Absence does make the heart grow fonder…
It’s been 7 months since my last post. Wow that comes across as a bit of a confession of sorts, but let’s be honest… those 8 words are an admission from someone who misses writing about her adventures in clay. Here’s another doozy – I haven’t touched clay in over 11 months. Sacre Dieu!
Stoneware Slab Built Covered Box – 2008
Et zut alors! How did this happen? I’ll confess another little tid bit since I’m being so open right now. I lost that loving feeling in regards to clay and decided to return to school to finish a grad degree in an unrelated field. I quit clay & pottery cold turkey which was made easier after packing up my studio and moving cross town last summer. A funny thing happens when one removes something from daily life that was once passionately loved. Regret, longing, day dreaming about caressing my hands over…? If it sounds like I’m talking about a lover, well, we all know that clay is like that in some ways.
So why start writing about clay today – there’s nothing special about Monday, June 7, 2010. Shooting stars and messages from the oracles aren’t guiding me to the studio or anything. Here’s the scoop: My daughter is signed up for an art camp this week at the Art Student’s League of Denver which just happens to be a few blocks from the Colorado Potters Guild where I happen to be a member, albeit one with a low attendance record. I decided to use this time to work in the studio and with fingers crossed there won’t be too many many other members around to witness the passion rekindling between me and an old love. I think I’m going to try throwing (even if it is on a foreign wheel mine is still buried in the new garagio) and expect to fill up the scrap bucket with many failed attempts. Or is throwing clay a bit like riding a bicycle.
It’s a start….
A different kind of drawing…
For my Plants in Design class, we’re keeping a journal – the goal of the journal is to document different ways plants are used to enhance built environments which is ultimately what I’ll be doing upon graduation. Fingers crossed the financial recession will be behind us by 2012 when I start looking for a job!
I pulled 3 of my favorite pages out of my journal from last week’s assignment to share. The topic of the assignment was “enclosure” (in terms of plants) and it’s in evidence everywhere I look now. Some work, some don’t and I suppose that’s the benefit of keeping our eyes open – Being able to file away different ways plants work in the landscape for future reference.
For this assignment, we were asked to draw in “plan” (sort of like an aerial view) & section (literally a cross section) to scale. It’s a totally different type of drawing and the scale is really more an approximation since I was measuring the spaces by using my feet as a ruler. It’s a little more technical as far as drawing goes, but it is sort of fun for a geek like me. 
Meanwhile, I picked up 25 lbs of white stoneware clay this afternoon. The Colorado Potters Guild sale is less than 1 month from now and while I don’t have much to show for myself, we are allowing clay jewelry this time around. Guess what I’m making? I really don’t have much time to do much else.
Hey, what do you know? I managed more than 2 posts this week….
~Cynthia
P.S. Tonight we’re going to try a new hot dog stand just a few blocks from our house – Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs. It has something for everyone in the family – big old all beef dog for the hubby, vegetarian dog for Jasmine and Frito-Pie for me! Luckily, I don’t have class tomorrow ;D
Week 2 in New House & School
Sub Alpine Pine – Echo Lake, CO
It’s been almost a full 2 weeks now since we moved into the new house which is still undergoing renovation construction. Needless to say, it’s a challenge to live without kitchen facilities – but we are oh so close. We now have counter tops, a sink with faucet, lights and our appliances will be delivered this Thursday which hopefully means that we will have a functional kitchen by next weekend. Yesterday, we also moved our daughter out of our bedroom into her own – whew – I no longer have to circumvent her mattress and myriad of stuffed animals and blankies to get to my side of the bed. (Yes – 11, almost 12 year olds still have lovies…Jasmine would be mortified if she knew I told anyone! ;D)
Meanwhile, Jasmine and I have both started school and are in full swing. She loves Japanese – though I can’t make heads or tails of the language myself. As long as she gets it, that’s all that is important. I have already been on 1 field trip into nature and am heading out this morning to Mt. Evans with my Landscape Ecology class. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Colorado, Mt. Evans is one of Colorado State’s ’14 rs’ – meaning that elevation at the summit is over 14,000′ above sea level. We have to leave early because weather normally sets in after 12pm making the visit very uncomfortable and also potentially dangerous. I personally have no desire to be up close and personal with lightening at 14,000′. We also have to visit this alpine/montane region now because the road to the summit closes next weekend due to snow. Yikes, did I say snow? I sure hope that I have enough clothing along today!
Hope everyone has a terrific week,
Cynthia
Studio Packed Up!
It's everywhere, it's everywhere!
Warning: this post is rated PG for bodily functions. Just kidding…. Despite being toe deep in mouse poop (ewwwwwe – trying not to think about hantavirus), I managed to edit, pack up and clean out my studio over the past 3 days. I wasn’t sure I could get it all packed up until about 3pm yesterday when I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, rejoiced and picked up the pace in order to reward myself with an ice cold margarita on the patio. I am happy to report that I was enjoying my beverage by 5:00pm yesterday afternoon. Can you believe that it took me 3 full days to clean & pack a space the size of an over sized one car garage? I’m going to be much smarter next time around – famous last words….
My studio is ready to move!
It might not look like it – but compared to the before photo:
Side one of garagio with wheel and "stuff" everywhere
I’d say I made a ton of progress. I have a large box of stuff to be donated and had so much recyclable material that I filled up our recycle bin and then had to gorilla recycle after dark – secretly adding items to my neighbor’s bins in the alley. Don’t worry, I’m not taking up anyone else’s green space because today is recycle pick up day and the bins will soon be empty.
I also vacuumed my ancient paragon kiln, took photos and listed it for sale on Craigslist: http://denver.craigslist.org/art/1303094075.html
Meanwhile, I plan to tackle all my other art supplies and books today after I head out on a little run. If all goes well, I’m taking my daughter to see Food Inc. later this afternoon because I’ve been dying to see the movie documentary.
Have a great week,
Cynthia
