It is now possible to communicate in an electronic forum through the use of software commonly mounted on mainframe computers at academic institutions around the world connected via the Internet. There are over 10 million users of the Internet worldwide. Through the use of electronic mail and distribution lists, participants can interact on a daily basis with colleagues who hold similar interests. These discussion lists have been compared to bulletin boards or electronic discussion groups - members "post" messages to a particular e-mail address which then distributes the message to all subscribers.
Topics of these discussions range from art to vegetarianism. It is now possible for those interested in the ceramic arts to participate in such a forum.
CLAYART is a forum with the primary focus of providing a method of communication between individuals with concerns relating to clay. This discussion list gives NCECA members (and others interested in ceramics) an opportunity to share information about aesthetics, technical problems and solutions, exhibition opportunities and announcements, job possibilities, workshops/seminars, conference information, etc. on an immediate and daily basis. A list such as CLAYART serves as an important communication tool for NCECA. Currently CLAYART supports more than 1000 list members from more than 23 different countries.
To subscribe to CLAYART one will need a computer with access to the Internet. It can be as simple as a modem attached to one's computer and a connection to the campus network through a phone line. Many departments already have such access (some even have direct connections). Often it will only require a call to the university's Department of Academic Computing to find out about such access. For those associated with academic institutions without such facilities or for those not associated with academia there are commercial vendors who can provide this access at a very reasonable cost (Compuserve, America Online, Delphi, GEnie, Prodigy, MCIMail, Sprintnet, ATTMail, etc.)
CLAYART is provided at no cost to NCECA or to the membership of the list. Only those using commercial vendors for access will incur any cost at all. Because of the nature of the organization, many NCECA members will already have free access through their home institutions. Those with computer accounts already may subscribe to CLAYART by sending the following e-mail message to LISTSERV@UKCC.uky.edu:
SUBSCRIBE CLAYART Your Name
You will then be automatically added to the list and will receive a letter of acknowledgment from the distribution software. Shortly after subscribing to CLAYART, you will receive a "Welcome" message with more information from the moderator/originator of the list, Joe Molinaro, Associate Professor/Ceramics at Eastern Kentucky University. In this message Joe will further instruct you in the mechanics of the list (ie. how to search through the archived files, how to check on your account, what kind of mail you can expect, etc.)
To post a message to the group, simply address the mail to CLAYART@UKCC.uky.edu. Your message will then be distributed to all subscribers.
For more information interested persons may contact Joe Molinaro at: artmolin@acs.eku.edu or refer to Ceramics Monthly November 1993 article titled, "Ceramics and Electronic Communications" by Rick Malmgren.
You may write to him via "snail mail" at Eastern Kentucky University, Art Department, Campbell 309, Richmond, KY 40475. He can add you to the list or can give you instructions on subscribing yourself.