Sandy Miller on sat 29 dec 01
After being in a solo studio for more than 15 years at the house. =
Raising kids & dogs and generally being available for the family. Jan. =
1 2001 I moved out! It has been a wonderful year. I moved into a =
studio with 6 other working potters. Immediately my work improved. =
Immediately I looked at my work in a new way. I moved because I really =
didn't know where I was in the pecking order of potters. In that year I =
found out I'm pretty good. The other thing I found out. Pottery is =
hard work, if you are a full time ceramic artist you are going to work =
hard. When I was at home, everytime I packed for a show or was up =
pulling an "all nighter" I thought I was the only idiot doing this. =
There had to be a better way. Down at the studio, we were all there =
before shows at 3 & 4 am pulling flaming pots from the kiln. Loading =
our vans and trucks at 5:30 in the morning and drinking coffee. It's =
what we do and you know what??? I love it! So in March of 2002 I am =
moving back to the house, I am building a 3 car garage (already told my =
husband, don't even think of putting a truck in there!) I was amazed =
how many times I had to run to the studio (40 min. away) to do "little" =
things. Or I had to leave to get a kid somewhere. What a great year! =
I made wonderful connections and entered new galleries. Many doors =
opened that would not have opened staying out here in rural Ne Ohio. =
Not that Cleveland is any hot bed of art activity, but to be surrounded =
by like minded individuals was great. I will miss my studio mates very =
much. From a business stand point moving the studio home is a smart =
move. My electric bill will be cut by 2/3, my rent will go toward my =
property, and the wear and tear on my truck is cut way back. My gas =
bill was running around $175 - $250 per month. Just to get back and =
forth to the studio. Looking back, I didn't fish enough or kayak enough =
but it was one hell of year!
Sandy Miller
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