producing a high quality graduate,” Stanley said.
