The 10th Annual Brat Off!!

Welcome Ladies and Gentleman to the Ohio University's 10th Annual Brat Off, brought to you by your lovely OU Ceramics Department; it was exciting weekend here full of Winners, Losers, Brats, Booze and more! This years Brat Off was by far one the better ones that I have attended, being the 10th Anniversary that were lots of guests in town for the competition. The event had over 36 entries ranging from Asian, BBQ, Beer, Mustard, Hot, Sweet, Salty, Sour flavored, home made, store bought, supped up, and vegetarian, with all them cooked over charcoal, gas, wood chips, and steamed inside of your favorite grill or kiln. As a second competition this year, they added a new event; Best In Show, entries had only a few rules, being that the sculpture had to contain at least one brat, and did not have to be edible. so there were a range of brat sculptures to choose from. There were Four awards to be given out, one for Best In Show made by graduating senior Ellissa Cox, and First-Third made by Tim Berg himself, what a display!!























Once the grilling began contestants all placed their entries on a paper plate and turned them in for the jugging. Matt Long,

the judge this year, had his work cut out for him, being one of the cofounders of this competition he was hoping to have both halves judge but because he was unable come Matt choose an honorary judge... his son!! The two of them plowed through all 39 entries, approving on some and spitting out others, being forced to try all of them even after exclaiming "but its not even meat!" In the end with bulging bellies they announced the Winners... In Third Place, 2005 Ohio University Alumni Colleen Toledano (Woooh WHoo!!!), and in Second Place, Our 2005-2006 Visiting Artist Patti Chalmers (HHhaaahh HHHaaaa hhHaaaHH!!) and in an Amazing First Place, Our very own First Year Grad Student NICK BIVENS (and the crowd goes wild!!!!)
Yes it was a stiff competion with a lot of broken hearts but someone had to be the Winner. And now for the winner of the Best In Show, there were a lot great sculptures, some more sculpturally sound, others more conceptual (yes thats right conceptual brat sculpture,) But the winner taking home the amazing fish sculpture goes to ( drum roll please) Yvonne Brueckner all the was from Halle, Germany!!! She won with her amazing "Off With Her Head" Queen of Brats Sculpture.
Though the Germans lost their pride in the competition they should have easily sweep, meaning Johannes homemade brats, they gained it back with vengeance using Yvonne's natural sculptural abilities. What an amazing competition it was this year. Since the awards were given out, it was time to do was all ceramics and artists do best eat, chat and of course drink. There was also a DJ this years event, Nate from the sculpture department, brought his records and sound system setup for our listening pleasure, which was naturally lending towards a dance party. This years Brat Off one for the books Ladies and Gentleman, can't wait to start working on my brat for next year.