jt on sun 1 jul 07
Years ago, when sand was still a rock, I took a year of Pottery at our
local school from Mr. Wadley. I loved it from the 1st time I made a
pinch pot. Mr Wadley was always so encouraging to me. I spent many hours
after school in the clay room.
I do remember a show that was here in Helena that he encouraged all of
us to attend. Of course I did with a girl friend, I remember going to
the Bray, which was just a fledgling center in the early 70s. I remember
being fascaniated by all of the art work. Anyway, boys became more
interesting, then it was work and family.
I started delivering to the Bray about 8 years ago and always asked to
be put on the mailing list for the next classes. It took more than 5
years for me to be able to find time to finally take a class, and I
havent stopped yet. I still work full time, however my passion is in
clay. My kids are out of the house and thankfully my sig o, Ken supports
me 100%. Sometimes he even has to lure me away to go for a ride on my
Harley.
I bought a wheel in December and a Skutt 1023 1 1.5 months ago. Right
now I am on a learning curve, (yeah me, the one who cant remember
anything past 40 seconds) going from cone 10 reduction, wood, salt, soda
and gas at the Bray to cone 6 at home. I love the look of all the cone
10 pottery, and still plan on doing some, however my new passion is
trying to get my glazes down, and making some nice pots with what i
currently have to work with.
I love looking at all the wonderful pots I am seeing on all of your
sites. So I guess all the clay arters out there are a mentor to me now.
Someday, I hope to grow up and make beautiful pots like all of you.
Thanks for all the inspiration!
I spent 32 years raising kids, and now its time for me. This is my
passion, my life, outside of my friends and family, its my reward for me.
Judy in Helena
> Two prong question here.
> 1) who was the person(s) that inspired you to this field of pottery?
> 2) How have clay helped you (or not) through difficult times of your
> life?
> Can't wait to hear them all! Kathryn in NC
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
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>
>
>
Lois Ruben Aronow on sun 1 jul 07
Those are excellent questions.
Long story short, I had never considered doing this full-time/for real/as a
lifestyle until I met my best girlfriend. When we first met, we were both
New Yorkers living abroad. We both had 3 month olds, and were the 2
American bottle-feeding mothers in the group. I had been working with clay
as a dedicated hobbyist for a few years; she had been working at the
Radcliffe studio as Makoto Yabe's teaching assistant. She was the first
person I ever met who said "I am a potter" when asked what she did. I was
astounded, and knew at that very moment it was what I was never going back
to the media and that I would be a serious potter.
A few years later, she was helping me with a stoop sale, and found boxes of
pots in my basement. Despite my begging her not to, she brought them up to
the stoop and sold them. I was ashamed of them and embarrassed. An hour
later, the boxes were empty and I had $400. I bought her dinner. I had no
idea that I could sell my work!! She is my best friend to this day, even
though she lives in Indonesia now. I truly believe she has been the biggest
supporter of both my body of work and my career.
As for question #2: We were gut renovating our house when my mother was
diagnosed with pancreas cancer. I had a very small space in a communal
studio. I got the bright idea to make the tile for my kitchen. I had never
made tile before, but I knew clay, had a kiln and a slab roller and an idea,
so how hard could it be?
I made tons of tiles, and did a boatload of glaze tests. I would bring them
with me when I went to visit her. It gave us something neutral to talk
about, and she was really proud. The repetition of making tiles was good
for me during that time. I also learned a big lesson: I hated making tiles
and will never do it again for any amount of money.
...Lo
FWIW
**********
Lois Aronow Ceramics
Brooklyn, NY
www.loisaronow.com
www.craftsofthedamned.blogspot.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of
> sacredclay
> Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2007 11:13 AM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: inspirations from mentors and difficult times
>
> Two prong question here.
> 1) who was the person(s) that inspired you to this field of pottery?
> 2) How have clay helped you (or not) through difficult times
> of your life?
> Can't wait to hear them all! Kathryn in NC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> ________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
> subscription settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
Andrew Lubow on sun 1 jul 07
I doubt if I would be doing any form of clay work at all if it weren't=
for my first pottery teacher at Brookdale Community College. Her name=
was Lynn Peters. Some of you may know her as being the author of Surf=
ace Decoration for Low Fire Ceramics that Lark published a few years b=
ack. She was very Bohemian and had tremendous talent for ceramics I fo=
und her teaching was infectious and inspirational. Other people at tha=
t same college equally important for their inspiration were Erik Johan=
son and Ed Stein. I have a problem using my hands because of a tremor =
in them and they all had patience that I needed. Even so clay work has=
been a wonderful release of tension and imagination for me. When the =
clay talks and sings for me there's nothing like it.=0D=0A=
Robin Wolf on sun 1 jul 07
Mr. Watts - art teacher in the mid to late 70's in Yuma, Colorado. He
taught me how to throw when I was one of the problem children at Yuma High
School, giving me direction and confidence in something that was unique and
truly a part of my heart. Almost 30 years later, his gift to me has shaped
my life, no matter where I've been or what I was doing, I always return to
clay.
Because of clay, 3 years ago this week I met Larry. He showed up with a
group of friends late one night when I was up working in the pottery. Turns
out I was the only person any of them even remotely knew with lights on at
that hour, and they thought that I would have a cold beer ! When Larry
walked in, he was amazed at what "dirt" could do, and insisted on trying his
hand at the wheel. To make a long story short, our 2nd anniversary is next
week. He has not given up farming and ranching for being a potter, but he
is a great kiln building assistant, clay carrier, glaze helper and general
studio assistant. He is tolerant of a messy house and a clean pottery,
forgetting to get laundry soap but always remembering wax resist. If I
could just figure out how to grill a steak or smoke some ribs on the kiln,
he would be the happiest husband around!
I guess it boils down to one simple fact; my life's anchor is made of clay.
Robin Wolf
In rain logged Kingfisher, OK.
sacredclay on sun 1 jul 07
Two prong question here.
1) who was the person(s) that inspired you to this field of pottery?
2) How have clay helped you (or not) through difficult times of your
life?
Can't wait to hear them all! Kathryn in NC
Pat Lindemann on mon 2 jul 07
about 20 years ago, I took a job as a production potter, thinking that
because I took 2 pottery classes in college, I would be JUST FINE...ooooh
boy...what an education! But my employer, Larry Taylor, just let me figure
it out. The first day he explained the rudimentary rules to me- ie "You are
making sugar jars. They all have to look like this. You get $1.20 per jar
that looks like this." The first day it became evident that centering was a
problem for me...and I centered that day and the next until I got it...he
would look over at me, as he was throwing thousands (it seemed) a day, and
just give me an encouraging comment here and there..."nope, stop and look at
the shape of your clay- that tells you where you are not putting enough
pressure." "grab HOLD of that clay at the bottom...now PULL it to the
top." On the third day he said, "close your eyes...your hands know what to
do, its your eyes that are messing you up." And he was right...I guess what
he did was give me space and encouragement to learn. He wasn't at my elbow
really actively teaching, he just depended on the fact that I could do it,
given time and encouragement...and I did...and after working production for
2 years, I could and still can throw almost anything. Production teaches
amazing control and while I can still make sugar jars on auto-pilot, I can
throw most other things too.
Difficult times...clay has helped because it allows me to "turn off" the
verbal part of my brain for awhile that is shouting, "what are you going to
do!!?? What are you doing to do??!! Oh no...oh no...oh no...what are you
going to do??!!" When I can sit down with 20 pounds of clay and "make" for
awhile, its quiet...whether I am throwing, which seems to calm my body with
the repetitive movements, or hand building, it makes a different part of my
brain engage, I think...and sometimes after a clay-time, answers to my
difficulty will slide into the forefront of my brain, as if they were
handwritten there all the time...and even if the answer isn't there, or if
there IS no answer and no help for the difficulty...I feel more settled, and
can take a deep breath and plunge onward thru the fog.
Pat in SD
where we need rain very badly...fires abound here in the forest...
On 7/1/07, sacredclay wrote:
>
> Two prong question here.
> 1) who was the person(s) that inspired you to this field of pottery?
> 2) How have clay helped you (or not) through difficult times of your
> life?
> Can't wait to hear them all! Kathryn in NC
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
Susan Fox Hirschmann on mon 2 jul 07
This will be short and sweet (I hope).
Despite an incredible marriage and 3 great kids, the effects of an abused
childhood riddled my mind.
Therapy was an option, but unaffordable and I was not ready to have that work
anyway. I was not ready to open myself up to discussing old wounds. Too
burning.
I found clay and it took me away to the good parts of my childhood, when I
was building castles near the beach, two blocks from my home. It brought me to
a place of total quietude, cleaned my mind, brought peace and light to my
soul. It took me away from thinking about the past, and enjoying the hear and now.
There were many that guided me in my studies, from teachers at a local rec
center to the Corcoran, to GW..---their were friends that complimented my
"style" and juiced me to create more.......but it was the transformation inside me
that inspired me to know that I could overcome the past and move on in a
creative way to a positive inspired future.
Clay is my meditation, and now with kids grown, it defines me even more.
In many ways, it saved my life.
for that I am always grateful.
Susan
Annandale, VA
************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
Lois Sharpe on tue 3 jul 07
I find this thread quite interesting, and wish there were more
responses.
Clay for me has been a life line.
I recently did the Potters Council Conference Natural Instincts, at
Elizabeth Priddy's studio in Beaufort NC
--Wonderful time and wonderful job done by Elizabeth and the PC team--
but, in getting ready for my presentation I realize how much of my
work has been
influenced by the workshops I have taken.
It was very eye opening for me. I think I learned more about myself
( by doing this)
than any of the participants learned from me.
My husband and I are emerging from what we call "the dark ages"
6 years of terrible stress, losing parents, kids college bills,
illness, and other assorted evils of life.
Things are great now, but what gave me hope and carried me through
those years was clay.
Working exceptionally hard to get my glazes to work and forms to fit,
gave me something to concentrate on, other than all the bad things
happening.
I firmly believe that if life had not been hard, I would not have
achieved what I did.
I may not be the best potter around, but I have my own style and
look, the work is all mine,
and it is because of the journey and the paths I had to chose.
Cheers
lois
Lois Sharpe
Durham NC
Phone 919 489 1715
Lee Love on wed 4 jul 07
On 7/3/07, Lois Sharpe wrote:
> I may not be the best potter around, but I have my own style and
> look, the work is all mine,
> and it is because of the journey and the paths I had to chose.
Keep at te Lois!
From my webpage:
"It's not about who is better than who, or who's the best. It's about
today: Are you going to do your best today?" - Jim "Struttin' With
Some Barbecue" Mann, from N. Carolina. (told to me as I was waiting
for barbecue pork sandwiches.)
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." -
Henry David Thoreau
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
Alyssa Ettinger on wed 4 jul 07
1.
i learned to throw from the first man i ever truly loved. i was 14; eager,
excited, happy. he taught me something new and fulfilling that i was good at.
for reasons too complicated to get into, we couldn't be a couple. but he was
my best friend for a long, long time, and continues to be the person i've
had the best friendship with in 30+ years. i had his picture taped into my
ceramic toolbox for eons.
we lost touch a long time ago, but when i came back to clay 2 1/2 years ago
he and his wife were there for me, cheering me on, helping me when i had
questions, etc. without him there would be no clay in my life. (and when i
went back to my mom's house to get that toolbox, there were still remains of
the tape i'd used to keep his picture with me.
2.
how has clay helped me? interesting, because for a long time it didn't. it
became a burden, and i didn't love it any longer. but as i've come back to
it it's changed my life. working with it centers me (no pun intended), and i
can lose time while i'm working. learning slip-casting, aside from only
throwing, has expanded my world and talent. and hey, i am really good at
this. in fact, i'm better at this than anything else in my life. and for the
most part, whatever my personal life is burdening me with at the time, it
stays at the door of my studio.
it's made me calmer, and increased my self esteem. it's brought me to a
place where i can actually say that i know what i want to be when i grow up.
it awes me when i make beautiful pieces. it reminds me that love is possible.
alyssa
alyssaettinger.com
Eric Serritella on thu 5 jul 07
My biggest influence and mentor was Ah Leon. When I asked him early in my
career what was next for me as a potter, he said "You need to make better
pots." It's been my mantra ever since.
He further went on to provide opportunity for two residencies for me in
Taiwan, both of which were invaluable. To this day he remains supportive,
constructively critical, willing to guide. When I run into creative
roadblocks, hard times, etc., he's usually got a story of a time in his
career that was similar. Just knowing that I'm "not the only one" helps
immensely.
See Ceramics Monthly, Dec. 2006 for the full story if you're interested.
Eric
Eric Serritella
528 Sebring Road
Newfield, NY 14867
607.564.7810
www.ericserritella.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "sacredclay"
To:
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2007 11:13 AM
Subject: inspirations from mentors and difficult times
Two prong question here.
1) who was the person(s) that inspired you to this field of pottery?
2) How have clay helped you (or not) through difficult times of your
life?
Can't wait to hear them all! Kathryn in NC
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
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