Geraldine Vickers Receives the 2014 Cleo Curtis Award

Jerry Receives Cleo Curtis Award

The 2014 recipient of the prestigious Cleo Curtis Award was Geraldine Vickers.

Our recipient today has been dedicated to ceramics from the very beginning. After being exposed to the hobby they got hooked, just like many of us here tonight. Soon our recipient was encouraging other to try the hobby. Before long she was teaching others around the kitchen table, ran out or room and moved their group of ceramist outside to the porch, again just like many of us here tonight. You might be asking when was this? Well it is my understanding this was 50 years ago, at least( Clue #1). During the start of this great Fired Arts adventure they work two jobs, taught classes and picked up supplies to run a small business.

From the beginning they bought molds and started casting. Our recipient traveled 80 some miles each way from their home and studio in the mountains to the Valley to get their supplies. Every Friday morning they would travel to the suppliers, buying greenware, slip, paints and products. These trips to the Distributor and the Dealers could be long and hard. She made these trips every week no matter what the weather and many times she was afraid she would not make it home because of a snow or rain storm. (Clue #2)

Have you figured it out yet who we are talking about. With the support of her husband and her love for ceramics, they built a ceramic shop on their property. (Clue #3 this person is a woman) Because of the cold winter weather, she bought powdered slip and did all of her mixing. She was up at 4 in the mornings to start pouring. She supplied home shops in her area with greenware plus meeting her own needs. Classes were scheduled different days and a few evenings each week.

Shortly after Duncan launched theirTeacher Certification Program in 1968, she signed up. (Clue #4) She drove to Phoenix for those classes, the advanced Duncan classes as well as specialty classes taught by other instructors. She attended and took her students to the Ceramic Shows held in the Valley each year (Clue 5).

When NACDT was organized she joined however missing the date to be a Charter member. (Clue 6) She joined Saguaro Chapter and has also been a member of Desert Rose. From the first meeting held in Las Vegas in the 70’s she attended all of the IADCCT conventions except for 2. Many of her students came to Vegas with her, and were her guests at the Hospitality Night event. They all wore red jackets....a nice sight to see. Who was supporting who?

In 1997 when the Quarter Century Club was organized, she was a Charter member. From the second year to the current year she has served as Co-Chair. She has supported the Quarter Century Club as she has supported IADCCT. A behind the scene worker, she is a caring and giving person, has always appreciated everything anyone has done for her and always thinking ahead of what she can make for people. We know of her creative nature from the items she has made donating not only to the IADCCT Welcome Bags, but also to the Quarter Century Bags Goody Bags. Within Saguaro Chapter she is always making and donating....items for the different projects taken on by the members. Crocheting bandages for the wounded has been one of her biggest projects that again say who Jerry really is. She is such a wonderful and supportive member, and all who know her are positive Jerry is truly deserving of this Cleo Curtis Award.

Text provided by David Hoff