by KP | Sep 25, 2013 | Ceramics, Education
“Wet clay high five!” I exclaimed to Robert, as he sliced his cylinder in half. Smiling, he gave me a satisfying ‘splat,’ palm-to-palm. We had just shared the observation that the pot he was trying to throw had no bottom. This happens often, early in throwing; just...
by KP | Sep 22, 2013 | Ceramics, Education
On the first few weeks of the school year Yesterday – Saturday – I spent four hours in the studio with a small group of students who had requested some weekend studio time to work on a project. With the exception of a short lunch break for pizza that one...
by KP | Sep 16, 2013 | Ceramics, Education
Are creativity and art the same thing? Do you think creativity can be taught? Why or why not? What experiences have you had, to date, that illustrate your perspective? Creativity CAN be taught. To spur creativity, the teacher or learner must assure themselves it is...
by KP | Aug 27, 2013 | Ceramics, Education
Today, I found myself thinking a lot about hands. At a workshop, we were asked to make something by hand, collaboratively, without skill or knowledge of the media, tools, or technique presented. It felt like a game – and, indeed, it was a lot of fun, with silly...
by KP | Aug 6, 2013 | Ceramics, Education
In his essay “The Hegemonic Eye: Can the Hand Survive?,” artist and teacher Chris Staley writes, “Art making is an essential part of the human condition. To make something special is fundamental to our humanity-from college freshman wanting to...
by KP | Jul 24, 2013 | Ceramics, Education
There are piles of work waiting for me, but I have spent the afternoon sitting quietly in a corner of the barn’s overhang, reading. The only sounds are the stomping of the horses’ feet, the occasional squonk of some nearby geese, and the whisk of wings as...
