Summer Clay 2021

As a “gig” worker, my summers were jam packed with lots of different classes and workshops where I’ve taught art and clay to students of all ages. Covid changed that for me and so many other instructors. Last summer I chose to teach virtually. It worked well. I learned to adapt. Thinking about summer 2021, I decided to return to in-person teaching. I took one full time job for 8 weeks teaching summer clay to campers grades 1-9. I didn’t make as much money as I could have teaching multiple shorter workshops, but it felt safer for me and safer for my young students, the majority of whom were too young to be vaccinated.

Interacting with new people, making friends, hearing the laughter of children and watching them create was joyful. I became part of a bigger community whose job was to provide a wonderful enriching summer for children in a time when that need could not have been greater. I think we succeeded as I look back on the amazing pottery the kids created…

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Happy Holidays 2020

I’ve just completed an update on my website with class updates and how to purchase my pottery until December 31, 2020. I’ve been stopping in at the galleries and shops that support me and filling in with new pieces for the final days of in-store shopping. The snow is falling and spring ideas are starting to pop into my head. I’m looking forward to creating new work and completing some special orders in 2021. Be Well and Stay Safe.

Thank you to Medfield TV for creating this great video for the Virtual Holiday Stroll in Medfield.

Kids Summer Pottery

I had a great summer teaching pottery to kids in grades 2-5. They were fun and creative and seemed to really enjoy the experience of working with clay. Here’s a look at some of the projects we worked on in Week 1.

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Coral Reefs: before with wet clay and after with colorful glazes.

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Aquariums

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Coil Pots

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Functional Pottery

Here is a look at the projects we worked on in Week 2:

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Pinch pot animals, sea creatures or fish (and the cookie monster!)

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Covered jars in the form of a favorite dessert.

It’s always a great experience to teach clay for Newton Community Education! Check out my next post on what the teens created during their week of summer pottery class.

Pottery Sale at Medfield Stroll – join me!

I’ll be selling my wheel thrown and hand built pottery at the Medfield Library.

* I’ll be at the Medfield Library selling my pottery collection. There is a lot going on at my site!  Look for me in the Great Room on the Main Floor.

 

ARTIST’S SITE 

Medfield Library
468 Main Street

* 4:00–9:00 pm. Artisans’ work for sale.
4:30 pm. Children’s performer Jeannie Mack: Warm Winter Sing-a-longs.
4:00–9:00 pm. Kids craft station hosted by MAP (Medfield Afterschool Program).
4:00–9:00 pm. Visit the Friends Bookstore for books, CDs, DVDs and audiobooks.
5:15–5:45 pm. Trills ‘n Chills a cappella group, with Eva Kendrick Voice Studio. 

 

 

 

 

The Cultural Alliance of Medfield hosts its fourth annual Holiday Stroll on Dec. 7, 2018 from 4 – 9 pm. This is a festive family event that takes place at sixteen venues along Main Street (Route 109), North Meadows Road (Route 27), North Street and the Dwight Derby House on Frairy Street. Included are 40 artists booths at four locations, an outdoor ice sculpture carving demonstration, food vendors, carolers, photos with Santa and M.E.M.O.’s outdoor tree lighting ceremony. All events are within walking distance, FREE admission and parking nearby. 

For more information visit https://medfieldculture.org/

Art & Soul

Join the Westwood Artists on Wednesday, September 26th from 5:30-7PM at the Westwood Media Center located at 15 Perwal Street, Westwood, MA. Tonight we celebrate the artists of Westwood and view the completed Art & Soul Community Paper Quilt.  The event is open to the public.

On August 6th, WestwoodWinds Community Band performed a concert in conjunction with a Westwood Artists exhibition at the Westwood High School entitled “Art & Soul”. The collaborative event threw a spotlight on artists of all kinds in the community. The concert, entitled “Where the Wild Things Are,” featured its usual eclectic blend of familiar pieces relating to animals. Young children, especially, enjoyed “Peter and the Wolf” with narration by Westwood Media Director, Melinda Garfield.

During the concert, Westwood Artists provided materials to children and adults alike to make their own paper quilt square of their favorite animal. Students in Westwood Recreation 2D summer art classes and Westwood Library’s summer Monday Craft Program also contributed to this project.

Westwood Artists combined the animal images to create a 64-paneled community paper quilt. It has been installed at their permanent gallery located at the Westwood Media Center at 15 Perwal Street in Westwood.

Tonight we celebrate the artists of Westwood and view the completed Art & Soul Community Paper Quilt. 

 

 

Kids Clay

My spring session of Kids Clay included mostly repeat students.  This allowed me to introduce more difficult projects and let the kids make more creative choices.  We focused on three main projects that were multifaceted. We reviewed basic techniques, such as pinching, coiling, texture, slab and attaching to build the final work.  Students enjoyed the “play” factor: moving the pieces around to create their own stories.  It was a joy to see their creative solutions.

Project One: Turtles in their environment

Project Two: It’s my Birthday

Project Three: Pretend you are a scientist and you discovered a new species of animal. Create that new animal.

The pottery was created using low fire clay and glazing the bisque fired ware with low fire glazes. Kids create amazing pottery!

New Arts – a new teaching experience

A short experience teaching young students art brings wonder and joy!

Creating art from literature with 1st and 2nd graders..

 

A Trip to the City: listening to city noises, reading city books, sharing experiences with 3rd, 4th and 5th graders..

Teaching Pottery

My 14 week class of 12 young students has come to an end.  I’ll miss these students and the wonderful creative play they experienced with clay. Here is a look at some of their artwork:

self portrait project

 

 

 

Summer Pottery

Summer pottery class with older students in grades 3-6 were taught techniques to create work in clay.  The older students were able to understand and grasp concepts in a different way than the younger students.  Sometimes they were more hesitant to take chances, but when they did, they were rewarded. Their finished pieces show maturity and understanding of skills.  Here is a look at a few of my favorite pieces from this 4 day summer pottery camp at Newton Community Education.

Ben’s pinch pot dinosaur

Mairead’s pinch pot turtle

Brianna’s coil pot

“Create your own” utilizing pinch pots and coil

Mio’s “Create your own” utilizing slab, texturizing and scratch & attach with slip.

These imaginative students were a thoughtful group who found joy in creating with clay – yipee!

2D Art Camp

In my classroom for 2D art camp, the students created all sorts of wonderful projects.  They were given many high quality materials to work with and learned how to use them.  Here is a look at some of my favorite projects from each lesson:

(oil) Pastels and Watercolors

Creating texture with Tempera Paint

Painting Rocks with Acrylic Paint

Collage!

Creating books with colored pencils and regular pencils

Colored markers and a composition that describes you!

It’s the last day of summer! How would you spend it? Tell me in paint on a canvas….

I come away from teaching with a renewed sense of wonder 🙂