WeatherGirl’s Station

During the last two pottery classes I’ve had the opportunity to throw pots on a wheel. It is absolutely fantastic. Who knew it would be so easy? I’m pretty gobsmacked, I thought it was going to be trial by fire. I’m just knocking these suckers out. Of course, everything I’m making is rather strange and odd looking. Well, I put that down to having great fun experimenting with lip shapes and body forms. Mostly my pieces are more sculptural than pot like. I’m so looking forward to class next week, with luck they’ll let me throw more pots.

Current temperature: here 3C/37F, there -11F/-24F

We are now two weeks in to our fifteen week pottery class. There are at least three times as many students and a different teacher so the whole dynamic has changed. I’m really glad I took the short class though because I think I gained enough insight and technical expertise from our original teacher so that I feel like I know what I’m doing. The new teacher is a lot more loosey goosey and go with the flow which is not the greatest way to pick up good technique but we are already making more pots and having the opportunity to be more expressive. Together the two of them could team teach a stupendous class!

The first week I made three pinch pots. One I turned into wide mouthed bowl, which is okay looking but nothing to write home about. The other two I joined together, which had me a little suspicious at first. It wasn’t clear if I could make anything the slightest bit interesting but as it has evolved this ‘pot’ has taken on a life of its own. It sort of has the feel of an Easter Island standing stone though I’ve cut holes in mine which freakily look like eyes. I’ve begun making marks in the surface that add to its strangeness. I suspect I’ll be using oxides rather that glaze for the finish but we’ll have to see how the burnishing goes.

Current temperature: here 7C/45F, there 43F/6C

We’ve finished our coil pots. Yay us! My coils were much better second time around, so the top of the pot is much prettier than the bottom. We also made lids for our pots. Once I attached a handle to mine the group’s consensus was my pot struck more than a passing resemblance to a strawberry. When viewed from a distance the pot doesn’t look too bad. Then we glazed our pinch pots which was great fun. I dipped mine in two different colours, white inside and a shade of green on the outside. Next time we’ll have the chance to paint some more glaze on to touch up the finish.

I’ve also learnt that the follow up pottery class which had been over subscribed now has some open slots for those of us on the waiting list. I heard that a number of people had to drop the class due to its changing day. Once the current the five weeks are done, I get 15 more. Yay!

Current temperature: here 5C/41F, there 54F/12C

… is in the making. Yesterday we began work on a coil pot. Insert hysterical giggling at the thought of my effort! Yeah, it’s not going well in terms of making a good looking pot but I’m having a great time and I got to get my hands dirty. We made slurry and I loved that. So far I’ve kept pretty clean but I don’t expect that to last. We’re an odd mixture of people in the class. We have a couple of ladies who chat constantly. I knew more about their personally lives in the first five minutes than they will know about me after the five weeks are up. Huge amounts of TMI. There is another class member who talks even less than I do so I’m not the quietest. We do have one gentleman and he seems to be holding his own under the onslaught. At least four people are awol and who knows if they’re going to show up. Which is so silly ‘cos they’ve paid for the course. I tried to sign up for the next part of the sequence but that’s full already though I am first on the waiting list. Keep your fingers crossed.

Current temperature: here 15C/59C, there 66F/19C

Well, I didn’t exactly throw a pot but I did actually fashion my very first piece of pottery at the grand old age of 44! Our teacher began by introducing us to a pinch pot. We started by rolling up a ball of clay and sticking a thumb in it to make the bowl, manipulating the clay until it was the same width all the way around. We got to have a couple of practice shots before we made a piece that will actually be fired. Even though we were making a very simple pot you quickly became aware of all those little details that need attention to make something beautiful rather than adequate. Clearly, practice, practice, practice, is the order of the day. I suspect I will end up with a piece that only a mother could love!

The one rather odd aspect of this pinch potting was I realised that I made it left handedly, which, for a generally right handed person, is definitely strange. (There are a number of things I do naturally left handed but nothing so major.)

Current temperature: here 9c/48F, there 43F/6C

So I’ve acquired a few art supplies including watercolours and some medieval iron gall ink so I’m having fun playing with a few ideas. I have a little postcard project in mind if it all comes together appropriately. I’ve signed up for a couple of adult education classes, one of which is a short pottery taster, to see if I should give this a try when I return to the lonesome plain. Mainly, though, the classes are a means to meet a few people. The boys have a ready made pool of ‘friends’ but given the nature of my life this isn’t true for me. We’ll see how it goes, at least I should learn something interesting along the way.

Curent temperature: here 17C/63F, there 73F/23C

On Friday 13th July the exhibit Horizontal Grandeur opens at the local history museum hosted by the Stevens County Historical Society. Both Phi and I have had pieces accepted. Top/left: the only trees were wavy lines, top/right: Silo are mine. Bottom/left: Fighting Back (Tilting at Windmills?), bottom/right: Waiting are Phi’s

The title of the show comes from a piece written by Bill Holm that you can find here

I wrote descriptions for each of my pieces plus a short artist statement that I’m including here.

the only trees were wavy lines

All the Dutch elm beetle left us on its trek westwards was this stump. Yet the remains are still beautiful and infinitely fascinating.

Silo

Seasons change and sunlight captures different moods in the metal. The plastic refuse caught in the structure flaps in the wind like a celebratory banner.

Artist Statement for Horizontal Grandeur

I took my first photograph when I was 7 or 8 years old. It was of my Gran by the amusements near Ventnor pier on the Isle of Wight, UK. Some how I managed to miss my Gran completely; all you can see are pleasure boats floating in a shallow pool. When I look at the photograph all I remember is my Gran smiling, waiting patiently for me to take her picture.

As I continue to take photographs I’m always looking for a different point of view, an unexpected subject, and a way to remember a moment in time.

Opening reception is 6.30pm - 8.30pm.

Current temperature: 81F/27C

So I’ve not posted in a while because a project I’ve been working on for the last year has finally come to fruition and it has needed much time and attention.

I’ve been working with a small group of women to bring the Embroiderers’ Guild of America’s 18th National Exhibit to our home on the prairie. The exhibit finally opened on Saturday 28th January. We are so thrilled. Not only do we have the EGA exhibit but we have organised several other shows to compliment the main exhibit plus a whole host of events every weekend.

To learn more about all the fun events we’ve hosted and those that we have planned in the coming weeks check out our web page.

Opening weekend netted us about 300 visitors and we’ve continued in a similar vein. If you’re passing through town you should definitely check it out, it’s an amazing exhibit.

Happy birthday to me!
Happy birthday to me!
Happy birthday dear me!
Happy birthday to me!

Now I’m supposed to understand: life, the universe, and everything but I must confess much is still a complete mystery. For example, who on earth though Shrub would be a good US President?

My sweetie designed me my very own t-shirt. It says ‘Make tea, not war’, and reflects two things that are very close to my heart. It took two days to do all the calligraphy followed by the image prepping and preening. Demonstrating our consumerist tendencies we’ve slapped the calligraphy on a cornucopia of products at Cafepress for like-minded individuals to purchase.

Go. Buy. Spread the word.

Current temperature 59F/15C

After the initial shock, I’m getting used to being bald. Actually the fully leaded baldness didn’t really last long. (Check out how it looks here.) I was quite surprised at how fast my hair came back. Of course I still look fairly bare but I’m not quite so bald. There’s lots of gray in evidence, at least around my face. Sub Evil Boy said he’d like me to dye my hair when it grows back as he didn’t want both his parents looking old with gray hair!