Visit Skutt at NCECA March 25 – 27, 2026
Skutt is thrilled to be back at the 60th Annual NCECA Conference at the Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit, Michigan!
Visit our booth to see everything we have going on, including a KMT-1022 giveaway, guest artist demonstrations, the Student Throwing Contest, and our latest equipment. Pick up free posters and stickers, and connect with the Skutt team. We can’t wait to see you there!
Win a Skutt KMT-1022!
We’ll be giving away a Skutt KMT-1022 ceramic kiln to one lucky winner at NCECA. All you have to do is:
- Stop by our booth and sign up to receive our email newsletter.
- Be present at our booth Friday, March 27th at 1PM when we will randomly draw one name to decide the winner.
Pictured is last year’s kiln winner Mya Finney. We recently caught up with Mya to see what she’s been working on since winning a kiln in Salt Lake City. Read the story.
Booth Schedule
| Day & Time | Artist Demos | Student Throwing Competition |
| Wed, March 25 | Herrick Smith (11:00AM–12:00PM) | 9:30AM–2:00PM |
| Steven Hill (3:00PM–4:00PM) | Judging: 2:30PM–3:00PM | |
| Thu, March 26 | Martha Grover (1:00–2:00PM) | 9:30AM–2:00PM |
| Steven Hill (3:00–4:00PM) | Judging: 2:30PM–3:00PM | |
| Fri, March 27 | Mike Stumbras (1:30–3:30PM) | 9:30AM–2:00PM |
| — | Judging: 2:30–3:00PM |
Scaling Up with Sectional Throwing Collab
If you caught NCECA in 2025, you saw Martha Grover and Herrick Smith collaborate on a 54″ sectional version of one of Grover’s iconic vases. This year, Mike Stumbras joins them to add his signature surface decoration.
Herrick will throw the large forms, Martha will shape and refine them, and Mike will bring the piece to life with surface treatments. Together, they’ll demonstrate how three artists’ skills combine to transform a massive stoneware vessel into a cohesive, multi-section masterpiece.
Throughout the show, you’ll see the full process of throwing, assembling, and decorating a multi-section form, and how Skutt pottery wheels support advanced sectional work with control, torque, and precision.
This collaboration will highlight:
- The power and precision of Skutt pottery wheels
- Sectional throwing and altered form techniques
- Cohesion in large-scale, multi-section design
- Integrating surface decoration with technical construction
Each artist will also host an individual demonstration, giving you a chance to get up close to their process and ask questions.
For more about their work, visit Martha Grover, Herrick Smith, and Mike Stumbras.
Student Throwing Contest with Steven Hill
Join us at the Skutt booth for a friendly student throwing competition! Each participant will receive a Skutt beanie, and three winners will be chosen daily to receive cash prizes. On Friday, the daily winners from all three days will compete again for the grand prize: a Skutt Legend wheel.
Students will have five pounds of clay to throw on a Skutt wheel into any form they wish. Contestants have 30 minutes to complete their piece and clean their wheel.
Judging & Demonstrations:
This year, Steven Hill will be judging the student pieces at 2:30 PM on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. He will also demonstrate in the booth at 3 PM on both days, immediately following judging. On Friday, the winners from all three days will be judged again, with the overall winner taking home a Skutt Legend wheel.
Participation:
Two students will throw every hour on the half-hour throughout the conference. Students can pre-register for a specific time slot or stop by the booth to see if a slot is available. Pre-registration is the only way to guarantee a spot. Please notify us if you are unable to make your time slot so it can be offered to another student. A student ID is required for verification.
About Steven Hill
Steven Hill is one of the most recognized names in contemporary pottery. Originally trained as a reduction-fired clay artist, Steven specializes in porcelain vessels and platters thrown on the wheel.
His signature work features layered slip textures and intricate glaze techniques. Steven often applies five or more glazes in layers, creating depth and richness in each piece. Now working exclusively with electric kilns, he single-fires his pots to Cone 8 and slow-cools them to form micro-crystals that give his work a warm, earthy feel.
Dates
- March 25 – 27, 2025 | 9:30AM – 2PM
Prizes
- 1st Place – $100 (awarded daily)
- 2nd Place – $50 (awarded daily)
- 3rd Place – $25 (awarded daily)
- Grand Prize – Skutt Legend wheel
Student Throwing Contest Sign-Up Blocks
Limit two contestants per block (click time slot below):
As of 3/24 at 12:00 PM PST: A few spots pots are still available. Please stop by our booth to inquire!
