• The annual Collectors Club Club Convention which took place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th May at the Wedgwood Visitors' Centre. These proved to be a very popular days and acted as dual purpose events to launch the new 'Clarice Cliff: The Art of Bizarre ' book and to view the exhibition.

On both days members had the chance to view the exhibits, meet 'The Bizarre Girls' and to buy from the Club stall. Everyone received their copy of the new book and had the chance for a signing by the author, Len Griffin, and the ladies who painted the pots we know and love all those years ago !

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		more pictures HERE.

1. The 'Bizarre Girls' open Convention '99.
2. The 'Bizarre Girls' with well known BBC Antiques personality Eric Knowles.
3. The past & the future ! Webmaster Andrew Hutton with Ethel Barrow.
4. The girls at the recently erected Newport Pottery memorial plaque.

Other Events Around The World:

New Zealand exhibition ~ The club has agreed to act as consultant for a Southern Hemisphere exhibition ! The Manawatu Museum in Palmerston North are staging this to 'commemorate' Clarice' s birth, focus on her life, artistic achievement, methods of production, and the desirability of her work to collectors'. It opened on February 13th and continued until June.

Chetwynd House Garden Parties ~ Keep July 3rd and 4th free to enjoy a leisurely Summer afternoon on Clarice’s lawn, amidst the garden re-planted with her flowers. There is a feature on Chetwynd House and its architects Parker and Unwin in May’s Period Living (on sale in April). Professor Flavia Swann has agreed to offer a few places at the Parties to their readers, which means even if you are not a member, if you get the magazine you will be able to join us ! Read a report with pictures HERE.

Clarice in Croydon ~ A small but potent Clarice Cliff exhibition is being staged by local enthusiasts at the Riesco Gallery, at the Clocktower in Croydon. It will run from June to January 2000 and there will be a Bizarre 'girl' visit, plus workshops, children's events, and the displays will be changed during the exhibition to reflect different times of the year. if you would like to help, or offer pieces for display, please contact Rachel Freeman daytimes on: +44 (0)181 253 1022.

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The Canalside Plaque ~ Ironically the same day that the Bizooka returned to London, the plaque dedicated to Clarice and Newport Pottery was finally erected. It is actually adjacent to the old Wilkinson’s area, on the opposite side of the canal from Newport Lane in Burslem. When you visit the Centenary exhibition it will be easy to pop across to see it ! (see picture above).

Clarice in Sunderland ~ Club member Dr. Phil Woodward who contributed a chapter to The Art of Bizarre, tells us that The Vardy Gallery in Ryhope Road is staging a Clarice Cliff display from September 3rd to 1st October, and there will also be a lecture and other events to follow. More details here.

• Melbourne, Australia ~ Kevin, a local club member, is organising an Australian event, with the help of our Australian representatives Sue & George Walters. This event is scheduled for Saturday December 4th, and we envisage a late morning start to enable as many collectors as possible to travel there, so even if you are flying in you should be able to arrive on the day. There will also be an informal dinner the night before so early arrivers can get to know each other. The key thing about all club meetings is that you meet like-minded people and we share our knowledge and enthusiasm for Clarice’s work. Whether you are a member or not, if you would like to go please contract Andrew Hutton at andrew@claricecliff.com and let us have your thoughts and ideas as to what you would like the meeting to include !

More details here.

• Christie's Valuation Day ~  8th August 1999 at the Wedgwood Museum, Stoke-on-Trent. More details here.

• The Clarice Cameo - Click here for more details.

• Isle of White Meeting - Click here for more details.