Connie Christensen on sun 13 may 01
Martin wrote:
...It was lovely to hear how June helped a student to get over a barrier
in throwing. Words are difficult tools in this teaching process.
Sight is better,....
I had a real challenge recently when I had the opportunity to teach a
blind student. Kent (can't remember his last name) who is a member of
the gallery Core New Art Space in Denver put together a workshop for 6
blind students and several instructors from the Arvada Center and Kent
spent 4 hours one-on-one with the students. Mile Hi Ceramics here in
Denver provided the space and wheels. The ages of the students were from
9 years old to some in their 40s (I think).
I found it difficult to put into words everything that happens while
throwing. What seemed to work best was describing things the best I
could along with touch - having his hands on mine while I worked and
mine on his while he tried the same thing. Also having him hold his hand
out sideways while I did a "pull" up his hand so he could feel the kind
of pressure I used. Joe reprimanded me a few times for helping him too
much, he wanted to do it all himself.
He did a great job. He came away from the class with 5 cylinders that he
made totally by himself. He picked out the glazes by touching the glaze
samples and chose a glaze that had texture - color wasn't an issue for
him.
Core has put on a show featuring the work that the students did and the
opening was last Friday night. Joe was there - along with some of the
other students - demonstrating what they learned on the wheel.
I came away from this just amazed at the courage these students have.
And it was a good exercise for me, who is usually a person of few words,
to have to be very descriptive.
Connie Christensen
Martin Howard on sun 13 may 01
It was lovely to hear how June helped a student to get over a barrier in
throwing.
Words are difficult tools in this teaching process.
Sight is better, so using a glass jar, which the student can see through is
fine.
But touch is better still, IMHO.
Using a wheel with at teaching seat facing the student, I am there IN the
pot at the same time. At each stage I correct what has been done and say,
"Now feel what that is like, and compare it with what you did."
It is also helpful to have another wheel, adjacent, on which you do each
stage and get the student to feel the result and compare with what they are
doing on their wheel.
Oh, yes, the taboo on touch!
My wife is a physiotherapist; a friend is a reflexologist; I go to the
chiropractor every few months. They all touch. They cannot do their job
without touching.
My experience is that a student potter child or grown up, male or female,
gets through those throwing barriers more from touch than by sight or words.
It creates the Eureka moment. And is not forgotten.
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Gayle Bair on mon 14 may 01
Hi Connie,
What a wonderful experience Connie. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Often I center with my eyes closed. Originally I did that when I was having
trouble learning to center. It really helped hone my skill.
I haven't expanded that exercise to throwing a simple shape. You have
inspired me to do just that. After that... who knows... wouldn't it be
interesting to apply this technique to a sculpture!
Tell Sabrina and Robin I said hi!
Gayle Bair-Bainbridge Island WA
Martin wrote:
...It was lovely to hear how June helped a student to get over a barrier
in throwing. Words are difficult tools in this teaching process.
Sight is better,....
Connie Wrote>>
I had a real challenge recently when I had the opportunity to teach a
blind student. Kent (can't remember his last name) who is a member of
the gallery Core New Art Space in Denver put together a workshop for 6
blind students and several instructors from the Arvada Center and Kent
spent 4 hours one-on-one with the students. Mile Hi Ceramics here in
Denver provided the space and wheels. The ages of the students were from
9 years old to some in their 40s (I think).
I found it difficult to put into words everything that happens while
throwing. What seemed to work best was describing things the best I
could along with touch - having his hands on mine while I worked and
mine on his while he tried the same thing. Also having him hold his hand
out sideways while I did a "pull" up his hand so he could feel the kind
of pressure I used. Joe reprimanded me a few times for helping him too
much, he wanted to do it all himself.
He did a great job. He came away from the class with 5 cylinders that he
made totally by himself. He picked out the glazes by touching the glaze
samples and chose a glaze that had texture - color wasn't an issue for
him.
Core has put on a show featuring the work that the students did and the
opening was last Friday night. Joe was there - along with some of the
other students - demonstrating what they learned on the wheel.
I came away from this just amazed at the courage these students have.
And it was a good exercise for me, who is usually a person of few words,
to have to be very descriptive.
Connie Christensen
| |
|
