[Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay

Sun Jul 3 02:47:02 UTC 2011

Hi all,

Yes, an art center is a good place. We have a art council office that has 
shows and I have gotten to know them over the last few years. It is 
relatively small and during a big snow storm, I stopped there and waited for 
my husband to pick me up since the  sidewalks were so snowy.
They are real friendly and sponsor shows as well as other galleries in town. 
A church also has a small show of someone's art. They invited my husband to 
have a show. I hoped he would take them upon it but frankly he is quite 
busy. I think if he had help getting his stuff there it would make a 
difference. You know how family issues are sometime.

Yes, the art center here has all that expensive equipment. I think it would 
be quite a learning experience learning to set up and use a kiln. I can't 
imagine the utility bill!
Linda, do you have a kiln or do you have one that you can use at the art 
center?  Here they have all those little things you can use such as brushes, 
rolling pins etc.

Best,
Georgia
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "River Woman" <riverwoman at zoominternet.net>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 8:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay

> Sounds like you have found a good pottery teacher who will work with you 
> to help you do whatever is on your mind to do.  When I lost my sight 
> nearly 4 years ago, a friend took me to a pottery class - it was before I 
> had any training or mobility or anything. I was very worried the teacher 
> would not want me in her class - but just the opposite, she created ways 
> of teaching me that gave me confidence and I just took off from there. An 
> art center is a really great place to do pottery because they have all the 
> expensive equipment that you would not just go out and buy yourself, 
> normally. I considered putting in a pottery shop here at my studio, then 
> decided against it because my pottery class is my time away when I can 
> just have fun and be with other people who are making pottery, too. It is 
> my social get-away every week as I live in the country near a small town 
> and there are no activities in my town that I could participate in - so I 
> am mostly at home and work here, and at the art center. For me, the art 
> center is a one hour drive away from my home. Thankfully, my husband will 
> take me, and sometimes friends take me. Lynda River woman
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Georgia Kitchen" <gakitchen at gfn.org>
> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 7:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay
>
>
>> Hi Linda and all,
>>
>> Your boxes sound really interesting. I have always liked boxes for 
>> different small items such as sewing items, jewerly.
>> I  hope your show goes well. I am sure it is a lot of work to get ready.
>>
>> Seems to me, one could specialize in one item.
>>
>> I am lucky that I live close to an art center.
>>
>> We used to have a lot of clay at the bottom of our farm pond when I was a 
>> kid but I am not sure if it was the type that would form pottery. I 
>> probably wouldn't swim in a farm pond now but we thought it was the 
>> greatest then. I had more freedom there because at the beach my mother 
>> always made me stay where the little kids were.
>>
>>
>> To have a show here, first you have to be juried of course and then  you 
>> have to have a certain number of pieces to show. My husband is juried but 
>> never has enough pieces to have a show unless he takes some of his stuff 
>> from  the house. He likes certain wood items that he really doesn't want 
>> to sell.
>>
>> Joseli, I can see that  air dry clay would have it's advantages but at 
>> the same time, you may find it interesting to learn some of the 
>> techniques like coils, pinch pots and slabs and what you can do with 
>> them. I have found most artists to be interesting and compassionate. I 
>> once took this dance class and had a rough time to the point it wasn't 
>> fun so I stopped going on the advice of my friend that went with me.It 
>> was sort of a different situation. In this case, only the teacher was 
>> experienced.
>>
>> The  clay teacher made me a map of the studio.  It was real sweet of her. 
>> My memory isn't that good but I plan to  study the map, make a key and 
>> give it to a friend here who is  going into mobility.
>>
>> Are you in a small town? Would  you consider moving back to Flint? I am 
>> pretty sure they have scholarships here for classes.
>>
>> It is real  hot here so it has been sort of a lazy day for me other than 
>> do some house work and reading.
>>
>> I fell asleep listening to Newsline.
>>
>> Best,
>> Georgia
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "joseli Walter" <joseli at thezoolady.net>
>> To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" 
>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 5:57 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay
>>
>>
>>>I use air dry clay because I can't afford a kiln and probably couldn't 
>>>use
>>> one in my apartment anyway.  I've considered pottery shops and all, but 
>>> they
>>> are kind of hard to get too and I like being able to work on my stuff 
>>> when I
>>> feel into it.
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of River Woman
>>> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 10:58 AM
>>> To: List for blind crafters and artists
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay
>>>
>>> Hello Georgia,
>>> I think you will absolutely love working in clay - and your ancestors 
>>> are
>>> there to help you on the way!
>>> I have been concentrating on getting things made for my solo show that 
>>> is
>>> coming up in September - four years of work will be in this show - so it 
>>> is
>>> a big one for me.
>>> Right now, I am concentrating on some small lided boxes - I call them
>>> Chinese Tea Boxes and the reason for it is that I used empty tea boxes 
>>> for
>>> patterns for the boxes. Then, I put them up on legs, give them handles,
>>> flourishes, flowers, leaves - or anything else that comes to my mind. 
>>> Some
>>> are made by first pressing the wet clay into large pieces of bark that 
>>> fell
>>> off trees during the winter - other, I have rolled lace doiley's into 
>>> the
>>> wet clay, and others pressed leaves, pine tree branches, etc. I never 
>>> know
>>> when I begin a box, where it will lead me. I just begin with the slab, 
>>> and
>>> go from there, one piece at a time. I cut, push, pull, stretch, shape,
>>> pound, and sand the clay along the way. Whatever it takes to get a 
>>> vision of
>>> where it might go or what it might become. One step at a time. The 
>>> journey
>>> to the finished box takes lots of turns along the way, and the results 
>>> are
>>> stunning after the final firing - if I am lucky.
>>>
>>> Please, anyone else who makes work out of clay, I would LOVE to hear 
>>> about
>>> it.  We need to encourage and inspire one another.
>>>
>>> Lynda River Woman
>>>
>>> Tell us what you are making - I love to hear what others are doing with
>>> clay.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Georgia Kitchen" <gakitchen at gfn.org>
>>> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" 
>>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 11:18 AM
>>> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hand building with clay
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi Linda and all,
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for the  encouragement and sharing your experiences. I have
>>>> always appreciated art and I have anscestors who have worked in various
>>> media.
>>>>
>>>> My sister in law lives real close to a college in Arkansas and I think
>>>> she would like working in clay if she is up to it health wise.
>>>>
>>>> I wanted also
>>>> to say Hello to Joseli. It is cool that you are working in clay. Do
>>>> you still have your dog guide?
>>>>
>>>> Have a  Happy Holiday all and if you are at convention I know you will
>>>> have a good time. I will be watching it on the internet.
>>>>
>>>> Best,
>>>> Georgia
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>>
>
>
>
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