Dannon Rhudy on sat 4 jul 98
----------
> From: Dannon Rhudy
> To: clayart
> Subject: Hay Creek
> Date: Friday, July 03, 1998 1:43 PM
>
> An excellent experience, better even than last year. For starts, of
> course,
> it was COOL, a matter of considerable importance to the likes of me. In
> addition,
> Kurt and Mel had everyone whipped into shape in no time, there was a ton
of
> work
> made and fired. The salt kiln got the most traffic, but everything else
> was fired too,
> wood kiln three-four times, reduction kiln every day, salt kiln every
day,
> raku every
> day and night - nearly continuous. A lot of good work. Reg Behrens from
> Blue Moon
> pottery came in, brought his stand-up wheel, which I tried. Liked it a
> lot; a little hard
> to get used to but did not take long. Main advantage for me was that
> moving around
> to place pots, get this/that was effortless, no standing up, moving
stool,
> etc. Just
> step where you needed to be...no fuss.
>
> Reg was a pleasure to watch work, just steady, no messing about, board
> after
> board of work coming off the wheel. He always seemed to be there. Not
> sure
> he slept.
>
> One of the more interesting collaborations was between a calligrapher
> (Charles
> Pearce) and a number of the potters. We found ways for him to write on
> pots,
> wonderful lettering, unbelievable skill on his part, remarkable to watch.
> Tried various
> things, wax resist, acrylics, oxides. Lots of possibilities there; had
> some most
> interesting pots.. Doug Gray did some wonderful double-walled bowls,
> from quite small to some really larage ones - most impressive.
>
> Got all the kilns tidy, stacks up, there were a couple of new kiln sheds
(a
> blessing,
> since we had some rain, and it made good shade, too, noontimes). So - a
> big
> public thanks to Kurt and Mel for their hard work and planning, and for
> being
> the remarkable teachers that they are. A joy to have been there again.
>
> Dannon Rhudy
> potter@koyote.com
bIlL BuCkNeR on mon 6 jul 98
Where is Hay Creek? I missed the beginning of this thread. -Bill Buckner
e-mail: billtom@mindspring.com
web: http://billtom.home.mindspring.com
Why do they put Braille on drive-through bank machines?
Mel Jacobson on thu 9 jul 98
i have avoided talking about `hay creek camp` on the clayart list.
our camp is full and we are not seeking campers.
i have been asked to do a story on our `adult shared learning` concept, but
i always get swarmed with requests to attend.
that has happened again...so.
please, we are full.
I do hope that some of you will try your own gathering of artists...
find a place, get organized, and invite some friends.
we love it.
mel
http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Ilene Mahler on fri 10 jul 98
Its it full forever or just this year.PLEASE PLEASE ILENE At 11:46
AM 7/9/98 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>i have avoided talking about `hay creek camp` on the clayart list.
>our camp is full and we are not seeking campers.
>
>i have been asked to do a story on our `adult shared learning` concept, but
>i always get swarmed with requests to attend.
>
>that has happened again...so.
>please, we are full.
>
>I do hope that some of you will try your own gathering of artists...
>find a place, get organized, and invite some friends.
>
>we love it.
>
>mel
>http://www.pclink.com/melpots
>
>
David Hendley on fri 10 jul 98
At 11:46 AM 7/9/98 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>i have avoided talking about `hay creek camp` on the clayart list.
>our camp is full and we are not seeking campers.
>
>mel
>http://www.pclink.com/melpots
>
This "Hay Creek Camp" sounds really great! It seems like just what I have
been looking for to give me a chance to make some really great ceramics. I
know you said the camp is full, but I'm hoping that, once I fill you in on
my background, you will be able to make room for me to attend.
I have been taking ceramics classes for more than 2 years. My teacher at
the community center says that I am, without a doubt, the best
pottery-maker she has ever seen! I just seem to have a natural talent for
anything that has to do with arts and crafts. ;>) I am ALWAYS the top
seller whenever we have an art sale at the center.
I have a lot of great ideas for ceramic art, and I would be willing to
share some of my ideas for things to make with others at the Hay Creek
Camp. I also have some fantastic glaze formulas that I would be willing to
bring, if the other people at the camp have some good formulas to trade! I
also know all about pottery kilns, since we have a computer controlled kiln
AND an old-fashioned kiln, that has a bunch of switches, and I can work
both of them.
I do have a few questions about Hay Creek Camp. For one, it is real
important to me to have a clean studio, in order to do my best art work. Do
you have a good janitor who knows how to clean the art studio without
interferring with the artist? It has been a real problem at the center to
find a good janitor. Also, it makes me nervous to be watched while I am
creating my art, so I'm wondering if you have, or could build, a private
studio for me? Nothing fancy, just the usual ceramics equipment like
pottery wheel, slab roller, extruder, and, of course, a spray booth, and
sink area.
Well, I sure hope you will find some way for me to come to your camp. If
there's just no room, maybe you could put me at the top of the list for
next year. One thing, though, is that June is a bad time for me to be
traveling, so it would be great if you could move the camp to August or
September. By the way, what airport is the camp close to? Would I take a
cab to the camp or would a camp director pick me up at the airport? Oh,
yeah, I also require a special diet (strict macrobiotic), but I'm sure your
chef would be able to follow my recipies, which I would be happy to send
ahead of time.
Since I don't have a computer, you can write to me at my friend David
Hendley's e-mail address, which I am using now (I stop by his pottery shop
and give him pottery ideas just about every week). Or, my address is:
1311 Cedar Lane
Henderson, TX 78812
I am looking forward to hearing from you!!!
Sincerely,
Art Simpson
Dannon Rhudy on sat 11 jul 98
------------------
THIS is a wonderful letter. I laughed until I hurt. So, I guess that the =
heat
here has the positive side of sending David Hendley in to play at the
computer.
With an application like that, Art -er, ummm - Simpson, was it? will =
surely go
right to the top of Mel's =26 Kurt's list - one of 'em, anyway.
Dannon Rhudy
potter=40koyote.com
=3E
=3E This =22Hay Creek Camp=22 sounds really great=21 It seems like just what=
I have
=3E been looking for to give me a chance to make some really great ceramics.=
I
=3E know you said the camp is full, but I'm hoping that, once I fill you in =
on
=3E my background............
I'm sure your
=3E chef would be able to follow my recipies, which I would be happy to send
=3E ahead of time.
..............write to me at my friend David
=3E Hendley's e-mail address, which I am using now (I stop by his pottery =
shop
=3E and give him pottery ideas just about every week). Or, my address is:
=3E 1311 Cedar Lane
=3E Henderson, TX 78812
=3E I am looking forward to hearing from you=21=21=21
=3E Sincerely,
=3E Art Simpson
Nanci Bishof on sat 11 jul 98
In a message dated 7/10/98 10:23:56 AM, you wrote:
<>
That's a question a lot of us would like answered. If its just a gathering of
old friends once a year then its really not a workshop that invites new
participants & enriches everyone from new input.
(Debbie Howell) on sat 11 jul 98
Hey Mel,
Don't sound so irritated. People just want to get together, share ideas
and have fun. You should be flattered you have had so many responses from
folks who would love to come. You've made your point!
Debbie
Jenna Logan on sat 11 jul 98
I vote we change the camp location & have it in Art Simpson's back yard.
Maybe David Hendley will give us all a ride there !
kurt wild on sat 11 jul 98
David Hendley wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> At 11:46 AM 7/9/98 EDT, you wrote:
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >i have avoided talking about `hay creek camp` on the clayart list.
> >our camp is full and we are not seeking campers.
> >
> >mel
> >http://www.pclink.com/melpots
> >
>
> This "Hay Creek Camp" sounds really great! It seems like just what I have
> been looking for to give me a chance to make some really great ceramics. I
> know you said the camp is full, but I'm hoping that, once I fill you in on
> my background, you will be able to make room for me to attend.
>
> I have been taking ceramics classes for more than 2 years. My teacher at
> the community center says that I am, without a doubt, the best
> pottery-maker she has ever seen! I just seem to have a natural talent for
> anything that has to do with arts and crafts. ;>) I am ALWAYS the top
> seller whenever we have an art sale at the center.
>
> I have a lot of great ideas for ceramic art, and I would be willing to
> share some of my ideas for things to make with others at the Hay Creek
> Camp. I also have some fantastic glaze formulas that I would be willing to
> bring, if the other people at the camp have some good formulas to trade! I
> also know all about pottery kilns, since we have a computer controlled kiln
> AND an old-fashioned kiln, that has a bunch of switches, and I can work
> both of them.
>
> I do have a few questions about Hay Creek Camp. For one, it is real
> important to me to have a clean studio, in order to do my best art work. Do
> you have a good janitor who knows how to clean the art studio without
> interferring with the artist? It has been a real problem at the center to
> find a good janitor. Also, it makes me nervous to be watched while I am
> creating my art, so I'm wondering if you have, or could build, a private
> studio for me? Nothing fancy, just the usual ceramics equipment like
> pottery wheel, slab roller, extruder, and, of course, a spray booth, and
> sink area.
>
> Well, I sure hope you will find some way for me to come to your camp. If
> there's just no room, maybe you could put me at the top of the list for
> next year. One thing, though, is that June is a bad time for me to be
> traveling, so it would be great if you could move the camp to August or
> September. By the way, what airport is the camp close to? Would I take a
> cab to the camp or would a camp director pick me up at the airport? Oh,
> yeah, I also require a special diet (strict macrobiotic), but I'm sure your
> chef would be able to follow my recipies, which I would be happy to send
> ahead of time.
>
> Since I don't have a computer, you can write to me at my friend David
> Hendley's e-mail address, which I am using now (I stop by his pottery shop
> and give him pottery ideas just about every week). Or, my address is:
> 1311 Cedar Lane
> Henderson, TX 78812
> I am looking forward to hearing from you!!!
> Sincerely,
> Art Simpson
Hey Art: It sounds like you are the ideal person for Hay Creek but
since Mel says it's full and it is! I suggest that with your Super
talents and minimal needs you might start your own camp right in your
own back yard. It really takes very little - a wood kiln, a salt kiln,
a raku kiln, a few hundred odds and ends of used brick for continuing
experiementation, a groundhog kiln, a special Kurt Wild blackware firing
kiln (as pictured in Leon Nigrosh's book Low Fire), a chain saw, a
garage full of tools, a barn (also full of tools) lawn mower for those
who come but don't make art, Dannon Rhudy to give demonstrations and of
course you'd have to hire a camp director, janitor kitchen supervisor
and cocktail hour emcee named Mel. Your special diet could be handled if
you could manage to find a local farm wife who has cooked at farm
auctions who did not mind small creatures running around the kitchen
leaving their little signatures along the way. In addition you'd have to
be ready to fire pots (one in each kiln) sent to you by David Hendly.
You probably have a spacious home, being the successful potter that you
are, and you should be able to provide a large single bed for each
participant - all comfy with air conditioning and lots of hot water for
showers. I'm sure you could also find some local help who would love
to chain saw and chop wood along with helping to fire the wood kiln in
85 degree or better temperatures. Last but not least, you'd have to
follow Mel's lead and get up to go to the "john" a couple of times a
night and bang around to keep the other campers alert and ready to rise
and check kilns at 5 in the morning. Oh YES, IT COULD BE FUN!!!!!!!!!
TRY IT!!!!!!!!!!
--
Kurt Wild
1000 E. Cascade Ave., River Falls, WI 54022 Phone: 715-425-5715
email: kurt.l.wild@uwrf.edu
web site: http://www.uwrf.edu/art/faculty/Wild
mel jacobson on thu 26 aug 99
kurt wild started a summer workshop about 20 years ago at the
pigeon lake field station near lake superior....it was run by
the university of wisconsin/ used mainly by biology faculty
for research teaching.
the program grew and became exciting.
as with all programs....it got too big...too much red tape ensued.
new people wanted to take over....so.
when kurt and i retired, we brought a small portion of that program
to my farm in wisconsin.
we had a wonderful gang of friends that had been together for years.
and we wanted a private venue. and the farm became the place..
i could run the program at cost. have a great place to gather and share
information. research became important, and sharing information, adult
learning, and being open to a variety of ideas became important.
we now have 15 men, 15 women, some as couples, some alone, gay,
straight, married, single. it is a cross section of american art and craft.
i am always careful about pumping the program, as we have no openings,
\as we are totally limited to 30...;no more beds.
we try each year to bring an expert to camp....we try to give camp a new
look. it has worked very well.
we have a wonderful facility, the envy of any college or camp. 7 kilns
including, electric, raku, pit, low salt, high fire salt, stoneware, and
wood fired. (and of course we can make any kiln that we desire in about
4 hours.) we have a wood working shop, jewelry, sewing, calligraphy,
a kitchen and a cook and of course a big pottery.
bob holman owns a great deal of the land and barns...we use his house, my
house, my daughters house, and a 100 year old wreck of a house that i bought
seven years ago from a neighbor. we have 100 acres on the `hay river`,
located about 9 miles south of the turtle lake gambling casino.
our aim is to make a `safe place` for adult artists to share ideas, talk craft,
teaching, art, and theory. we have reached our goal.
kurt has been the spearhead leader of this group. without his leadership
and support, this project would not flourish... i like the grunt work,
organization
and caring for the folks. this comes easy for me.
our group is varied, excited, share everything and professional. what more
could one ask?
we charge 200 dollars for a 10 day stay. that includes all meals, bed, use
of the entire facility and snacks. we put most of the money back into the
project
each year. i have to say that i am very proud of the quality of work
that we do, it is superb.
we do not have locks, hours, gender restrictions or walls in the areas.
anyone can make pots, sew, paint..whatever. whomever has a good
idea, and it catches fire....well, they have just become `teacher`.
all of a sudden, we are all doing the new idea. we fight fear and
intimidation.
it is easy to catch in this place...we have some good folks.
so, we have begun to exhibit together...do some workshops for other folks.
it is fun and exciting.
adult shared learning is our theme....it is a wonderful concept.
i hope others will try and do this. it is the best way i know to pass
on the crafts.
mel/mn
http://www.pclink.com/melpots
from minnetonka, minnesota, u.s.a.
Barney Adams on fri 27 aug 99
Thanks Mel,
One other question. I take it the study and research seems to be
up to each member and others may be drawn into the fray from
the other disiplines to add new blood? I was interested as much
in what it would take to mimic the organization, but it seems to be
something that kinda has to grow of it's own accord.
Barney
mel jacobson wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> kurt wild started a summer workshop about 20 years ago at the
> pigeon lake field station near lake superior....it was run by
> the university of wisconsin/ used mainly by biology faculty
> for research teaching.
>
> the program grew and became exciting.
>
> as with all programs....it got too big...too much red tape ensued.
> new people wanted to take over....so.
>
> when kurt and i retired, we brought a small portion of that program
> to my farm in wisconsin.
>
> we had a wonderful gang of friends that had been together for years.
> and we wanted a private venue. and the farm became the place..
>
> i could run the program at cost. have a great place to gather and share
> information. research became important, and sharing information, adult
> learning, and being open to a variety of ideas became important.
>
> we now have 15 men, 15 women, some as couples, some alone, gay,
> straight, married, single. it is a cross section of american art and craft.
>
> i am always careful about pumping the program, as we have no openings,
> \as we are totally limited to 30...;no more beds.
>
> we try each year to bring an expert to camp....we try to give camp a new
> look. it has worked very well.
>
> we have a wonderful facility, the envy of any college or camp. 7 kilns
> including, electric, raku, pit, low salt, high fire salt, stoneware, and
> wood fired. (and of course we can make any kiln that we desire in about
> 4 hours.) we have a wood working shop, jewelry, sewing, calligraphy,
> a kitchen and a cook and of course a big pottery.
>
> bob holman owns a great deal of the land and barns...we use his house, my
> house, my daughters house, and a 100 year old wreck of a house that i bought
> seven years ago from a neighbor. we have 100 acres on the `hay river`,
> located about 9 miles south of the turtle lake gambling casino.
>
> our aim is to make a `safe place` for adult artists to share ideas, talk craft
> teaching, art, and theory. we have reached our goal.
>
> kurt has been the spearhead leader of this group. without his leadership
> and support, this project would not flourish... i like the grunt work,
> organization
> and caring for the folks. this comes easy for me.
>
> our group is varied, excited, share everything and professional. what more
> could one ask?
>
> we charge 200 dollars for a 10 day stay. that includes all meals, bed, use
> of the entire facility and snacks. we put most of the money back into the
> project
> each year. i have to say that i am very proud of the quality of work
> that we do, it is superb.
>
> we do not have locks, hours, gender restrictions or walls in the areas.
> anyone can make pots, sew, paint..whatever. whomever has a good
> idea, and it catches fire....well, they have just become `teacher`.
> all of a sudden, we are all doing the new idea. we fight fear and
> intimidation.
> it is easy to catch in this place...we have some good folks.
>
> so, we have begun to exhibit together...do some workshops for other folks.
> it is fun and exciting.
>
> adult shared learning is our theme....it is a wonderful concept.
> i hope others will try and do this. it is the best way i know to pass
> on the crafts.
> mel/mn
>
> http://www.pclink.com/melpots
> from minnetonka, minnesota, u.s.a.
mel jacobson on thu 21 jun 01
things are going well at hay creek.
the new building is up and housing 14
women, the kitchen would make martha stewart
stand up and applaud.
the big new studio is full of sewers, and fabric
artists. it is very busy.
i am doing camp director things, seeing that
the toilet paper is in the proper place...the
meal are ready.
kilns are firing, wood is turning, glazes are splashing.
mrs. wren is having a fit, she built her nest over the kiln
shelter and she has feeding to do...so she does it...
the king bird has a nest in the barn, she has no idea
what we are doing in her space.
best to all of you.
see you in a week or so.
love, mel
Tom Wirt/Betsy Price on fri 22 jun 01
> i am doing camp director things, seeing that
> the toilet paper is in the proper place...
I assume this means before use! I don't think anything beyond that is
required of Camp Directors!
Happy Camping. Wanted to get up and see Reg (well you too,
silly)....but I don't think that's going to happen
Tom
mel jacobson on thu 23 feb 06
yes, it is private and invite only.
it has to be. i own the facility and
land. bob holman, our neighbor is in on this too.
as is my daughter's home on the property.
the kilns have been orchestrated by kurt and others and
me. when we need a few bucks...folks just kick in
according to their ability.
for example:
we needed a new bunk house/studio.
the old one just fell down...crash. (one hundred year old farm house.)
so, i put 10,000 bucks in the pot, said to folks:
we need a studio...i put in ten...should we build a new one?
i received 14,000 dollars in two days. we build a new building.
owned by our group. i have title, but anyone may use it for
their own needs. that is loyalty. and the building cost exactly
24,000 dollars. in other words, we spent every dime.
houses 15 women, kitchen and two bathrooms and a very large
fabric,textile,calligraphy studio. so, the building is basically a
woman's facility.
one needy person, there to take and not
give, makes for a long week of strife.
i suggest that others who are `not` interested
in going to `expensive` studio schools or workshops
form their own.
it just takes a bit of courage and a few good
people.
mel
hay creek is always booked full. we have a waiting list.
when we need serious information, or new ideas, we bring
in a new person with the `right stuff`.
"Luck is prepaid."
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://my.pclink.com/~melpots3
JOYCE LEE on thu 23 feb 06
This is the time of the year that Hay Creek, a very private, personal
operation as far as I can tell, starts being discussed and even
criticized ... for Public Consumption. I also had a few posts for a =
couple
of years saying similar things, but I was absolutely JOKING! =20
I think it's outrageous to express negative opinions about a working
situation for potters that involves only THOSE potters and has nothing
to do with anybody else. It reminds me a little of my mentoring years
when I selected the mentees, we worked in my studio using my
materials and equipment, followed my rules etc ...... purely for the fun
and joy of working together and kickstarting one another when =
necessary.
No money nor goods were exchanged except an occasional doughnut
or two. Yet, at times, there were others who blatantly critiqued our
group of friends as if we were a public institution paid for by their =
taxes.
Fortunately, seldom was a Truth told, since those involved and on site
were the only ones who understood how we worked........ and sometimes
even we didn't know.
Mostly we knew that we learned a great deal from one another and that
we laughed a tremendous lot.
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California where my handyman/artist/genius has
a ten year old daughter coming to visit the studio to learn to make a
pet dish or two for her new adored pet....... a hermit crab! Can't wait
to see how this one goes........
Sam Hoffman on thu 23 feb 06
> so, i put 10,000 bucks in the pot, said to folks:
> we need a studio...i put in ten...should we build a new one?
> i received 14,000 dollars in two days. we build a new building.
> owned by our group. i have title, but anyone may use it for
> their own needs. that is loyalty. and the building cost exactly
> 24,000 dollars.
Hi Mel-
Can you give us some more details about the building design/
construction details? To create such a studio for $24,000 must have
been an exciting challenge. As a potter who is getting ready to
build his first (and hopefully last) studio, I am very intrigued with
studio organization and planning. Virginia Scotchie and Alistair
Young have both published excellent books on the subject, and I'm
finding Robin Hopper's book also to be quite useful.
Pics of Hay Creek would be a bonus...
Thanks for all the inspiration!
-Sam
S.L. Hoffman Pottery
Corvallis, Oregon
www.samhoffman.com
Robert W. Anderson on mon 30 jun 08
A big thanks to Mel & Bob
for sharing their stuff....and
to all who attended...catch
ya next year.
Bob Anderson
Antigo, Wis.
=================
rwanaa@charter.net
http://webpages.charter.net/rwapottery/index.html
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