Carolynn Palmer on mon 31 aug 98
More than 20 years ago the Art Train came to our city and they asked local
potters to sign up to volunteer to demonstrate throwing on the train during
the hours it was open to the public.
When I showed up for my shift, several potters who had finished with their
shifts were hanging around the electric wheel the Art Train provided . They
advised me that it was a real problem to throw on because the shaft or the
head was loose and it wobbled as they threw, and to throw any kind of large
pot on it was impossible.
Prior to starting to throw, I turned on the wheel and tried to see the wobble
they described. Everything seemed solid and the wheel head was perfectly on
center. It didn't budge when I tried to move it back and forth.
Even though I would normally have thrown directly on the wheel head, there
were bat pins sticking up out of it, making it impossible. The piles of bats
that the Art Train also provided was sitting next to the wheel. So, as I
plopped one of these pre-drilled bats over the bat pins on the wheel head, I
noticed the holes in the bats were larger than the pins sticking up. The bit
of slop caused by the poorly fitting holes was what had caused all of their
wobbles.
I put three clay wads on the wheel head, stuck the bats to that and proceeded
to throw with no wobble. We had a good laugh and I stuck around to teach this
trick to the next volunteer.
I haven't seen the Art Train or any publicity for it in a long time, has it
been permanently parked, junked somewhere, or is it still running?
Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
Sandra K. Tesar on tue 1 sep 98
The Art Train came through Huntsville, Alabama 3 years ago - I too, did a
hand building demo in the train. I was told it goes on two year tours in
different regions of the country. Maybe it is beyond the Mississippi
somewhere.
Sandra on Keel Mountain
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Bill Aycock on wed 2 sep 98
Sandra- Interesting- I did the Art Train on its first trip through
Huntsville, MANY years ago. Just to satisfy my curiosity, who (in
Huntsville) was the sponsor that handled the arrangements this last time ?
Bill- trying to do outdoor work, on Persimmon Hill, is frustrating in this
weather.
At 09:36 AM 9/1/98 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>The Art Train came through Huntsville, Alabama 3 years ago - I too, did a
>hand building demo in the train. I was told it goes on two year tours in
>different regions of the country. Maybe it is beyond the Mississippi
>somewhere.
>
>Sandra on Keel Mountain
>
Bill Aycock --- Persimmon Hill
Woodville, Alabama, US 35776
(in the N.E. corner of the State)
W4BSG -- Grid EM64vr
baycock@HiWAAY.net
Carol Durnford on thu 12 nov 98
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>More than 20 years ago the Art Train came to our city and they asked local
>potters to sign up to volunteer to demonstrate throwing on the train during
>the hours it was open to the public.
>
>When I showed up for my shift, several potters who had finished with their
>shifts were hanging around the electric wheel the Art Train provided . They
>advised me that it was a real problem to throw on because the shaft or the
>head was loose and it wobbled as they threw, and to throw any kind of large
>pot on it was impossible.
>
>Prior to starting to throw, I turned on the wheel and tried to see the wobble
>they described. Everything seemed solid and the wheel head was perfectly on
>center. It didn't budge when I tried to move it back and forth.
>
>Even though I would normally have thrown directly on the wheel head, there
>were bat pins sticking up out of it, making it impossible. The piles of bats
>that the Art Train also provided was sitting next to the wheel. So, as I
>plopped one of these pre-drilled bats over the bat pins on the wheel head, I
>noticed the holes in the bats were larger than the pins sticking up. The bit
>of slop caused by the poorly fitting holes was what had caused all of their
>wobbles.
>
>I put three clay wads on the wheel head, stuck the bats to that and proceeded
>to throw with no wobble. We had a good laugh and I stuck around to teach this
>trick to the next volunteer.
>
>I haven't seen the Art Train or any publicity for it in a long time, has it
>been permanently parked, junked somewhere, or is it still running?
>
>Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
>
>Carolynn;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;the Art Train was in the Western States this year.
In Missoula Montana and points east. It was loaded with prints, many
lithographs from famous artists... The line was a 2 hour wait in the hot sun
on the last day so I suppose it was no different in places like Billings MT.
I understand since its inception it was in Kalispell MT in the mid 1970's
and other than that no other time has it been in Montana.
So, the Art Train is alive and well, just not enough of them to get
out into the parts of the country where a person has to travel at least 500
miles to see a decent sized museum. We must go either to Seattle or to
Minneapolis and the drive to Minneapolis is 20 hours.
Dave Durnford
Box 2145
Missoula, MT 59806
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