Sean Burns on sun 15 may 11
There has been discussion concerning art and education the past few=3D20
months here on clayart and while it has been interesting and sometimes=3D20=
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enlightening- I have been surprised (perhaps I shouldnt be) about folks=3D2=
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attitudes regarding K-12- especially in the public sector. I also sense a=
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generational slant towards attitudes and support -or lack of.=3D20
So a report from the field ....................
Yesterday I went to a demonstration by my former student Kimberl=
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y=3D20
Gatesman at Zea Mays Solvent free printmaking studio and workshop in=3D20
Florence Massachusetts. While the proccess is not new Kim has developed=3D2=
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and built from scratch a system for small scale electro- etching based on=
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processes similar to anodizing metal involving the use of a sacrificial p=
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late in=3D20
solution. While the proccess is not new she applied the technology - I=3D20=
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watched a young lady go through the science of the methods she utilized =
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to=3D20
make it work in her small studio/apartment. The results not only replicat=
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traditional techniques- they were better in many cases and opened new doo=
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for experimentation and creative application.
Kim fabricated all of the bath/ timer units, and created the mai=
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n electro-
etching device in cooperation with an associate. The units were all hand=
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some=3D20
and well crafted down to the wood boxed and modified eg timer unit that =
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had=3D20
been transformed into a shutoff device for the plate bath. Better still w=
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as the=3D20
complete - from scratch- plate press with steel roller and spoke wheel sh=
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e
had designed and had fabricted from found/ cast off material. Pro. She al=
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so=3D20
had Pros watching her and positively responding to her proccess- results-=
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and=3D20
the equipment she developed and created from scratch.=3D20
I taught Kim old school printmaking in high school- nitric zinc etch=
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drypoint- aquatint- mezzotint- stone litho. She also had a bent for scien=
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and did a year at Allagheny to persue that but left to persue her art and=
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specifically printmaking.
And now here she is 15 years later putting it all together- combining=
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disciplines, personal talent and vision, trying to move a craft/technolog=
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forward and hopefully making a living in the process.
If we invest in our youngsters- all of them every where- we have hope=
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for=3D20
solutions to the huge problems we confront as a society ( In this case=3D20=
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toxicity). The good enough for me good enough for them attitude doesnt=3D20=
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work, the back to basics ( reading, writing. math, english, science ) ign=
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ores=3D20
important connections that need to be made while brain development is in =
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full=3D20
swing- And the saddest reality of all is despite all of the positive and =
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very real=3D20
learning that happens in our art and ceramic rooms across the country- It=
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costs way more to incarcerate than educate and I am surprised and shocked=
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how many do not make that connection. Programs like ceramics and Art reac=
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many outlier students.
I am so proud of Kim and also of the many marginal students who squee=
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ked=3D20
through high school becouse they had a bright spot in my rooms. Kids with=
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bad families- pot smokers and trouble makers who saw a little light in ar=
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t=3D20
activity- Kids like Dorothy and Joe who were very special / looked weird =
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and=3D20
smelled funny but were welcome with me- kids who were really square but g=
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ot=3D20
a little round doing art and making things with clay- not to mention my f=
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amous=3D20
one armed potter Jimmy- as well as those who got the mother load like Kim=
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.
Thats my vision for America baby!
Sean Burns
Williamsburg, Ma.
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