Colorado Potter’s Guild Interview
This morning, I met with three lovely members of the Colorado Potter’s Guild for an interview to become a member. I think it went well – but I’m up against 4 other applicants – and judging from the other work that was left by two of them, it’s going to be a tough decision. I was treated to a tour of the facility which is, quite frankly, luxurious compared to my humble garagio. I think the guild membership will be making a decision at the end of this month so I’ll be sure to share my fate either way. Thank you to the members with whom I had the pleasure of talking this morning!
As part of my interview, I left some work for the guild membership to look at, along with the book above. I really enjoy making handmade books and have been looking for an excuse to make one recently. I included my resume, images and a sampling of my web and blog pages in the book.
The book was constructed using the Japanese style stab binding techniques. If you are at all interested in making artist style books, I highly recommend Cover to Cover by Shereen LaPlantz. It’s a gorgeous book (currently available used for under $8.00 on Amazon) with instructions and oodles of photographs. Click here for step by step instructions for making your own 4 stab binding book.
Meanwhile, it’s in the high 30′s today – it feels down right balmy. I think I’m going to take this opportunity to do a little trimming out in the garagio this afternoon.
Have a good week everyone,
~Cynthia
Chaos Reigns!
Normally, I don’t mind a little chaos here and there, but things have gotten out of control around my home, purse and brain. Our home is slowly being over taken by clay and work. Luckily, my husband is thus far very tolerant – but woe is me if he ends up tripping over the 350 pounds of clay sitting in the living room. I had to bring my clay inside and I also need to keep work in progress in the heated house as well due to the bitter cold temps we’re experiencing. Forget, having my home on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens – it deserves its own publication, maybe something like Decorating on a Clay Budget.
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The temperature is in the teens this afternoon – but it’s a damp cold that takes my breath away. Unless I heat my garagio next winter, I think I’m going to have to plan to do most of my production during Spring, Summer and Fall. On the bright side, we really only have about a month of really cold weather before warmer weather returns on a regular basis. The funny thing is that I visited Mile Hi Ceramics in the afternoon to buy even more clay for my after school clay class and the person who checked me out said, “Don’t let clay freeze.” I really wanted to say, “Ya think?” But, instead, I smiled and thanked her and went on my way.
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Meanwhile, I had a really bad day yesterday. I lost my keys not once, but twice. Once whilst my daughter and I were doing our daily race around the house in an attempt to get her to school on time. Eventually, I found them in the exact location they should have been in the first place but didn’t notice the first time I looked. I ended up making my daughter 10 minutes tardy for school. Then, sometime between walking from my car, visiting the school office, her classroom and some other misc. areas in her school, I lost my keys a second time, but this time for good.Bless the school secretary for lending me her car. I was able to pick up my husband’s keys and make it to a doctor’s appointment I’ve had scheduled for a long time. I was so grumpy with myself for being so thoughtless. One of my goals for the new year is to live in the present, but yesterday, after the panic and adrenaline rush of the am I couldn’t even remember where I might have placed my keys – or did they fall out of my over stuffed purse? I have no idea what happened. Have you ever done something with no thought or recollection of the event? I do it driving sometimes. I end up at my destination, but really don’t remember driving there.
I am holding out hope that some parent accidentally scooped them up or found the keys and will return them to the office later this week. But, if not, I’ll have to have duplicates made. I had to remind myself that there are more serious problems in the world, so if this is as bad as it gets, then I just need to get over it. Coming home to my clay strewn house, however, didn’t help my attitude.
So, today, I’m trying to wade through my purse, kitchen counters and computer files to try to bring a little more organization to my ever busier life. It’s a good thing to do on a day like today when spending time in the garagio could cause frost bite.
~Cynthia
Thoughts on Creativity, Education and Human Ecology
There was a time in my life when I considered returning to school to get a masters degree in art therapy from Naropa University in Boulder. Instead, I applied to the University of Colorado at Denver for a MLA in Landscape Architecture. I was looking for a creative career with a guaranteed income when I set my sights on Landscape Architecture. While some people are able to compromise their values for money with aplomb, I was not as successful. In fact, I didn’t listen to the tap on my shoulder when things weren’t going well despite the nagging feeling inside – and didn’t change my path until a brick slammed upside my head and knocked me straight.I spent a good part of 2006 feeling sorry for myself after dropping out of the graduate program at UCD. Don’t get me wrong, I was a really good student – but at the expense of my family and my health. And, then there was that nagging feeling that I wasn’t in the right place. So, before I made the decision to drop out I asked myself, was I willing to continue for 3 years in a program that would put me into $60,000 of debt which would guarantee that I would work 60+ hours a week after graduating for the next 10 years, albeit well compensated. 20 years ago, that wouldn’t of been a problem, but today it is. It just doesn’t feel right, especially after coming off of a 17 year career with an airline where I prostituted myself for free travel and a job where I didn’t have to think too hard.2007 brought greater clarity to my life and I’m really thankful to have bumbled about the past 2 years. When the children’s director at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center emailed me last year about teaching a kid’s art workshop this coming summer, it was an avenue that I had never considered. I thought I needed to be licensed to teach art. Turns out I didn’t. I just needed to have some cool projects, a passion for my medium, a desire to work with children and a good rapport with children. Check, check, check and check! My after-school clay classes will begin again next week and I have gained even greater clarity with what I want to do next.I have noticed a correlation between clay and learning that is so exciting to me. Most kids really dig working with clay – and they do so intuitively. I notice active kids calm down and concentrate when they’re really into the project and artistic children really flourish. My clay class is also very social – the kids talk freely about a lot of different things going through their minds. For the past few months, I have been mulling over the idea of opening up a clay studio outside my home that offers wet clay classes to kids and maybe a few to adults. There’s a huge demand that I can’t fill myself at one school.
Granted the Art Student’s League offers art classes for kids, but mostly on Saturday mornings during the school year and during summer art camps. Downtown Aurora Visual Arts does offer art outreach programs as well, but, they are a multi-disciplinary destination program. I would like to offer the clay classes year round. My model is the Baltimore Clay Works, where I hope to take a field trip in the next year. I believe there’s a similar program in Richmond, VA. My ultimate goal is to offer clay out reach programs to children in less advantaged areas of Denver. My husband has offered to help me write a business plan, but being the responsible finance guy that he is, he wants numbers and cold hard facts rather than dreams and good wishes.
In a sense, this new found clarity taps into my original interest in art therapy – helping people by tapping into their creative selves. Only, it doesn’t involve any more schooling or degrees, just action.
One of the parents from my after school kid’s clay class forwarded me this video of Sir Ken Robinson in conjunction with TED, a creative think tank. If you have the time, I highly encourage you to watch the video – it’s thought provoking and in a sense, relates to my rants of recent weeks.
I have really been thinking a lot about education, especially since my daughter started school 5 years ago. She’s a terrific student academically, but, after volunteering in her classroom, I worry about some of her classmates. I don’t believe that children learn in the same way. Maybe we’re not giving them the best education and that one size doesn’t fit all.
Sir Ken Robinson relates a story about Gillian Lynne, dancer and choreographer of Cats and Phantom of the Opera that really hit home for me. After interviewing her for his new book, she told the story of how her teacher insisted that she see a therapist because she had a low attention span, did poorly on tests etc., etc. Her mother took her to a Doctor, who after turning on the radio and watching her dance, told the mom that she didn’t need therapy or drugs, just a dance class. What if the Doctor and Mom had medicated her? She might never have had the opportunities that she has since enjoyed.
What if we’re trying to educate, strip mine style, all the kids in this country? There’s some lost potential. Here’s my favorite quote from the video:
If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original…in this country we stigmatize mistakes.
~Cynthia
PS. It’s been brought to my attention that email subscribers to my blog might not see the video. If that’s the case, click on this link to go directly to this blog post.
More Pottery Humor and Small Etsy Milestone
This was shared courtesy of the Etsy Mud Team. Somehow, I really relate to Antonia – enjoy!
Meanwhile, I had a small Etsy milestone. The dawn of 2008 brought my 500th ? and my 100th sale. Thank you to everyone!
I know it’s not really a popularity contest – but it just means I have to keep on keepin’ on to continue to build my business. I’m doing something right, albeit slowly. 
After spending all day in the studio yesterday, I have to switch gears today – I’m subbing for the special ed department at school. Although, it’s still a creative endeavor, it doesn’t involve making anything with my hands.
Happy Wednesday,
Cynthia
