Stephani Stephenson on sat 23 oct 10
I can't remember the exact thread, but a few weeks ago someone was talkin=
=3D
g
about younger people getting into clay=3D20
i see that too.=3D20
A couple of days ago i went down to the Cochise college pitfire festival =
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in
Douglas, in far SE Arizona, not too far from where i live actually. . wow=
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was I in for a treat.=3D20
they had buried pots in a long snake shaped pit, covered them with layers=
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of
combustibles, wire, etc,etc then piled pallets up ,also in the shape of a=
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rattle snake. There were students doing wheel demos, pottery for sale, an=
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d a
silent auction. there were Mata Ortiz potters demoing and selling beautif=
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ul
pots. the culinary arts dept, put on a great feed, all for free. there we=
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re
some unbelievably cool art vehicles, like one step van completely covered=
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with thousands of brass object. there was someone rigding around on an ar=
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t
bicycle with a neaon light cage, giving rides to kids, there were shadow
dance tents for kids. they could cut out paper shapes then dance or act=
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out plays. a projector behinfd the sheet added to the wonderful effect.=3D2=
0=3D
there was live music, mexican folk dancers ,'aztec' dancers, belly dancer=
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s,
all students. then there was an incredible, indescribable performance by =
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a
troupe called Flam Chen. they did an amazing ritual dance to light the fi=
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re,
it was part native american ,african, OK it had a definited tribal
sensibility, ..oh they did the dance with fire, twirling it..i cant even
describe it but it was powerful and spellbinding. finally the huge pitfir=
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e
was set off and the huge bonfire ensued, under the light of the full moon=
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.
the local fire department did a great job, and out of hundreds of onlooke=
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rs
there were ranchers, cowboys, latinos, hippies young and old, the art cro=
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wnd
from Bisbee, all ages, all races, kids, old folks . it was a very special=
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event. plus even the college VP gave a quick intro..what a great way to
involve the entire college and the community at large. there were plenty =
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of
young people there . it was their event ,100%.
also , when i still had the studio in SoCal i shared space with a pottery=
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that made dinnerware for restaurants. almost everyone there was under 30,=
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and the principals were 30 -40.=3D20
economic times are tough. when i came of age, economic times were tough t=
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oo.
there were no jobs. a lot of people sought alternatives. the 'back to lan=
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d '
movement was fueled partly by thing like earth day , but it was also fuel=
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ed
by a lack of jobs for young people. i see the same thing happening now. i=
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t
must mean i am old enough to start seeing cycles.
i also see their enthusiasm and their desire to figure out a way to have =
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a
meaningful life .it is good to see.
As an aside , on the courtesy thread, I am thinking that David Woof offer=
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ed
some good thoughts on direct-ness perhaps, but that advising a women's gr=
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oup
to "grow a pair, borrow a pair, or dust of and exercise the atrophied one=
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s
we've neglected", might be somewhat ,er, off target.?
headed down to see the pitfire results tonight after if=3D3D finish scrapin=
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g
windows for new glass and figuring out how to go about rewiring the studi=
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o.
it is a glorious day in SE AZ . crisp cool night temps, mild days . went
hiking up to the west entrance of Cochise stronghold yesterday. one of th=
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e
most beautiful places i have seen.
also i have to recommend visiting Gadsden hotel in Douglas. a gorgeous
Tiffany window along the street side and a charming 1920s Claycraft tile =
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mural.
bye now!
Stephani
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