Boundaries

Nathan hosted a small get-together during our visit.  Between the laughter and hysterical stories Nathan and I had a moment to exchange stories about friends and boundaries. 

I think Nathan and I share our want to help people.  He and I shared stories about long time friends who don't respect our boundaries.  I found his story interesting as it mirrored my own.  We both have friends we try to help but who put us in difficult positions, asking us to place ourselves in financial or spiritual jeopardy and yet not understanding why we would say no. It was validating to hear him say that we have to do that, especially when our financial and spiritual well being is tied to our family's well being. I know a lot of people would agree with Nathan, but it's so hard when people you love don't understand. 

I realize people attract others who mirror themselves. I realize my long time friend reflects who I was many years ago.  What I wonder is does the fact that we don't see eye to eye on something as fundamental as personal boundaries mean that we've grown in different directions?

Amazing people

I took a break from my pots to visit a friend, Nathan, in Bloomington, Indiana. 

Sometimes I meet people who have it all together. Among those are Marva Jolly, Joyce Owens, Susan Gillespie, Nathan, and just recently Carol and her husband, Bill. Nathan introduced me to Carol and Bill and  I believe friends like these are a gift. They are people who feed your soul with their positive energy and their laughter.  

And while the after dinner conversation developed last night developed, I realized that if Chris and I can be like Carol and Bill when we retire, then we would truly be accomplished. Here is a couple who has traveled, learned, experienced, and in their retirement continue to love each other and to have adventures. And continue to laugh and enjoy. They are truly amazing!

Resilient Spirit continued

Soda fired vase

One of my friends is a very patient soul.  He patiently waits his turn.  He patiently waits for people to call him back.  He patiently waits for things to change.

But what I fear is that he waits for a relationship to become healthy.  He waits for a change in his significant other's demeanor. And he's been waiting a very long time.  And as he waits, his soul is exposed to such negativity.  And now I think he's become accustomed to his circumstance.  He's endured a lot in his life and his soul is resilient.  But I know a relationship isn't something you endure.  It's something you enjoy.

How do I know?  I was there once.  Waiting.  Being patient.  Waiting.  And enduring.

And what's the difference between he and I?  After four years, I got tired of waiting for things to change.  I got tired of not having my own spiritual needs not being met.  I got tired of never having time for my art because my needs were never acknowledged.  I got tired of feeling less than.  I got tired of enduring.  And I just got tired.

My friend is more patient than I am, but at what cost?

Chicago Public Art Group

Today, I had the pleasure of meeting John Pounds and John Weber from the Chicago Public Art Group.  Their goal is to bring communities together through the creation of public art. John pounds was an amazingly kind man with much artistic insight, while John Weber was just a font of information regarding Chicago history and civil rights. It was an amazing meeting that revolved around how art has grown to be a very public activity that brings together communities and helps to raise awareness about social issues.The meeting left me feeling very charged and very grateful about being involved in art. I certainly hope I have the opportunity to work with both of these amazing men in the future.

From the CPAG website
Title:  Bethel New Life 
Site:  Bethel New Life Center, 1140 N. Lamon, Chicago 

Resilient Spirit

I hate scraping kiln shelves.

But even the things we love to do can come with things we dislike. But if you keep doing a

Large soda fired bowl

process you hate, then it just becomes something you do, and eventually you don't think about it anymore.

This resiliency of the human spirit is something I've been highly aware of since my early twenties. All too often we become accustomed to living with difficult circumstances for no reason except that our spirit has accepted the circumstances.   But if we keep in mind the resilient nature of the spirit and examine our habits and circumstances, remembering that the only long term experiences we should endure are the positive ones, then our lives become more fulfilled.

It's something  we must remember whenever we enter into a new relationship, a new job, or a new habit, or else hurtful experiences can become part of our day to day lives.

Feedback from Fairs

Vase.  Soda Fired.

With the onset of terrible heat in the Midwest, my art fair season is over.  I usually plan it that way.  Art fairs are a lot of work, but I like to get direct feedback from people.  It's like having a two day critique.

Critiques are not something I shy away from.  I know others think critiques are painful, but they help me grow.  Because of feedback from patrons, my finished work feels smooth, only feeling rough in places where the visual contrast is necessary, and never where a hand would make regular contact with the piece.

Because of feedback from patrons, I throw much thinner now than I ever have, making many of my pieces much lighter. I've also learned that light pieces seem frail to patrons, and people don't necessarily want all their functional pieces to be light.

What I learned at this year's fairs is that people really do appreciate heavily etched pieces that incorporate a lot of texture.  They really do appreciate all the work put into one piece.  So for this next round of work, I really want to push myself to make sure every piece is carved, slip trailed, and/or stamped.  Every piece should be special.

Fred

Fred

On the way back to Chicago, I stopped at Hannibal, Missouri to take in some of the art there.  I made sure to stop at Ayers Pottery which sells beautiful work, both functional and nonfunctional. 

I was surprised that Fred, a production potter at Ayers, remembered me from my visit a few years ago.  Fred is one of the nicest, easy going guys you could meet.  He cordially showed us around the studio, introducing us to Steve Avery's newly fired work, and he also let me throw on his wheel!

Everyone you meet has a message for you from the universe and Fred was no different. We chatted about how production pottery is the "bread and butter" component of a pottery business.  His efficient, yet skillfull execution of pieces make up the bulk of the sales while the large work demonstrates the thought placed new forms.  Our talk underscored the symbiotic relationship between production pottery and patient innovation. 

It will be good to visit with him again next year!

Addictions

There's a certain amount of obsessive behavior in making art.  My slight OCD helps get through some of the repetitive and tedious tasks involved in art making.  But when things get too tedious, Netflix helps. 

I've watched full seasons of TV shows while glazing.  That includes everything from "Ugly Betty" to "Legend of the Seeker" to "Orange is the New Black."  I used to feel glazing was the hardest part of ceramics, but now I look forward to it.  But I hate to admit it, I'm a Netflix addict.  I can watch an entire season in four days. I can knock out an entire series in one glaze cycle.  

And I'm really excited for the next cycle!

Functional and nonfunctional

My first day at Lill Street I was asked if I was a functional or nonfunctional potter.  It was the first time someone tried to label my art.  I realize that for many, the difference between functional and nonfunctional is the difference between crafter and artist.  I'm always cognizant of this line.  I think perhaps too cognizant. 

Small bowl.  Glazed and soda fired.

Although I've been told many times that I always have something to say,  the truth is I don't, and when I don't have anything to say with my art, I play with my clay and make functional forms.  But lately, I've really not had much on my mind, so I've been making A LOT of functional pieces, and I'm feeling terrible about it, like somehow I'm not living up to my potential.   I realize that it's because I don't want to be a crafter.  For some reason that label bothers me.  Maybe it's because I've heard people use the label with a "less than" air about it, and now I'm feeling "less than" for what I'm doing.

But it's at these times I hear Professor a Jolly telling me, "you're going to meet a lot of snobs in this business,"  and hear her words of encouragement telling me to just create what I want to create. 

Rice Bowls

A trip into Chinatown a few weeks ago inspired me to create some rice bowls.   In the shops, I saw several very intricately designed and many engineered with a chop stick rest. The rice bowls were gorgeous.  

I love functional design. I know in creating something functional there's always a chance of crossing over into being a 'crafter,' but my graphic design background taught me to appreciate what is purposeful while well engineered and beautifully decorated.  It's strange how excited I am to etch into one of these bowls I'm creating. Designing embellishments around functionality is so much fun to me!

Taking a Break...

For me, leaning is an ongoing process, and I'm proud that I keep learning new skills. 

New Storage

Last year, I was lucky enough to have an advanced art student who told the most interesting story about how his father wanted him to learn how to build a house.  His father bought a parcel of land in Wisconsin, and for a year, my student, his father, and his brother traveled to Wisconsin to build their get-away-home.  They did everything from laying foundation, to plumbing, to electrical, to the finishes.  I was so impressed!  I never heard of such a thing!  And then I put his knowledge to good use.  I facilitated access to the school's woodshop and he was able to use his woodworking skills to build armature, and frames for his artwork.  In doing so, he taught me about the different saws and tools.  

Later, I asked my friend, our theater's technical director, to talk me through building portable shelves for my upcoming art fairs.  Thanks to his patience, tutelage, and power tools, I had new skills.  I highly doubt anyone would ever want to pay me for any of my wood works, but what I make will serve my purposes!

After months of deadline driven ceramic work, I am finally taking a week long break. I use the term "break" very loosely, because I've been making storage for my work space.  And while I'm sawing and hammering away, my mind drifts to my next clay works.  I can't wait to get my hands in my clay again, and I relish this time when, for a short while, I don't have any deadlines and I can take time to play with form and design.

Let go...

I know we're going to see each other in a few weeks.  I know when we do you're going to ask me if I've been throwing a lot. You've asked me before, and quite honestly, I never know how to answer.  I know you want to  throw a lot and I don't want you to feel badly when I answer that I have.  

But you have to remember I'm at a different place in my life than you are.  My kids are bigger and more independent than yours.   And I'm taking full advantage of that.  My evenings are spent on clay, yours, on bedtime routines.  Your time will come. But when it does, don't be so quick to give it away.  Guard your time with your art.  It's as fleeting as your time with your kids. And like time with your children, time with your art needs to be acknowledge as the gift that it is and defended.   

But I can see that's only part of the problem.  Fear also holds you back.  Fear of not being good enough. Fear of having your art open to public criticism. And the most stifling fear of all- the fear of having no excuse for failure other than your own shortcomings.  I see that all the time.  It's why everyone makes excuses about why they don't have time to do their art.  If you really want to do clay, then do it.   Let go do the fear and excuses.   Make the time.  Make art part of your habit. Make art part of your life.