Alchemy of Clay: December 2011

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Perspective

There was a time when I didn't know how vanishing points and horizon lines would enable me to make a scene, or a house, or even a box look realistic. I wonder which art teacher gave me this gift, and how old I was. Perspective was part of my life at least by 6th grade, when I do remember seeing the Raphael painting of The School of Athens, with all kinds of lines showing how perspective was easily defined scientifically. Art and science are definitely in bed together, snuggled up tight and loving lots of it, even if not every minute of it.

3d video Hubble Deep Field galaxies

if you haven't seen this yet, prepare yourself for a nice surprise. I watched it twice in a row. It is worth the minutes to experience so many light years of our universe.

It sure puts things in perspective!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

More chalices

Here are the other ones...including one that was just for the fun of it...not meant as a real serious chalice that someone would use in ritual thinking of their higher power. Unless they were the mythological trickster, the coyote, or the woman who brings giggles for you (I think Baubo is her name)

This is obviously a candle carrying chalice, not one to consider drinking wine from.

A more conventional shape for a chalice...view one and...

view two - of the more conventional chalice. It is discounted since there's just a bit of tilt to the top edge.
It is wheel thrown, speckled brownstone stoneware clay, with HR Satin liner and Eggshell and Persimmon glazes outside. The medalion is a celtic cross.

This little chalice is sweet, and has 4 directional lips for pouring if there were liquid inside...but of course it works very well with a candle.

We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business; we are each other's magnitude and bond. Gwendolyn Brooks

Monday, December 5, 2011

In her honor

A young woman lost her life Sat. night, Dec. 3, 2011. She was a friend of many of my friends, but I don't think she knew me well.

However, her loss is being felt by many of the members of my church, because she was talented and shared her musical abilities with us all. So she was known to many who are aware of what a loss her life is to all of us.

Her family of course is stunned, and especially her brother. I won't go into any details, because this isn't the time or place. I just send them hopes that they can cope and find peace through this terrible tragedy and come out the other side with some sanity.

It is hard. I've been angry today, and definitely thought the divine plan had a glitch for this to happen. I've also sung to Emily that she is continuing her existence without the body in which she was living for such a short while. There is such a sense of unfairness for this to happen.

I'm reminded of Ram Das who said we each chose this lifetime to experience these relationships, to help each other and to grow through the difficulties that are presented.

Of course when our community met for church this morning, many of the young people were there with parents, trying to come to understanding of this tragedy. I am sure this is where they will start to have individual definitions of what happens at death. It was a good thing to be considered, because we all are going to die. It wasn't good in that a beautiful innocent girl actually died.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Holly Jolly pottery

This will be a record of the day, in spurts of what was happening at BMCA Friday, December 2, 2011.

Early in the day, the sales area has tables and table clothes, and Charles and Gale work on the lighting. (The gallery had already been set up, and looked great, but I missed getting a picture of it, which is ok, because the display will be there for a couple of months.)

Pat and Gale think seriously about who's pottery should go where to the best advantage for all.

A lot of the studio people did talk with each other throughout the evening. Here from left to right are Marsha, Travis (back to camera, then his wife Crystal), Sarah and Charles.

My section of display has me clowning around posing as my Blue Lady is posed (right in front of me).

Blue Lady

The Average Joe entertaining duo gave us cheerful background music for the sale area.

The cornucopia in the gallery exhibit...

Our community project was to make ornaments and sell them to benefit the Center for the Arts. Here they are!

I also got a shot of the ceramic tree with some ornaments hanging on it.

This is the ceramic tree with my angel ornaments hanging from it. The angels were changed right after this shot to have ribbon necklace hangers...so they are very different looking by the time they were sold or given away.

Or here's the tree by itself. Some of the branches were made big enough to hold tea light candles, so I hope to show it that way when I bring it home (the battery operated kind of candles).