tony clennell on fri 13 nov 09
John: Thank you. I started the blog when i went to China in an effort
to let my family know what i was up to. China was sooooooooo easy to
write about. Heck, even a trip to Wal-Mart was interesting with
sharks and ducks hanging in the aisles. That was certainly the hayday
for my blog with over 700 hits per day. USU was again to let family
know what I was up to and numbers dropped off since it was really only
of interest to people that dreamed of grad school, were at school and
a few others. Now that I'm home it's not really an adventure it is
just life. I sometimes scratch my head to think of what is of any
interest to anyone about what I do day to day. I'm not the Facebook
tyype that tells everyone they are eating porridge for breakfast or
that they off to bed. I have never used it as a marketing tool or at
least never thought of it that way. I have had enquiries about the
recent jugs and may just well make my first effort to sell from the
blog. Business here is one day at a time with no line ups down the
driveway so as Sheila and I always do- we cover the bases.
Is that kid in you grade school class still reading my blog and
wanting to come work for me? Tell him I'm holding the job.
Cheers,
Tony
--
http://sourcherrypottery.com
http://smokieclennell.blogspot.com
John Post on sat 14 nov 09
Teaching elementary school kids about art is like being the guy who
runs the spotlight on the prison walls at night. I only get to
illuminate something really brightly for a few moments, then it's onto
something else. I only see the kids once a week for 47 minutes, and I
teach 800 kids in 30 different classes. So that spotlight sometimes
feels like it is really spinning fast. I don't know if my student
Eric is still checking out your blog.
The year you were in China, we were looking at art from various
cultures around the world, and your blog was a perfect fit. This year
I shined the spotlight on some animation blogs, and the kids have been
checking those out.
Our big theme for this year is different genres of art. Genre is the
big word that the kids are supposed to learn in English classes when
they are writing, but I found that not one kid in the school knew what
the word genre meant. I defined it for them as "categories of
art". I even have this song they sing that goes....
caaaaaaaat-e-gories,
caaaaaaaat-e-gories,
caaaaaaaat-e-gories, of art, art, art, art.
Instead of telling the kids about what makes up a specific genre, I
have been showing them images from a genre and then having them
discuss in class what visual elements are found in that genre.
To get the ball rolling we looked at images of mad scientists, they
all had test tubes, gloves, goggles, lab coats, wacky hair etc. The
kids loved painting their own versions of mad scientists. Now we are
looking at the fairy tale genre and the visual elements that are found
in various fairy tales. After that we will jump into some of the
strictly art genre stuff with a game where kids sort various paintings
and sculptures into different genres on the dry erase board.
I am sure when we work our way to the pottery genre, I will be able to
sneak in a visit to your blog as part of discussion on the history of
functional wares and the potters who still make them.
Most kids don't even know that a career in the arts is possible. A
lot of kids want to be CSI investigators when they grow up because
they see it on TV. They must think it's all driving around in fancy
cars, working in high tech labs, with beautiful men and women all
around. I bet just the stink alone from one dead body somewhere would
change a lot of their minds...
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan
:: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
:: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
A Buck on mon 16 nov 09
I've had some students that reconsidered working with clay after getting a =
=3D
whiff of the studio slops bucket that got stirred up for some reason. The =
=3D
realities of any job can be real deal breakers. ;^)
Andy Buck
Raincreek Pottery
--- On Sat, 11/14/09, John Post wrote:
> Most kids don't even know that a career in the arts is
> possible.=3DA0 A
> lot of kids want to be CSI investigators when they grow up
> because
> they see it on TV.=3DA0 They must think it's all driving
> around in fancy
> cars, working in high tech labs, with beautiful men and
> women all
> around.=3DA0 I bet just the stink alone from one dead body
> somewhere would
> change a lot of their minds...
>=3D20
> John Post
> Sterling Heights, Michigan
=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A
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