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from melinda collins/antigua guatemala

updated wed 20 aug 03

 

Joyce Lee on tue 19 aug 03


Melinda doesn't have time for Clayart for the moment,
so asked me to pass this on. My pleasure.

Joyce
In the Mojave
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Hello friends....I am not on clayart currently, and miss it very much. =
I am very busy with my shop and I must say it is a beautiful place, =
although very small. I made a neck and upper chest torso mold, front =
and back of a beautiful dutch girl visiting here, and so my necklaces =
are selling much much better with the terra cotta with acrylic wash =
torsos as displays. I also am giving lessons on a trade out with a guy =
here who paints beautiful, large religious murals on tiles, but knows =
nothing of the ceramic process itself. He is deaf and has trouble =
speaking, so supports himself with his work when he can get it, but has =
commissions in italy and the u.s.....it is sort of funny because his =
hearing problem is not really a problem with us, since I don't speak =
much spanish anyway, so we are fine there......I did not know how =
talented he was when I agreed to do this, as I really don't have time, =
but as it is turning out, I am receiving more than I thought I would, =
after seeing his portfolio. I never dreamed he was so talented, I just =
knew he probably could not afford to pay what I would charge so he will =
paint individual rustic colonial style tiles of the 15th century murals =
still intact in totonicapan cathedral, if I try enough things, maybe a =
little profit might come my way, shopwise..........I don't want anymore =
rich guatemalan women looking for something to do to teach...it's much =
more fun working with people who have love of materials and process and =
no one here will share information, it's not all so =
altruistic....., as bill cosby says, I'm getting a little older now =
and trying to get into heaven, ...............not THAT old, just 54, but =
the last time I looked up, I was 34 and I don't know when and how it =
happened........those lost 20 years..........
so next thursday morning, it's learning to roll a slab, and make a mug =
with handle, explain how to dry tiles between sheet rock and make a 13" =
tabletop mural...he'll have a week to design one.....so I am having =
alittle fun in with the daily grind of turning out necklaces and way too =
cheap commissions of little pieces. I am proud of my colored clay =
jewelry, as I have never seen anything like it and it is a challenge to =
make porcelain jewelry that is really nice, not just "beginner style" =
pendants, etc.....all mine is done with beads, and multiple pieces, I =
don't use pendants, or glaze, just depend on the shape of the whole =
thing to make it work, and it seems to. Enough of me....Ron is making =
italian style large cone shaped candles, unlike any here, and that's =
helping also, we hope.....also, now he has a creative outlet of his own, =
that I can keep my mouth shut and leave him alone....he doesn't get that =
advantage in his role as apprentice in clay.......please check out my =
friend Marie's gallery in tilberg holland www.fuegokunst.nl Russel, =
she is looking for you to come......she spent 2 mo in our apartment and =
studio, and we played like two little kids.....it was her husband paul =
who taught ron to make the candles......I miss you all......please =
write....I will be teaching a workshop next february here though Art =
Workshops in Guatemala, based out of Minnesota I am not sponsoring =
this, a very experienced guide of many years of art workshops here, =
Liza Forre.... lots of handholding and lush accommodations.... check it =
out at www.artguat.org "Porcelain with a Guatemalan Perspective" =
field work and studio....as we say in Texas, "come on down"......melinda =
collins antigua guatemala melron@conexion.com.gt