by KP | Jan 30, 2016 | Ceramics, Education, Journalism
My phone rings at quarter to midnight. I don’t have the sort of life in which anyone ever calls me so late, especially on a school night. I am jolted out of sleep, expecting a nightmare of something-gone-wrong. But when I see who is calling, I smile my way to...
by KP | Dec 6, 2015 | Ceramics, Education
She sat down at the wheel with a lopsided ball of clay, and most of the tools she would need. Her hands might have been shaking, but it was hard to tell, as I did not want to make her nervous by watching too closely. Her daughter sat right beside her, studying her...
by KP | Dec 3, 2015 | Ceramics, Education, Social Issues
One of my students is teaching himself to throw pots while blindfolded. Actually, all of the teaching has already happened. The porcelain bowls he has been throwing are as lovely as anything made with full vision – soft, fluid, and graceful. He ripped a soft old...
by KP | Nov 30, 2015 | Education, Journalism, Social Issues
When I became aware of anything besides my laptop screen, the first thing I noticed was that my hands were shaking. I suppose my fingers had been steady enough for keystrokes, letters into words into sentences. But my trembling hands symbolized how unsure I felt that...
by KP | Sep 27, 2015 | Education, Social Issues
A wise-beyond-her-years high school junior wrote recently to ask for my perspective on whether liberal arts schools or art colleges were “better” for someone who wants to major in art. She’s a serious student and a talented, hardworking artist. It has been a joy to...
