tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53655157251925494572024-02-19T11:00:23.386-05:00Learning to be FearlessRuminations on Life and Pots by
Graciela Testa LyntGraciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-53771705757926787202016-03-09T15:48:00.000-05:002016-03-09T15:48:34.521-05:00Caminito<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caminito</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My three-week vacation to Argentina and Uruguay was wonderfully intense, with lots of sight-seeing, family reunions and unexpected findings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While in Buenos Aires, I visited the Boca neighborhood and the area known as "Caminito." </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the 1800s there was a small stream in the area and later railroad tracks where installed. Eventually, the railroad fell into disuse and the place became a local eyesore, housing many tenements made out of zinc metal panels. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tenements turned into artisan shops</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the 1950s, Argentine artist Benito Quinquela Martin painted the walls facing the abandoned
street and constructed a stage at one end, which was replaced by a theater
house in 1972. The area is now a tourist attraction with many cafés, tango singers and dancers, and artisan shops where the tenement rooms once were. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The area's cultural significance comes from the famous tango "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caminito_%28song%29" title="Caminito (song)">Caminito</a>" composed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_de_Dios_Filiberto" title="Juan de Dios Filiberto">Juan de Dios Filiberto</a> in 1926.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choosing a mug Guaralonga Cerámica.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Walking through the area I came upon a local ceramics shop, <a href="http://guaralonga.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Guaralonga Cerámica</a>, and chatted with Michael who ended up being from Uruguay. He was painting local motifs from the area onto his mugs, plates and other creations. Of course, I bought one of these lovely mugs and it's now taking its place among my collection of mugs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Upon leaving the area, I came upon this sign. I have no idea who put it up or why, but certainly concur that the world does, indeed, need more poetry. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We Need More Poetry!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-66535604839586204512016-02-05T22:17:00.001-05:002016-02-05T22:17:34.678-05:00Last Firing Before Going on Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glazed pieces drying in the sun.</td></tr>
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I'm flying south on February 14th! After the snow storm I'm more than ready to head down to the summer warmth of the Southern Hemisphere. Arriving in Buenos Aires on February 15th to enjoy a whole week visiting the city with my niece who lives there. We had planned a trip to Iguazú Falls but have been thwarted by <i>Aedes aegypti</i>. El Niño has caused a lot of flooding in northern Argentina leading to an increase in the mosquito population and a serious dengue epidemic. So we are staying well south in the Río de la Plata where, thankfully, there is no dengue and no zika. The week will culminate in a celebration of my niece's birthday. After that we are headed for two weeks in Uruguay.<br />
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It's 81 degrees F in Buenos Aires and 73 degrees F in Montevideo, compared to the 35 degrees F we have here in Alexandria, Virginia, tonight. So yes, I'm ready to go bask in the sun!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottom shelf.</td></tr>
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But first, one last glaze firing. I have three orders still to fulfill and they're in this load. The kiln is running tonight and will be ready to open on Sunday.<br />
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I have an order for 3 serving bowls in purple, green and blue. One is on the bottom shelf, together with 3 berry bowls and 2 sponge holders. The domed piece is the top of a butter or cheese dish. I put fine sand under the piece so that it can move as it shrinks and it not warp. I've also put a glass marble in the knob. That will melt and, hopefully, make a beautiful lake of glass.<br />
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All the items on the bottom-middle shelf are orders. There are 2 more of the serving bowls, a yarn bowl and night light. The yarn bowl has a cutout of a moose and is glazed in purple. It's for a knitter who loves moose and the color purple (I'm told they call her "purple moose"). The night light is for a request for one that could hang on the wall. I made this one flatter than usual and made a foot ring that can hold a wire to hang it. We'll see how that turns out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottom Middle Shelf.</td></tr>
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The top-middle shelf has the extra serving bowl and the extra moose yarn bowl. I always make one extra just in case. Last time around, I didn't make an extra moose yarn bowl and, yes, it cracked. So this time I made two.<br />
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I've glazed all the night lights white this go around because all six white ones that came out of the last kiln load sold right away.<br />
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I made about six wide platters of different sizes this time and could only get 3 in this load. This one on the top-middle shelf is glazed in an iron matte glaze from John Britt's <i>Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes</i>. I sprinkled green and yellow glass frit on top of the glaze and also put in a glass marble. Let's see what happens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top Middle Shelf</td></tr>
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The top shelf is in three stages. I've got a large platter that's barely visible... that'll be a surprise for next time. Another platter has a carved chrysanthemum and is glazed in waterfall brown (from the Hesselberth and Roy <i>Mastering Cone Six Glazes</i> book). Glass marbles on that one as well. At the very top are the coasters for the berry bowls.<br />
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This load is being run in a fast glaze to cone 5. I've had good luck with cone 5 firings so far. It is in the hands of the kiln gods now!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top Shelf</td></tr>
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<br />Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415431533742764329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-47896347712787046852016-01-23T11:57:00.000-05:002016-01-23T11:57:51.665-05:00Firing the Kiln in a Blizzard<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoeN1Sl5dZx-LCYgbOdJmlzhgsduQP5WcMyWMYA6uW0xOXOZfd_spM3oWhwTb_EibIdYvrIrLQhi_C9O-cuXB27CvnuPQzUbBUSV7-iTccYY9L0VOMUQgSZ8CYAhi2bOnKGa6v2l88lU/s1600/IMG_2782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoeN1Sl5dZx-LCYgbOdJmlzhgsduQP5WcMyWMYA6uW0xOXOZfd_spM3oWhwTb_EibIdYvrIrLQhi_C9O-cuXB27CvnuPQzUbBUSV7-iTccYY9L0VOMUQgSZ8CYAhi2bOnKGa6v2l88lU/s320/IMG_2782.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A foot of snow and the blizzard is only half over.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although the space heaters do a good job of keeping the studio warm, the very cold weather this past week has been a bit of challenge. Fortunately, I was ready with a kiln load to help keep the studio warm and cozy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I fire overnight to save energy and money. The power company has installed a meter that records our hourly electricity usage so that now we can schedule things like running the kiln or charging the Nissan Leaf during non-peak hours, saving money and reducing our impact on the power grid.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVz9JRhxTejYdWPLA2LWh7a3G-nqy4PMFCXnJMsTv0iEwp8l9eXLF7pqHav-UPBLMC7Kc267A4z7BV48ehsySNWY25NO_q3Ba0eZIB4O06Z6Xlj3hMje8cS7UAJ1-98pLgLMREOLNZX4/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVz9JRhxTejYdWPLA2LWh7a3G-nqy4PMFCXnJMsTv0iEwp8l9eXLF7pqHav-UPBLMC7Kc267A4z7BV48ehsySNWY25NO_q3Ba0eZIB4O06Z6Xlj3hMje8cS7UAJ1-98pLgLMREOLNZX4/s320/IMG_2772.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bisqued pots ready for unloading</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I ran a bisque load overnight on Friday, January 15th and had a very warm studio on Saturday. The week was spent preparing the bisqued ware and glazing. All the pots were cleaned and the feet waxed. Then came the glazing and again, some more careful checking and cleaning of the glazed pots. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Loading the kiln always takes me longer than I expect it to. I enjoy the puzzle quality of loading and stacking shelves and pots in the most efficient manner. Like a lot of other things about making pots, it can be very meditative. Although this time I was more in the mood for rock and roll than meditation, so I happily danced around while glazing. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pots washed and waxed, ready for glazing</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I decided to throw
caution (and worries about power outages during the *historic* blizzard of 2016) to the wind and ran a glaze
firing last night</span> (Friday, January 22nd). The kiln ran mostly after 10pm and the firing was completed at 1:30am. Opening the kiln probably won't happen until tomorrow sometime. But today, I can work in the warm studio and ignore the piling snow. No worries about cold hands and cold feet!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I make an awful mess when I glaze!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There's a foot of snow outside now (noon on 1/23/16) and it's supposed to keep snowing at least until tonight. The wind has picked up in the last hour. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am very grateful that I am in a warm house with a fully-loaded Kindle and a warm studio. I am grateful that my 5 kids and their families are also warm at home and the grandchildren are reportedly having a great time playing in the snow. Life is good!</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415431533742764329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-67554289063290285432016-01-06T22:21:00.001-05:002016-01-06T22:21:43.030-05:00Mixing Glazes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rfQMGbO7VZMpJw6GIZ39jd3ze8Kg_7H3hrXoPNwsrYmJgAl1wrIz3wzfISG_xvXCGEoO1HqZKCWiY_Ty-pbx9xtH7U6kUGyCTuaAzGAbWN1PK9g5lsn11Ca_g9AGDR1eO-plFVViYWM/s1600/Jan6a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rfQMGbO7VZMpJw6GIZ39jd3ze8Kg_7H3hrXoPNwsrYmJgAl1wrIz3wzfISG_xvXCGEoO1HqZKCWiY_Ty-pbx9xtH7U6kUGyCTuaAzGAbWN1PK9g5lsn11Ca_g9AGDR1eO-plFVViYWM/s320/Jan6a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My display at Manassas Clay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I visited <a href="http://manassasclay.com/" target="_blank">Manassas Clay</a> today. Fran Newquist and Jane Cullum have created a wonderful full-service pottery where you can take classes, rent studio space, fire your work, exhibit your pottery, mix glazes, and buy pottery supplies. Situated in the old city of Manassas, Manassas Clay and Tin Barn Pottery Supply has been going strong for over 15 years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, I brought new work to replenish what had sold. I cleaned up my shelves and reorganized. It was also a day for mixing and buying glazes. I got 15 lbs of Laguna Satin White and mixed 10 lbs of Randy's Red. I also mixed 2000 grams of Variegated Slate Blue. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3dpZCxKOKaq0AVE5wvy5-KI_3_RtKhKGKjvVD4VNs86uB_7LUiWCNRukn2alcnaHnYuFqoctaNwQiHtFs-ibgOgt39NAccYLwDnO7u4jXkvrPdGw_mztpzirL9IoqQ1BrqU3gzaKtUM/s1600/IMG_2731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3dpZCxKOKaq0AVE5wvy5-KI_3_RtKhKGKjvVD4VNs86uB_7LUiWCNRukn2alcnaHnYuFqoctaNwQiHtFs-ibgOgt39NAccYLwDnO7u4jXkvrPdGw_mztpzirL9IoqQ1BrqU3gzaKtUM/s320/IMG_2731.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fully stocked glaze kitchen at Manassas Clay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The slate blue glaze has been giving me a very difficult time. Even with the new kiln, it continues to be a problem. I plan to mix this new batch in a brand new bucket using distilled rather than tap water. If it doesn't go back to the being the great blue glaze it used to be I will have to (sadly) say that I'm done with it and start looking for a new blue glaze. In December I bought four commercial blue glazes to try out but I'm not happy with any of them. I tried a cobalt blue from Standard which is okay and actually sold, but I don't really like how shiny and dark blue it is. The other two glazes I tried were Oasis Blue from Laguna and Pam's Blue from Coyote. Unless I made a mistake, which I don't think I did, these seem to be the same glaze. It's an ugly green when thin but more attractive when applied more thickly. I might return to the Oasis Blue and work a bit more with if I can't find something else. Finally, I tested Coyote's Mottled Blue, which I like but it's more gray than blue. I made the mistake of applying it a little on the thick side and had to do a lot of shelf grinding.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I also mixed test batches of two new glazes. One is Waterfall Brown from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Cone-Glazes-Durability-Aesthetics/dp/0973006307" target="_blank"><i>Mastering Cone 6 Glazes</i></a> book (p. 106-107).* I've been staring at it on the cover of that book for ages and it was just time to try it. The other is Matte Iron Red from John Britt's new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Guide-Mid-Range-Glazes/dp/1454707771" target="_blank"><i>The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes</i></a> (p. 88-89). I'll be holding my breath because both of these mouth-watering glazes are a bit tricky.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49C6mRAepnF5mp_SD8-__PYMGgRO6V6Uc1rRH1WIxZZG_lmUc1YmXp12eHmaBmI1fm8oDD0qNeHyhwf_k1YS0r7mtmLs4R9zg83YmmJu3_FfvSeRJYinxR7Wt4J0fH4irnRc2Xx7JY_k/s1600/IMG_2727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49C6mRAepnF5mp_SD8-__PYMGgRO6V6Uc1rRH1WIxZZG_lmUc1YmXp12eHmaBmI1fm8oDD0qNeHyhwf_k1YS0r7mtmLs4R9zg83YmmJu3_FfvSeRJYinxR7Wt4J0fH4irnRc2Xx7JY_k/s320/IMG_2727.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping the water warm on top of the heater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was cold and sunny again: 20 degrees F when we got up this morning. The water in the bottle I forgot in the car was frozen. But it did warm up to 40 degrees later in the day. Drying in the studio are 12 brie bakers, a cheese bell, 6 mugs, and 2 cylinders for a very, very large lamp.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Mastering Cone 6 Glazes by John Hesselberth and Ron Roy has been out of print for a while and I believe that there are no plans for updates or reprints. Note that this great book, that I bought for $39.95 when it came out, is selling for $163 on Amazon. A <a href="http://www.thebookpatch.com/BookStore/mastering-cone-6-glazes/d2bea83c-2c34-4ed0-8a00-a6f12113515d" target="_blank">black and white version</a> is available for $24.95.</span></span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415431533742764329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-19729323225899304812016-01-02T19:33:00.000-05:002016-01-02T19:34:12.015-05:00Bright, Sunny January Day<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLwCJDF1Qol8TQMtrRgGxJMLlpu8Cp1ojmn_l2V3gNE14J8KhGZsYAq8-_ySbmXgm8UKtZ1nvNY0WEndVw67NcBKgeDmU0raKxQ7QUMBjCTwZy1jtSNF66t2Gk8_KbiUuYYnz4DhVnT8/s1600/IMG_2712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLwCJDF1Qol8TQMtrRgGxJMLlpu8Cp1ojmn_l2V3gNE14J8KhGZsYAq8-_ySbmXgm8UKtZ1nvNY0WEndVw67NcBKgeDmU0raKxQ7QUMBjCTwZy1jtSNF66t2Gk8_KbiUuYYnz4DhVnT8/s200/IMG_2712.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The window in the old part of the studio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was 46 degrees F when I went to the studio at 11:30am today: a bright, sunny day with a bit of wind. Inside the studio it was 56 degrees F with the heater on low overnight. The studio stays much warmer now because the addition that Chris built in 2014 has an honest-to-goodness door instead of the barn doors that were in the old studio. Those old doors let all kinds of cold air in. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I am so grateful to Chris
for having built the addition, not only do I have so much more space,
but it's sunnier and warmer.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-8Vh5z_z03EIe1_8MHcH2QGRFWS6QQZWDtlXPEqldXAoIJFzT8b3LKKoAuezsFb9alIXpkZy20BF7icg5HodKQHhQRs4wqDEnqbjZQWFtwVQjteO3GfObkVM0QU9lMz-N5CjWzN09lY/s1600/IMG_2713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-8Vh5z_z03EIe1_8MHcH2QGRFWS6QQZWDtlXPEqldXAoIJFzT8b3LKKoAuezsFb9alIXpkZy20BF7icg5HodKQHhQRs4wqDEnqbjZQWFtwVQjteO3GfObkVM0QU9lMz-N5CjWzN09lY/s200/IMG_2713.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old half of the studio with the new kiln</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The "old" part of the studio now houses the glazes and work tables, with pride of place going to the new kiln I got last September. It's an L&L E23t-3 with a down draft vent; and I even got new furniture to go with it. I had my previous kiln, a manual Skutt, for 21 years. So I guess I deserved a new, programmable kiln for my 65th birthday. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">What a treat! I learned quickly how to work the computer and I'm delighting in how much simpler it is to get a good firing!</span> </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitP0qY80B4jtECZfBKHIUAK6qcsdPm689SwZZt6hyhW94lZMujyn4AHD_ub0v1K7O1VoC9ShlZLYHyMgpGPcktdHNOBHTdFR4E0Ak0A8ZPDmNiPJLdsMyTXEq2nkaOHPT3KeCsVIHxeik/s1600/IMG_2715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitP0qY80B4jtECZfBKHIUAK6qcsdPm689SwZZt6hyhW94lZMujyn4AHD_ub0v1K7O1VoC9ShlZLYHyMgpGPcktdHNOBHTdFR4E0Ak0A8ZPDmNiPJLdsMyTXEq2nkaOHPT3KeCsVIHxeik/s200/IMG_2715.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new air-tight door</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sunlight was streaming through the window and the glass front door today and, for a while, I was able to work without turning on the lights. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I finished the last 3 Starry Nights lamps and made 6 brie bakers. It doesn't sound like much for a whole afternoon because of the time-consuming lamps. I figured out that carving out each stars takes one minute, and each lamp has about 45 to 50 stars!</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIVFpEm2q0edhqn_BYqR_nCzeUod3LAOWA1wABQzz2KI6xW-bpgMFnZlJcaBwxXAyVi1yGM0HH8s1rwzv3PvA5xVyAxPevAQwyV3pG7GPTrNW3kOznkHM_ORgg6kHP9g_E_-hkCa09Do/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIVFpEm2q0edhqn_BYqR_nCzeUod3LAOWA1wABQzz2KI6xW-bpgMFnZlJcaBwxXAyVi1yGM0HH8s1rwzv3PvA5xVyAxPevAQwyV3pG7GPTrNW3kOznkHM_ORgg6kHP9g_E_-hkCa09Do/s200/IMG_2719.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still carving lamps!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415431533742764329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-84909022745610573552016-01-01T19:30:00.000-05:002016-01-01T19:30:46.018-05:00First Day of 2016<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz9E4riAJlJY80ak1tgUi3Jfz1gH0t4AMY_TuNoq3-7FuJVvG0lm0sjTgi03rmhgstdetJQeD2lI9VMkuC5m0Gi6K3z1ix2dcJPn7CGVxxc2cS1tQqg1QZ8fPfRdNyDpjEwJmLz5yWTg/s1600/Hairy+WP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz9E4riAJlJY80ak1tgUi3Jfz1gH0t4AMY_TuNoq3-7FuJVvG0lm0sjTgi03rmhgstdetJQeD2lI9VMkuC5m0Gi6K3z1ix2dcJPn7CGVxxc2cS1tQqg1QZ8fPfRdNyDpjEwJmLz5yWTg/s200/Hairy+WP.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy Woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was 49 degrees F and overcast today at 1pm. Apparently the unseasonably mild weather will be ending soon. We certainly did enjoy it while it lasted. Chris has been painting his shed, and I went to the zoo w/ some of the grandkids on the day after Christmas. It was short sleeve weather!<br />
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The bird feeder has been a great source of entertainment, as usual. A hairy woodpecker has been coming around to the great annoyance of the resident downy woodpecker. A local Cooper's hawk has decided to include our bird-feeders in its rounds and seems to have made a meal of one of the wrens as well as a mourning dove. The Coopers is a beautiful bird but I'm really unhappy that it's going after "our" birds. Chris has taken to shooing it away whenever he sees it.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA71OMqcVdqjRbgchDlb6ymJ266phyphenhyphenBAUqeqIEzNkBf426gPV81EhShVFv1pR_iQwudHKkMn-VVpgkA2qQw6bFQ1093WdSacStJAu3GV7Puj2V0HZBkpIM8ah8uJbSX2Obu7ZdpcrvU8/s1600/Redbelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA71OMqcVdqjRbgchDlb6ymJ266phyphenhyphenBAUqeqIEzNkBf426gPV81EhShVFv1pR_iQwudHKkMn-VVpgkA2qQw6bFQ1093WdSacStJAu3GV7Puj2V0HZBkpIM8ah8uJbSX2Obu7ZdpcrvU8/s200/Redbelly.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-bellied Woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sales in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/GlyntPottery" target="_blank">my Etsy store</a> left much to be desired this year. Among the many changes Etsy made last year was getting rid of "ceramics and pottery" as a category. Pottery is now found in "home decor" and "kitchen and dining" and it really gets lost among all the other stuff. Lucky for me (and many other Etsy potters), Amazon launched its Handmade on Amazon site just in time for the holidays. I opened an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/handmade/glynt-pottery" target="_blank">Amazon store</a> in October and was really pleased with the results. In fact, sales on Amazon more than made up for the shortfall on Etsy. Also, I found that Amazon shoppers tend to buy higher-priced items. <br />
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People were out doing some serious shopping at the City of Fairfax Holiday Show in mid-November and the City of Falls Church Holiday Show in early December. I had my best shows ever this year. My ornaments and trinket dishes are big sellers. Although these are low-price items people buy them by the dozen and more. Several people bought between $60 and $100 worth of ornaments at one time. That's a lot of ornaments!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRBAEnANl_ph_47ljS5Cr8xn0hSFZnaFtQ-e_hOBbBzVIKB4rzvR3rT2tiogvIRz2IS5sD4df-CUQkeOtbCC_JxkpTYCOxkd7mmtGua0VPhuahBgl7PU58grX_QoBA0byb_rs0Qi1Q_0/s1600/Hawk3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRBAEnANl_ph_47ljS5Cr8xn0hSFZnaFtQ-e_hOBbBzVIKB4rzvR3rT2tiogvIRz2IS5sD4df-CUQkeOtbCC_JxkpTYCOxkd7mmtGua0VPhuahBgl7PU58grX_QoBA0byb_rs0Qi1Q_0/s200/Hawk3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper's Hawk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So all in all, it turned out to be a very good year. I ended up making a small profit even after paying for the new L&L kiln I got in September. <br />
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It was 64 degrees F in the studio with the space heater on low. I pugged 50 pounds of BMix5 together with about 25 pounds of Little Loafers reclaim. That got my blood flowing! Afterwards I carved two Starry Nights lamps. It took me about an hour and 45 minutes to get the two lamps done. That's a lot of work. I think I'm going to raise the prices again because, as it is, I have a hard time keeping them in stock. I still have 3 more blanks ready to carve.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60DRCV6pfuH-s4rn1rVdV7IBbuCwRQYXrKFZk-2s6cdxO0eYbO0NDLcPJnfJN3RGXK2v6pPkJZzdVenW3Gh9odQqCIEEXq8bv-zyc0pnPZCul_1ikQl8lo2MCHolviVgzuEbm-VclFVY/s1600/Collage1116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60DRCV6pfuH-s4rn1rVdV7IBbuCwRQYXrKFZk-2s6cdxO0eYbO0NDLcPJnfJN3RGXK2v6pPkJZzdVenW3Gh9odQqCIEEXq8bv-zyc0pnPZCul_1ikQl8lo2MCHolviVgzuEbm-VclFVY/s320/Collage1116.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is happening in the studio today.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415431533742764329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-73821248189519840572015-12-31T18:56:00.000-05:002015-12-31T18:56:31.036-05:00Last day of 2015<br />
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It was 55 degrees F and overcast today; everything still wet from last night's rain. It was a cozy 72 degrees F in the studio.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOX-ZN00D89md8S3D8Wfl2Wo3BM1BtZMoiWdVCPsAj7-xPo-IIc1wqrl3UEh4SfzhC6MA1PqxfBw5WRAMuOkY_7JsOQagByZ4O-YDlaDhXLriGXllST_y0ck-O2o5MJQiXtMeZLfGaME0/s1600/IMG_1759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOX-ZN00D89md8S3D8Wfl2Wo3BM1BtZMoiWdVCPsAj7-xPo-IIc1wqrl3UEh4SfzhC6MA1PqxfBw5WRAMuOkY_7JsOQagByZ4O-YDlaDhXLriGXllST_y0ck-O2o5MJQiXtMeZLfGaME0/s200/IMG_1759.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Working on several custom requests for January. As usual, there's a larger demand for Advent wreaths than my supply. I didn't make any wreaths this year because I find them a bit of a chore to make, but I had 3 that I had not listed. People still found me and asked for them so all were sold. Now I have requests for 3 more to be delivered in January. I need to find a faster and less fussy way to make them for next holiday season.<br />
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Last Spring someone asked for a purple yarn bowl with a moose design on it. When I had it ready I let the customer know but never heard back from them so I listed it thinking that it would linger in the shop because who wants a yarn bowl with a moose on it? Well, apparently lots of people do because it sold right away. The original buyer still wants the purple yarn bowl so I'm carving a moose on a yarn bowl again. And along the same lines, someone asked me for a yarn bowl with an alpaca design. Maybe I'll try my hand at carving alpacas.<br />
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My customers are constantly coming up with ideas for me to try out. The Starry Nights lamps are still best sellers and I had two customers asking for a variation on them. One customer wants a Starry Nights lamp that hangs on the wall. I'm noodling that idea and thinking that maybe it should be like a sconce or maybe an upside down shallow bowl. Another customer wants a cylindrical lamp (I can do that!) that's 15 inches tall to put on a sideboard in the dining room. That's a really cool idea, but I'm researching the issue of the snap-in socket and the light bulb. I'm thinking that a 4W bulb is not going to be large enough for that size lamp, but I worry that the lamp might get hot with a larger watt bulb. So, I'm doing research. I found a snap-in socket that can accommodate up to a 40W bulb and I'll test it to see what happens when it's left on for a while.<br />
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Other orders: teapots, personalized mugs, and brie bakers. Got my work cut out for me!Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415431533742764329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-6873550720636797802015-05-29T15:03:00.000-04:002015-05-29T15:03:18.394-04:00A Visit to the Heath Ceramics Factory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHw_mEtQ1u42Rq8ApWcOF0c_jOdTjRj7jJMO6n8X0mZ85XFY4_6R44wSxtaukpFgQV3V3R7L4km2IyufNPJ06do3WQrtpiFYqu7fYW9SQ5xZZQkK59Un_0f31jI_B1PwtpR_gb0sVzig/s1600/HeathCeramicsFrontDoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHw_mEtQ1u42Rq8ApWcOF0c_jOdTjRj7jJMO6n8X0mZ85XFY4_6R44wSxtaukpFgQV3V3R7L4km2IyufNPJ06do3WQrtpiFYqu7fYW9SQ5xZZQkK59Un_0f31jI_B1PwtpR_gb0sVzig/s320/HeathCeramicsFrontDoor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In mid-May I went to San Francisco for a mini family reunion to celebrate my niece's graduation. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are amazingly proud of her!</span> Monica got a Master's degree from the Energy & Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley. Her Master's project dealt with electric vehicles. We had an outstanding time visiting the sights and going to great restaurants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I spent one day with my daughter's in-laws, Bob and Cindie, who took me to Sausalito to visit the Heath Ceramics factory. What a treat! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Heath Ceramics was founded in 1948 by <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Heath" title="Edith Heath">Edith Heath</a></span> (1911–2005) after her work was stocked by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gump%27s" title="Gump's">Gump's</a> store in San Francisco. The company has a production factory and store in Sausalito, a tile production factory and store in San Francisco, and a ceramics studio and store in Los Angeles.
Today, Heath Ceramics is owned by Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Ceramics#cite_note-1"><span></span></a></sup> and is known for its distinctive glazes and handcrafted stoneware. Follow this link to a <a href="http://www.heathceramics.com/home/pages/discover-heath/our-story/see-how-we-make-things" target="_blank">virtual tour </a>of the factory to see how things are made. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV99zq16yqbksbTXxIEPBlk0pHhToJ5bFjKjRsCaDtdREFzBNPfR7sk0vxX05KnX8UlLAPQg9uqNBhbaa8W20vCdMGt7LLsfs5fhcpH9Pd8N8bvnm-tpJbNWCdKY0x9BHv8VPgZ7IQS4/s1600/IMG_1104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV99zq16yqbksbTXxIEPBlk0pHhToJ5bFjKjRsCaDtdREFzBNPfR7sk0vxX05KnX8UlLAPQg9uqNBhbaa8W20vCdMGt7LLsfs5fhcpH9Pd8N8bvnm-tpJbNWCdKY0x9BHv8VPgZ7IQS4/s320/IMG_1104.JPG" width="254" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Heath Ceramics recently won the 2015 National Design Award for corporate and institutional achievement given by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I bought myself a little bud vase from a display of seconds. I suppose that this lovely item is considered a second because the matte glaze is shiny in places.</span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-11337015806591782392015-05-03T19:31:00.000-04:002015-05-03T19:31:21.430-04:00Visit to the Hillwood Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBsgnOv8FvrUoE9IrIykgG7bT1tD_yZfjoJBGJIbRm2aaP7scS7ocnzOaQT-lIV6JWBN689rBEctG9ZypAnm_2QiuSFIsoLoZ8S71tEB63DcrQ5pMpu47xrOChKcc9AKAgThwxR0zV0Q/s1600/IMG_0339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBsgnOv8FvrUoE9IrIykgG7bT1tD_yZfjoJBGJIbRm2aaP7scS7ocnzOaQT-lIV6JWBN689rBEctG9ZypAnm_2QiuSFIsoLoZ8S71tEB63DcrQ5pMpu47xrOChKcc9AKAgThwxR0zV0Q/s1600/IMG_0339.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gardens were in full bloom!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I took my Mom to visit the <a href="http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/about-hillwood" target="_blank">Hillwood Estate</a> today. It was the DC home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, which she bequeathed as a museum when she died in 1973. Marjorie was the only child of CW Post, who founded the Postum Cereal Company that later became the General Foods Corporation. When her father died in 1914, she became one of the wealthiest women in America, at age 27.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvIUuJJbAWN14twPk8HkXzemOGOSdCYHuC-5jSIRfphKsWMNodqq_zhlAb3zTQeiTdTh6o5q7pDICsjVSuK7dSHf0o8rcTK7EqeF4gFxgvxl-4PallZGps7jYmZLuL781ALmXDwK5Zsw/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvIUuJJbAWN14twPk8HkXzemOGOSdCYHuC-5jSIRfphKsWMNodqq_zhlAb3zTQeiTdTh6o5q7pDICsjVSuK7dSHf0o8rcTK7EqeF4gFxgvxl-4PallZGps7jYmZLuL781ALmXDwK5Zsw/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">copper red vases</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">She started collecting French decorative arts in 1919. She lived in Russia in the 1930s with her third husband, who was the US Ambassador. There, she discovered Russian imperial arts and began collecting them as well. She showcased her collection to family and friends at the Hillwood Mansion that she purchased in 1955.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhI_YFHmDW3PD3VOmxQcSL624MHnCKFO57hLNcR4XExdxxe2bY2Bd37wbmuYOx45MFig8G_dcqCs3iZseOLeW5FTmLy6PEIBy57G1dlqz5maR0yrckeGSllTvq-bx30F2ofxlgv4u6Rw/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhI_YFHmDW3PD3VOmxQcSL624MHnCKFO57hLNcR4XExdxxe2bY2Bd37wbmuYOx45MFig8G_dcqCs3iZseOLeW5FTmLy6PEIBy57G1dlqz5maR0yrckeGSllTvq-bx30F2ofxlgv4u6Rw/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" height="200" width="178" /></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">I must say that this is not my type of thing. Seeing how some people lived in such opulence while most people lacked the essentials makes me a bit queasy. I am also not attracted to the intricate designs of the times but I did like the vases shown in these two photos.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTZ9AQJn9yT-SWeWrMESop-8LChZvJj9Y6diRy7_szxWcn-kMKDl9vQCc6XeTZ2BagGiNgZnhNR0HPALnUwn5IgDRoj8UyfKaaMOzw5lREisd2cIqdMi4nYWcL5W3JXXIbg6DGN-uhxQ/s1600/IMG_0326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTZ9AQJn9yT-SWeWrMESop-8LChZvJj9Y6diRy7_szxWcn-kMKDl9vQCc6XeTZ2BagGiNgZnhNR0HPALnUwn5IgDRoj8UyfKaaMOzw5lREisd2cIqdMi4nYWcL5W3JXXIbg6DGN-uhxQ/s1600/IMG_0326.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Staff dining service</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We viewed many different porcelain place settings from France and Russia, but the one that I liked best was in the kitchen. It was the staff's dining service by the English firm Furnival Limited, in the style of Royal Copenhagen's blue fluted design. There were three cooks at Hillwood, one cooked for Marjorie Merriweather Post and the other two prepared the meals for the staff, who ate the same food although maybe not presented as elegantly.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom in the rose garden</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">The weather was wonderful and, all in all, Mom and I had a good time.</span><br />
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<br />Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-44662811244793660222015-05-02T19:00:00.000-04:002015-05-02T19:00:26.826-04:00Family Collaboration Time (Again)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mugs w/ decals of Sofie's manga drawings</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I transferred my granddaughter's manga drawings to decals and put them on some mugs. I still need to work some more on the glazes to find the ones that do well in the third firing needed to put on the decals, but I think they look great! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sofie was proud to put her initials on the bottom of the mugs, but when I told her that she could have them to give to her teachers she responded that she wanted to work more on the drawings. "It's not my best work," were her words. And so it starts, that second-guessing of ourselves, the feeling that what we do is not quite good enough... It made my heart sad to see it start so early in this generation. She is quite a talented artist. It's a joy to watch her develop this gift. I hope that she will learn to love her creations rather than focus on perceived flaws.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*****</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tumbler w/ line from Chris's poem</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The other family collaboration was with my husband. Chris was into writing poetry and song lyrics in his twenties. I found a poem he had written that contains a line that spoke to me: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"<i>The trees were trying desperately to tell me something</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>waving their leaves frantically..</i>."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I made some tumblers and wrote those words into the leather-hard clay. To make it stand out more, I rubbed black underglaze into the words and glazed with my favorite green glaze. </span><br />
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<br />Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-15173341449296856242015-03-31T09:38:00.000-04:002015-05-02T18:34:32.299-04:00Blue and White All Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dress w/ parasol and ceramic bodice</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">During March, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., presented <i>Iberian Suite,</i> a celebration of the cultures of Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking peoples around the world that also highlighted the influences that the region absorbed from other cultures. This <i>global arts remix</i> included dance, theater, and music performances, as well as installations and a literature series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two of the installations were of particular interest. One was an exclusive exhibition of more than 140 of Pablo Picasso's ceramic pieces. The other was titled <i>So Blue, So White: Fashions Centuries in the Making</i>. It was a selection of blue and white fashions created by various designers. Interestingly, one of the dresses not only incorporated it's own parasol, but also had a bodice made of blue and white ceramics.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLXSVjw4vZhJ1phtm6IPUVCqR8aSxvaUQo9euc7o0AKSJMjL7_8dkrkfgDRZaFDj1IdWGFVvUmSt2HcTaWu8KJKkSiNkzw-PXcDiFa1CK-yfaLidbdKVFM9j4prJzrWkdA-1_yquKIz8/s1600/WP_000229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLXSVjw4vZhJ1phtm6IPUVCqR8aSxvaUQo9euc7o0AKSJMjL7_8dkrkfgDRZaFDj1IdWGFVvUmSt2HcTaWu8KJKkSiNkzw-PXcDiFa1CK-yfaLidbdKVFM9j4prJzrWkdA-1_yquKIz8/s1600/WP_000229.jpg" height="190" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This fashion exhibit also told the "story" of cobalt, which was first mined in central Iran in the 9th century. The Persians used the pigment on ceramics, which had a great appeal to the Chinese. They, in turn, began importing cobalt, producing sophisticated two-tone ware in the 14th century. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In a story of early "globalization," in the early 1500s, Portuguese merchants began importing these pieces. Exports of Chinese blue and white ceramics soared when the Dutch captured two Portuguese ships in 1602 and 1604 and their cargo of porcelain was sold at auction. Blue and white tableware became very popular in Europe and local manufacturers--most famously, those around the city of Delft--began emulating the style.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdU0l0ufeQoIhxcOaDDlThpRHx3EfoqNhh6dGWsoJDOZZcxoAcV5m3_9Bu0f66e3aElsCavFkTeHciNG5xHobkR6q0aI_gYkhvPDpV-spAqZysnH4SttpmM3KwnXiwkMl_S-yXPqs-QA/s1600/andi's+plates+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdU0l0ufeQoIhxcOaDDlThpRHx3EfoqNhh6dGWsoJDOZZcxoAcV5m3_9Bu0f66e3aElsCavFkTeHciNG5xHobkR6q0aI_gYkhvPDpV-spAqZysnH4SttpmM3KwnXiwkMl_S-yXPqs-QA/s1600/andi's%2Bplates%2B1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andí's collection of blue/white plates</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, <i>azulejos</i>, or wall tiles, derived from the Islamic styles of North Africa and Muslim Spain, became emblematic of the decorative arts of the Iberian peninsula and soon spread to the Americas, particularly Mexico and Brazil.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thus, the continuing allure of blue and white ceramics.</span><br />
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<br />Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-45922897716948535062015-03-25T11:50:00.000-04:002015-03-25T11:50:40.918-04:00Gifts of Hope<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serving bowl</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently created some pottery carrying the word "hope" to support <a href="http://www.fsrv.org/" target="_blank">Family Services of Roanoke Valley</a>, <span><span class="color_24">a private, not-for-profit organization that has served Roanoke Valley residents since 1901. Its mission is to improve life and restore hope to the most vulnerable, from the very youngest children to the oldest adults,
through prevention, counseling and support services. </span></span><span><span class="color_24">Family Service is a dynamic, multi-service agency helping a diverse
population of clients that spans the area's economic, ethnic, and
cultural divisions.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The items I created, including brie bakers, mugs, and serving bowls, can be purchased at <a href="http://www.amiablequalitiesgiftsofhope.com/" target="_blank">Amiable Qualities' Gifts of Hope</a>, which allows consumers to purchase artistic items that benefit nonprofits and the clients they serve. Proceeds from the sale of all items are distributed to the designated organization they benefit on a monthly basis to allow the most flexible and efficient use of the funds by the nonprofit directly. For more information, check out <a href="http://www.amiablequalitiesgiftsofhope.com/#!scarfology/cee5" target="_blank">Gifts of Hope about page</a>.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mugs</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-19196339238163837592015-02-15T20:12:00.000-05:002015-02-15T20:12:18.159-05:00Childlike Enthusiasm<span style="font-size: large;">It is not sophisticated technique or exact skill</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">but childlike enthusiasm, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">timeless concentration</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and pure devotion that feed this clay to life for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Knowing this as my hands work slower than my desire to create,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">feeling this on frigid winter mornings when clay spirits are</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">cold and so am I.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Laughing in J.C. Penney's when I notice there is still clay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">stubbornly stuck under my fingernails,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and I pass a free manicure display.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dreaming up new shapes and stories for brown</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">earth and me, as I secretly call myself</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mud Woman.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Indulging in limitless, creative possibilities.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How lucky I am to know this clay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nora Naranjo-Morse</span></div>
Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-48059090908761501452015-02-09T21:10:00.000-05:002015-02-09T21:10:13.786-05:00Kiln, Greenware, and Birds<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIiheW9HjLl7XNzRwzQAbBn7SYQIV22g5uZsrmEVR-9J1fBW3skDZrSuO9uaSYvTmLI82eHalhlwV7ppVB8h7y4QpFC7XGQsEs6f4Ct_2jmGU3ZzphaeNGyIxgDgSa-ke9QfCRcW-Vh4/s1600/IMG_4905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIiheW9HjLl7XNzRwzQAbBn7SYQIV22g5uZsrmEVR-9J1fBW3skDZrSuO9uaSYvTmLI82eHalhlwV7ppVB8h7y4QpFC7XGQsEs6f4Ct_2jmGU3ZzphaeNGyIxgDgSa-ke9QfCRcW-Vh4/s1600/IMG_4905.JPG" height="342" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going to California.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overcast and in the 40s today. Got up at 10am to one sale in the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/glyntpottery" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>: a green yarn bowl is going to California. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After having brunch (kale and mushroom fritatta) and reading the paper I made it out to the studio by 12:30pm. It's 72 degrees in the studio: nice!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's a flock of juncos scrabbling in the dead leaves outside the studio door.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today I'll be happy if I can get a bisque load started. But first I'm making witness cone plaques in anticipation of the eventual glaze firing. After all the issues w/ firings at the end of the year I had a long talk w/ the <a href="http://skutt.com/" target="_blank">Skutt</a> representative (Wouldn't life be so much nicer if every customer service rep was as helpful and pleasant as the Skutt people?). I had been telling my husband that there *had* to be something wrong w/ the 20-year old manual kiln because my glazes were coming out all wrong. Husband, who is an electrical engineer, researched it and concluded that it was unlikely that it was the kiln. The Skutt technician agreed. More likely it was the glazes, which had been sitting in their buckets for several months and had turned a strange color. In any case, I learned a lot about my kiln from the Skutt technician. The most interesting thing I learned is that since I'm firing to ^6 my elements should last 200 to 250 firings -- I had been told I needed to change elements every 100 firings! I can actually go much longer since at least half of my firings are ^06. So, that is why I am making witness cone plaques. After all this time, I decided that I really need to know what is happening during my firings. And I'm making plaques because I didn't pay attention at the store and did not buy the self-supporting cones.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Witness Cones.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After making the cone plaques I started cleaning the greenware and loading the kiln. (I am definitely going to have to clean the shelves and put some kiln wash on them before the glaze firing.) I fuss too much with the greenware and, of course, I broke something. I have an order for a Starry Nights lamp twice the size I usually make them. I made 3 and was really quite happy with the way they came out, but I broke one during the cleaning up. It doesn't bother me too much to break ware. What bothers me is that I know better! As I was cleaning out all the clay burrs from the little stars, I was thinking that I needed to put a piece of foam under the lamp... but I didn't do it, so it broke.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was able to fit in all the large bottle vases (some of them are for the silent auction at my granddaughter's school), the batter bowls, the brie bakers, and the mugs. The two platters were left out, they'll go in the next firing. A lot of stuff was still wet so I'm candling the kiln today. It'll run with the bottom ring on low and the lid and all 6 peep holes open for about 10 hours. Tomorrow, I'll do the actual bisque firing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After that, I cleaned up a little... mostly put stuff away and wiped down the shelves. Then I played with some recycled clay that I pugged a couple of days ago. I made a wrapped vase like the ones I used to make when I first started out and my throwing skills left much to be desired. I also made a couple of plates using Styrofoam rings as molds as shown in the February issue of <i>Ceramics Monthly</i>. I don't have a lot of patience for this and did it from memory rather than follow the directions. The foam rings are too deep, I think, and they look more like bowls than plates.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've got the yarn bowl packed up and ready to go tomorrow. The kiln is off now and the mugs on the top shelf look dry and ready for tomorrow's bisque firing. It's still 72 degrees in the studio, but the temperature is falling outside and there's a cold rain coming down.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There was a flock of robins scrabbling around in the leaves when I came inside.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candling.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-85865234302656955902015-01-11T21:25:00.001-05:002015-01-11T21:25:51.960-05:00Creativity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I’ve read a lot about how to foster creativity and
found that common themes include protecting the time that you have to practice
your craft and showing up to do the work. One of the writers on this topic who
really speaks to me is Clarissa Pinkola Estés (CPE) who devotes chapter 10
(Clear Water: Nourishing the Creative Life) of <i>Women Who Run with the Wolves</i> to just that. I very much like the
metaphor of creativity as a river that can get dammed up or polluted. It is our
job to remove the logjams and clean up the river. CPE gives us nine steps to “take
back the river”.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>1. <span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Receive
nurturance</b> ~ Accomplishing this first step is as simple as accepting
compliments about your craft, savor them and fight the negative talk we have
with ourselves about not being good enough. Practice just saying
“Thank you!” when you receive a compliment. It's surprisingly difficult to do! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There’s another form of nurturance that
Julia Cameron mentions in <i>The Artist’s
Way</i>. She refers to it as
“filling the well” (again, the water metaphor, which I think is so apt).
Cameron suggests blocking out time every week to go on “artist dates” to
refresh the soul. This can be as simple as going for a walk or taking a bubble
bath, or could be a trip to a craft fair or museum. The point is that this is
your time, alone.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>2. </b></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Respond</b>
~ “Creativity is the ability to respond to all that goes on around us” </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><b>3. <span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></b></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Be
wild</b> ~ For the river of creativity to flow we must “…allow our ideational lives
to be let loose, to stream, letting anything come, initially censoring nothing.” </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> In his online lecture on creativity, John Cleese also highlights the importance of
humor, noting that it’s essential to spontaneity and playfulness, and that
laughter leads to relaxation, which results in creativity (see April 10, 2012 posting in this blog).</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <b>4. Begin</b>
~ Just do it! If fear of failure is what’s keeping you back, then “Let your
fear leap out and bite you so you can get it over with and go on.” </span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Steven
Pressfield also looks at the issue of fear in <i>The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle</i>, and says that fear
and resistance are indicators of the importance of our endeavor to the growth
of our soul. </span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> John Cleese notes that fear of making mistakes stops
creativity; we must know that whatever the outcome, nothing is wrong!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <b>5. Protect
your time </b>~ Do not allow interruptions during your precious creative time. Put
up a sign if necessary: “Artist at work. Do not disturb.” <span> </span>In his lecture on creativity, John Cleese
also underlines the importance of undisturbed time.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>6. <span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Stay
with it</b> ~ This simply means to keep showing up and, if necessary, tie yourself
to the pottery wheel. This is a way of saying to all the negative thoughts and
excuses we make for not being creative that we will not cooperate with them. Sometimes we go into the studio and it becomes quite easy to start
doing trivial things, rather than the deep creative work. For
this reason, it’s important to carve out enough time to be able to get past
this initial busyness.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>7.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Protect
your creative life</b> ~ Again, just show up to do the work… practice every day.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>8.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Craft
your real work</b> ~ “Insist on a balance between pedestrian responsibility and
rapture.” In other words, make your art a priority.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>9.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Lay
out nourishment for the creative life </b>~ According to CPE there are four basic
food groups to nourish the creative soul: time, belonging, passion, and sovereignty.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Other really good books on this topic are:</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Carla Needleman: <i>The Work of Craft: An Inquiry into the
Nature of Crafts and Craftsmanship </i></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Robert Piepenburg: <i>Treasures of the Creative Spirit: An Artist's Understanding of Human Creativity</i></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">M.C. Richards: <i>Centering
in Pottery, Poetry, and the Person</i> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Julia Cameron:<i> The Vein of Gold </i></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-83029239699355156732015-01-08T20:50:00.003-05:002015-01-09T14:52:03.303-05:00Baby, It's Cold Outside!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk-Ym_6ItTU5nNIc5GKCTgqA8dZPRRfiUEWaH7KZSQNU0_rV7-Xgl9o0_XE0_8nyfMHpmZE_16ld8NQ4WC8gSRn7koEt8W2WmsjKpGInKyLbF6n0H_ChRZM8XmcyIzrnZQvURQxjmfQo/s1600/hawk+Juvenile+Sharp-shinned+Hawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk-Ym_6ItTU5nNIc5GKCTgqA8dZPRRfiUEWaH7KZSQNU0_rV7-Xgl9o0_XE0_8nyfMHpmZE_16ld8NQ4WC8gSRn7koEt8W2WmsjKpGInKyLbF6n0H_ChRZM8XmcyIzrnZQvURQxjmfQo/s1600/hawk+Juvenile+Sharp-shinned+Hawk.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharp shinned hawk*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is only 20 steps from the back door of the house to
the studio door. The pebbles on the walk have frozen together and crunch
loudly with each step. The birds and squirrels eat non-stop. The juvenile sharp-shined
hawk keeps coming by for lunch. Chris worries about his birds with the
hawk around. I do too, but I still don't let him scare it away:
it's cold, it too needs nourishment. The hawk doesn't catch anything today and
flies off. We haven't seen the rabbit in a while, but there's evidence
that it lives under the studio, where it's probably nice and warm with
the heater on all night. The fox hasn't been around in a few days, but we've seen the tracks in the snow and
there are a lot of mousy treats around here to keep him going.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhIT9tMdfByhwQWBu4ZyUtKljmF1mKEXTbdw8wA1t8qfSLVyyvb9SfePgS2bh9KMzTFGiUUs21FWDJJ43pkmen3Hc9vqnZ8XKAr1iBVlWAAY4cgdOaBppI7vaZ1Y1-0iAsCwhS103i2M/s1600/IMG_4661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhIT9tMdfByhwQWBu4ZyUtKljmF1mKEXTbdw8wA1t8qfSLVyyvb9SfePgS2bh9KMzTFGiUUs21FWDJJ43pkmen3Hc9vqnZ8XKAr1iBVlWAAY4cgdOaBppI7vaZ1Y1-0iAsCwhS103i2M/s1600/IMG_4661.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping the throwing water warm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's 22 degrees F on a sunny, frigid day with snow on the ground. I left the oil-filled radiator heater on high last night when the temperature dipped to 8 degrees F. Last year, when the temps also got this low, I neglected to leave the heater on one night and ended up with frozen clay and glazes. Still, though not frozen, the clay and throwing water are cold. In addition to bringing buckets of hot water from the house, I put a bucket on the heater to keep the water warm. Another trick to fend off the cold water is to lather my hands with Bag Balm.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5F37obnxfamdFxRkioVrRJq6ugsWGLtzEH9X4wrVqZqeyi4Me5vrrTgv5IM7bFd1Yn13CdJvFMvWp_CZ2fSpLCobrNH2Giu3mAyWys_TX8nAzfg7fjE76N51LCRXy5s_uL7am-Vmc2A/s1600/IMG_4660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5F37obnxfamdFxRkioVrRJq6ugsWGLtzEH9X4wrVqZqeyi4Me5vrrTgv5IM7bFd1Yn13CdJvFMvWp_CZ2fSpLCobrNH2Giu3mAyWys_TX8nAzfg7fjE76N51LCRXy5s_uL7am-Vmc2A/s1600/IMG_4660.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">auxiliary heater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's 52 degrees F in the studio at 1:15pm. It's warm enough, but I still turn on the auxiliary heater aimed at my feet. My feet are always cold in any weather so at these temps it's especially important to keep them warm. I have a pair of too-large green Crocs that can accommodate several pairs of socks: a pair of white cotton socks, a pair of fuzzy purple socks, and a pair of blue wool socks (handmade by Mom).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YN8v7Ntc5kG2kf28VKHI9lZRl7BZDkLXS4g_IMZzg9n-uLenevy_0VwuQmzq_js9_rdOCFUbB1XXZ1IYeD0Ioys0bf1EzGmFBk1Ocmzyogmb9ieDQgbmg1Ab0TkXLks5GEzBMKo-ObA/s1600/IMG_4662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YN8v7Ntc5kG2kf28VKHI9lZRl7BZDkLXS4g_IMZzg9n-uLenevy_0VwuQmzq_js9_rdOCFUbB1XXZ1IYeD0Ioys0bf1EzGmFBk1Ocmzyogmb9ieDQgbmg1Ab0TkXLks5GEzBMKo-ObA/s1600/IMG_4662.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 pairs of socks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That was today in the studio.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">* Couldn't get a photo of the hawk so I got this one online.</span> </span><br />
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<br />Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415431533742764329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-33960651278783100942015-01-05T21:27:00.001-05:002015-01-10T18:02:23.631-05:00Channeling Dad's Cousin Chichín<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPihxy6_57E2KpZKqCe3Wjwpk-Ii7yYvUUiCU2ElaTve-sd8wM1H44TssCLmUSitOgMumZRccgSnU_99evzW63S2_a4MW4Ukuia7xd8R7JT38_KLFE4KAzTCAnuRu-eOpAKUKi7G5jeas/s1600/Flia+Ben%C3%ADtez-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPihxy6_57E2KpZKqCe3Wjwpk-Ii7yYvUUiCU2ElaTve-sd8wM1H44TssCLmUSitOgMumZRccgSnU_99evzW63S2_a4MW4Ukuia7xd8R7JT38_KLFE4KAzTCAnuRu-eOpAKUKi7G5jeas/s1600/Flia+Ben%C3%ADtez-002.jpg" height="309" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antonia and Chichín in the 1950s</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">My father's cousin Rubén Benítez Heyneh ("Chichín") was a painter and university professor in Uruguay. His wife, Antonia Jordá, was also an artist. Before we came to the US, my family used to visit Chichín and Antonia and their two kids often. I have fond memories of the fun we children had running around their back yard, unbothered by adults. One thing that fascinated me was the wood-burning kiln that Antonia had in a shed in the back. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvA_BaV8l2KQWtNgH55Ez1mKfWhTvdT10pSe2UdAP2kqETzVnYx1ytg8GAvxUTU_koQbkUI_r7z9oUy5tCZxUx0BIkbGR5I44sEmAuh1928T51Mhggk-u0olMtDwxSgA4l6DXEvo4RX3s/s1600/IMG_3838-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvA_BaV8l2KQWtNgH55Ez1mKfWhTvdT10pSe2UdAP2kqETzVnYx1ytg8GAvxUTU_koQbkUI_r7z9oUy5tCZxUx0BIkbGR5I44sEmAuh1928T51Mhggk-u0olMtDwxSgA4l6DXEvo4RX3s/s1600/IMG_3838-001.JPG" height="320" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car headlights on a dark, rainy street, or moon over the water?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On a trip back to Uruguay in the early 1960s, we visited them again and Chichín showed my parents his sketch book and some of the paintings he was working on. He gave my parents a beautiful black, white and blue abstract painting, which now sits in my younger brother's house in St. Louis. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbr-JyULdsYKmHXAIRR1BPmOM_-C0yXWyBbSVMf7prTm0QGRazwaYm7WmjHRSscja-QA87BkuxpTyYqCBupZ3jDiSqpzqydvhMEK3DYmHviRDa0FSJNyEjbqHWvPlnPqOPp7IIQUZmzw/s1600/V__A745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbr-JyULdsYKmHXAIRR1BPmOM_-C0yXWyBbSVMf7prTm0QGRazwaYm7WmjHRSscja-QA87BkuxpTyYqCBupZ3jDiSqpzqydvhMEK3DYmHviRDa0FSJNyEjbqHWvPlnPqOPp7IIQUZmzw/s1600/V__A745.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Rubén Benítez</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was a rather shy young teen then (14 years old), but could not contain my excitement looking at Chichín's work. I finally ventured to say that I really liked a particular abstract work. Chichín asked me what I thought it represented and, without any hesitation, I told him that it was the headlights of a car on a dark, rainy street. He thought that was a good enough answer (although his inspiration had been the moon over the water at night), and gave me the painting. It is one of my most precious posessions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chichín's painting has found its way to some of my recent pots:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOJOoT_ftK8akAu4JnNaqpDAe_l_cAdYl8yhDxxowt6ACQjWwosNfg-K87pNTAC5akQbo-XKfigoCIDAkU65UsEorgqb-xz7ZAAjsAOY6l0sc5HQqzCSOqlohj8lzeaQJ7qvFr14CwM4/s1600/IMG_4329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOJOoT_ftK8akAu4JnNaqpDAe_l_cAdYl8yhDxxowt6ACQjWwosNfg-K87pNTAC5akQbo-XKfigoCIDAkU65UsEorgqb-xz7ZAAjsAOY6l0sc5HQqzCSOqlohj8lzeaQJ7qvFr14CwM4/s1600/IMG_4329.JPG" height="288" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-80107016150989613222015-01-04T22:11:00.000-05:002015-01-04T22:11:37.360-05:00New York, New York!<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">A trip to New York City to show my visiting niece, Laura, the sights was an unexpected source of inspiration for my yarn bowls.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was fascinated by the buildings and took so many pictures that it's difficult to decide which ones I like best. It was the vertical and horizontal lines w/ all the small square windows that called my attention...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtjFdk8sxLmbze_9Z2ed_bVCFadzyCdhPx0KOWgSuvXfNtpRKJwlgJPuhaXd0mKsHfzaQ4o3s1jZPidBgG5VpmwjbM1ry99T_P8sLqsciF3bjOe2xLlmNaiegz4eoAwxSf-iai7zhIJQ/s1600/IMG_4008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtjFdk8sxLmbze_9Z2ed_bVCFadzyCdhPx0KOWgSuvXfNtpRKJwlgJPuhaXd0mKsHfzaQ4o3s1jZPidBgG5VpmwjbM1ry99T_P8sLqsciF3bjOe2xLlmNaiegz4eoAwxSf-iai7zhIJQ/s1600/IMG_4008.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">... and found their way to the yarn bowls</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Zo19dfEk494iwsfQy1OR2x4mbyFtwJUs074u-AYUZQNtsvP9_LMypHMBDNR7aZ40xj5YEkNRAr0IDW9EiJLYNdUFHLU4sJCuuxmbkmR5HRR5gXyVhJHs1EQa9bM25_Nto4idsMRlyBc/s1600/Manga1Mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Zo19dfEk494iwsfQy1OR2x4mbyFtwJUs074u-AYUZQNtsvP9_LMypHMBDNR7aZ40xj5YEkNRAr0IDW9EiJLYNdUFHLU4sJCuuxmbkmR5HRR5gXyVhJHs1EQa9bM25_Nto4idsMRlyBc/s1600/Manga1Mug.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">My granddaughter loves to draw. I particularly like her manga/animé sketches. (You can learn all you need to know about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga" target="_blank">manga</a>, and then some, from wikipedia.) As Sofie tells me drawing in the manga style is all about mood. Well, I'm her grandma and to me everything she does es excellent. And, I'm a potter so after seeing several of her manga sketches I thought : "I can put that on a mug!"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAfeHu6zF4pIe7lu0x-_ifWtXPAktY_gIPMhaCF6SDTlkvzFaBxzWBOzOIhYiHRZjoE4o5AqEJSfPmmnBfsyCjabsezhIRk0GlfQQVIhdlNce3yvj6bG5iMWgc2H3kvaKjLSH2-xbX6c/s1600/Manga2Mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAfeHu6zF4pIe7lu0x-_ifWtXPAktY_gIPMhaCF6SDTlkvzFaBxzWBOzOIhYiHRZjoE4o5AqEJSfPmmnBfsyCjabsezhIRk0GlfQQVIhdlNce3yvj6bG5iMWgc2H3kvaKjLSH2-xbX6c/s1600/Manga2Mug.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I made the suggestion to Sofie and she reluctantly made three sketches, two of which I've put on a mug as a first test on how to best work with them. I think I'll have her draw some directly on the clay instead of having me copy them. And maybe we'll try painting them on over a white glaze.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhIgme6kJS2YxO8j2q71oLpCBU3LRI2BiN32IRFthkDL6BpkQdazNJ_FU4MEYhvnZ_M0tJaBou83baR6LIrwIdXlLb-m1-36lSIma18a77oxT36AKm6NuiSB1RMnZfWXzzNybPt3Qfrc/s1600/IMG_3470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhIgme6kJS2YxO8j2q71oLpCBU3LRI2BiN32IRFthkDL6BpkQdazNJ_FU4MEYhvnZ_M0tJaBou83baR6LIrwIdXlLb-m1-36lSIma18a77oxT36AKm6NuiSB1RMnZfWXzzNybPt3Qfrc/s1600/IMG_3470.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glynt and SRL</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm thinking I'll make some tree ornaments for the holidays and maybe I'll put one on a yarn bowl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In any case, Sofie has been promised a third of the proceeds from any item sold that features her drawings. And she said she will make some more sketches in different moods.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzsIf1B9kZOg8HgiWWCrylbnqGeOmeDUJNdynV_oRKvwICnfpa-eUTEw3A8oP2lrxED63nn1-FByjHmSoqnIUKHdIg1ZGQeF-zFj9pY9VdXgXJgkySl8s4h-ySWV8kDldd9oJSatPNdU/s1600/Sofie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzsIf1B9kZOg8HgiWWCrylbnqGeOmeDUJNdynV_oRKvwICnfpa-eUTEw3A8oP2lrxED63nn1-FByjHmSoqnIUKHdIg1ZGQeF-zFj9pY9VdXgXJgkySl8s4h-ySWV8kDldd9oJSatPNdU/s1600/Sofie.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's cool to be 9!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think she was pretty happy with the results and especially w/ the idea that she would get paid for them! She put her initials on the bottom of the mug right next to my signature. </span><br />
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<br />Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-58979384920442341332014-07-20T22:50:00.000-04:002014-07-20T22:50:17.308-04:00Still chasing after texture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFPeLMQMDrgsC1RknbKg9tZzWoZC5rfyVJVPRYrCUmhf5MOmoYlNjgzzE_eJA6FtXx_nl14ynProqi8_1Ms_pFsNvQOjBMwLzhoHSjhu_8Y6zSWXNZR1kXAXt9VH7a7dHUIR7ZxCRk4A/s1600/IMG_3119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFPeLMQMDrgsC1RknbKg9tZzWoZC5rfyVJVPRYrCUmhf5MOmoYlNjgzzE_eJA6FtXx_nl14ynProqi8_1Ms_pFsNvQOjBMwLzhoHSjhu_8Y6zSWXNZR1kXAXt9VH7a7dHUIR7ZxCRk4A/s1600/IMG_3119.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Earlier this year I mentioned that I was looking for more texture in my work (see <a href="http://glyntpottery.blogspot.com/2014_02_01_archive.html" target="_blank">2/1/14 entry</a>), and working more in dark, iron-rich clay. Following the platters that I made then, I have done other experiments that take their cue from a demonstration by <a href="http://hopkinspottery.com/" target="_blank">Bryan Hopkins</a> that I saw a couple of years ago at Arrowmont, and which has been percolating in the back of my head ever since. The idea is to cut a section off a piece, texture it, and put it back. Simple enough! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first thing I did, to test the process was this little green tumbler.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM0tDNejF9twhQoacwd_WXm6shBMpsB8kkQUXj5jwuHAYcjQ_hvR-wciGd-jUovZ7Jt7xXhqo__vhzvJLS_xUExokzu_Hu4r90DMKB-_QouzyH9bhbNEmckwz4SBEy6MWhNolVgGYUnU/s1600/IMG_2502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM0tDNejF9twhQoacwd_WXm6shBMpsB8kkQUXj5jwuHAYcjQ_hvR-wciGd-jUovZ7Jt7xXhqo__vhzvJLS_xUExokzu_Hu4r90DMKB-_QouzyH9bhbNEmckwz4SBEy6MWhNolVgGYUnU/s1600/IMG_2502.JPG" height="200" width="166" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I liked it so much that I made a set of four, this time using dark clay. And instead of glazing the whole piece, I used different oxides on the textured area and left it unglazed. I like the idea of having different textures in one piece, especially something, like a tumbler, that is going to be handled by the user. The unglazed, textured area provides a resting place for the hand as well as the eye. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlx1AD3Xpdl-1w8rpU_n6tw8SDBdG2E7Giq63EvnAWCEF9-sO6_1tEkHb4ZMPsY1McsyuBb1gTSvjTcH8ZIBFotpo0991gCbdXz2L2NXpZYYPsGTBWqYhnfMMmRs8FO6vwhVInL5g5gs/s1600/IMG_3024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlx1AD3Xpdl-1w8rpU_n6tw8SDBdG2E7Giq63EvnAWCEF9-sO6_1tEkHb4ZMPsY1McsyuBb1gTSvjTcH8ZIBFotpo0991gCbdXz2L2NXpZYYPsGTBWqYhnfMMmRs8FO6vwhVInL5g5gs/s1600/IMG_3024.JPG" height="200" width="154" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I used a roller to texture the clay that I removed and reinserted. The roller stretched the clay and made it taller than the rest of the piece. I left this additional height to bring even more attention to the piece. I also put an extra ribbon of clay around it to frame the textured area
and draw even more attention to it. The extra height, the texture, the unglazed surface, and the frame around it mean that the pieces are all about that very small portion of the whole.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The set of four tumblers in various
colors sold right away on Etsy! I also made a vase using the same process. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once I figured out how to do it on cylinder shapes I tried this process on bowls. So I made what I call "contemplation
bowls" to be used during meditation or as a decorative item, maybe to
float a bloom in it or sit a pillar candle in a bed of coffee beans.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_IeFtq0Aop5UjgdIetwUb1JvseTVtNn9yMtOG06QUfQUU-gpF0jUWTIkBwruk7T5tM0D2Gn2-ebiM6iyqE_tef464ownN_AMhN4avNSqGeVX4Cp-s5Ns1Sy0jfpXylH4hwYbFZESGOM/s1600/IMG_3064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_IeFtq0Aop5UjgdIetwUb1JvseTVtNn9yMtOG06QUfQUU-gpF0jUWTIkBwruk7T5tM0D2Gn2-ebiM6iyqE_tef464ownN_AMhN4avNSqGeVX4Cp-s5Ns1Sy0jfpXylH4hwYbFZESGOM/s1600/IMG_3064.JPG" height="320" width="273" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this case, I took out a circle from the side of the bowl,
textured it and returned it to its place but, again, making sure to draw
attention to it. Instead of using the piece that I had cut out of the bowl, I
used a darker clay and then used oxides rather than glazes on the outside,
which gives a tactile experience that is quite different from the smoothness of
a glazed bowl. The inside of the bowl is where all the action is! I melted
marbles on the inside and sprinkled copper oxide to make for a lot of interest
as you're looking into the bowl.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi336u9tLvxqEUVe1Wao7oVz8vVEVEC1f5J0iFyfU5RWKqZjdwX_gYJuP3nFAo46okWKa9hqCV0bXyOXnMNm_O2W2uZjr0iiiBbn04483vn3Q1HMdbviHtSntSePkb-eYYhqqmsMUxxy-I/s1600/IMG_3455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi336u9tLvxqEUVe1Wao7oVz8vVEVEC1f5J0iFyfU5RWKqZjdwX_gYJuP3nFAo46okWKa9hqCV0bXyOXnMNm_O2W2uZjr0iiiBbn04483vn3Q1HMdbviHtSntSePkb-eYYhqqmsMUxxy-I/s1600/IMG_3455.JPG" height="99" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm also using this technique on my ubiquitous yarn bowls. Here are three yarn bowls I made yesterday. It's a real move
away from the flower and curlicue motifs I've been using so far. Although, the
idea is not completely new since I have made yarn bowls where I would, say, cut
out a butterfly or heart and then place the cutout on the other side of the
bowl. This, however, is not only more abstract, but I'm trying to reimagine the
portion taken out by texturing it and putting it back in its place in a
different form. I plan to also use oxides in addition to glazes on these. The
end result will be a lot more earthy and rustic than my usual yarn bowls. I
don't know how that will over.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkXmlylEyBpnyO9TGumRIcizG5O3hnIxvLvpWdqC1unnWrIKiYkZUIG7k_QsSFvnsbqNDQl0AScCRUgaIH4B5Isa9qZJSHPgz6sPjBj_IlFqU6-ESsuouWdSdWDzI3kKyJqL1roGLu7k/s1600/IMG_3458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkXmlylEyBpnyO9TGumRIcizG5O3hnIxvLvpWdqC1unnWrIKiYkZUIG7k_QsSFvnsbqNDQl0AScCRUgaIH4B5Isa9qZJSHPgz6sPjBj_IlFqU6-ESsuouWdSdWDzI3kKyJqL1roGLu7k/s1600/IMG_3458.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also made a couple of
"wrapped" vases, something that I used to do a very long time ago. In
this case, I took some bandages and soaked them in slip and then wrapped them
around the shoulder of the vase. My thought was to give the vase a scarf around
it's neck to keep it warm. The "scarf" was washed in red iron oxide
and waxed so that it would not take the rich iron glaze. It stands out because
of its rough texture and darker color.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-52909536626890023622014-07-15T22:51:00.000-04:002014-07-15T22:51:03.667-04:00A larger studio<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FCbEzdVVOyM2LeRf1vf3_dRaEVabK_vFjSE9hVmIotQHrfLe-S-C7i9s7j6yVX4gdRLSuVhGu7NV2MXMCHi254TpcAjkiWlwaFwhPLI74oKCEm3gquitegrypKVRzMUZzTwcwqCFRxA/s1600/IMG_3452-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FCbEzdVVOyM2LeRf1vf3_dRaEVabK_vFjSE9hVmIotQHrfLe-S-C7i9s7j6yVX4gdRLSuVhGu7NV2MXMCHi254TpcAjkiWlwaFwhPLI74oKCEm3gquitegrypKVRzMUZzTwcwqCFRxA/s1600/IMG_3452-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1. New 8x10ft space was added on to the existing studio</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This week I began working in my new, improved studio. The inside of the studio addition that we started back in April is now finished. There are still a few things to do on the outside, like painting it and building a small deck and some steps. After 16 years of working in a 12ft by 10ft studio, the addition now gives me a 20ft by 10ft space, which to me seems huge!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first image show the throwing and hand-building area which is now in the new part of the studio.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The glazing, decorating, firing area is in the old part of the studio. I know that I will probably be rearranging things for a while as I start working in the new space. I am exhilarated by all the table and shelf space I have now!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuDXyMfSKgENcBd9NWbp2N3Ycpk831ApaRg_w2jtWLsK1aaIGj39dSP2BRW9IlBdHRJm7OhV2SI0Y8uh75v05gcHfOZA7l0RIv19Rqh_Te2oZfv_rQTViExOt7d8H_qbYZVCyqwWf-ng/s1600/IMG_3433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuDXyMfSKgENcBd9NWbp2N3Ycpk831ApaRg_w2jtWLsK1aaIGj39dSP2BRW9IlBdHRJm7OhV2SI0Y8uh75v05gcHfOZA7l0RIv19Rqh_Te2oZfv_rQTViExOt7d8H_qbYZVCyqwWf-ng/s1600/IMG_3433.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2. View from the front door.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After thinking about it for a long while, I decided not to put in additional windows in the new space. Instead, I chose to use the wall space for added shelves. There already is an existing window and we installed a glass door that gives me a view as well as additional light. I might still decide at some point to put in skylights, but for now the lighting is quite good and I'm satisfied.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwrrV2Tm4mXwiVoFEp3eVEcC2kJjOfwhq3DYfLt-iNCh12c7yadiVMpkvWVyxoU7RGXFNhNZyEJji5WyKK4cj0dzFe7eofr-PynpSfeK7z7b9pBUtINcPx-usQhJebsLoajkzYq6GKuo/s1600/IMG_3446-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwrrV2Tm4mXwiVoFEp3eVEcC2kJjOfwhq3DYfLt-iNCh12c7yadiVMpkvWVyxoU7RGXFNhNZyEJji5WyKK4cj0dzFe7eofr-PynpSfeK7z7b9pBUtINcPx-usQhJebsLoajkzYq6GKuo/s1600/IMG_3446-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Pugmill and glazing area in the old studio.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Glazing used to involve a delicate dance around buckets as well as placing ware boards over every flat surface to have sufficient space to put down just-glazed pots. Now, I have oodles of table space for glazing, and I purchased dollies for glaze buckets (as well as the clay bin), which makes my life so much easier! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The other side of the old studio will be for decorating and also the kiln is at the very back.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYzrSsQDy0jKza0qGtul4zz8vRKih8H5Yc_w18IM6naidrFpY9S3TRgRQMF3cUARr2KPkNSk7OAT7uUHl4ff2Qgk8j34__vTP0wrHNJAocZiJLxHwx3ka7rQRr1SC5nZoNgfXbMlonDc/s1600/IMG_3449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYzrSsQDy0jKza0qGtul4zz8vRKih8H5Yc_w18IM6naidrFpY9S3TRgRQMF3cUARr2KPkNSk7OAT7uUHl4ff2Qgk8j34__vTP0wrHNJAocZiJLxHwx3ka7rQRr1SC5nZoNgfXbMlonDc/s1600/IMG_3449.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4. Decorating table</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It really took a long time to get to this point. One of the reasons is that we are doing this ourselves (that is, my darling husband is doing it by himself). Another reason is the wet weather we've had (and continue to have) which meant that there were many days when we were unable to work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also, the last month was devoted to watching the World Cup matches: what fun! Fútbol is part of the soul of every Uruguayan and, although I was only 10 when I arrived in the US, I still carry the imprint of La Celeste. As always, watching the games brought memories of going to the stadium with Dad when we still lived in Montevideo. When we came here in the 60s there were no Soccer Moms and no one played fútbol. Dad, however, was determined to listen to the 1966 World Cup. So he bought a short-wave radio and slung a long copper wire up to the tallest tree in our yard to act as an antenna. And we huddled around the radio to listen to the matches and yelled "GOOOOOOOOLLLLLL"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So now, I got my fill of fútbol. I cheered for Uruguay and when we lost to Colombia, I cheered for the US, and finally I cheered for every team because it was a really exciting World Cup. And, I'm back at work in a brand new clean studio. Time to get muddy!</span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-41195401107012606902014-04-30T21:21:00.000-04:002014-04-30T21:21:44.846-04:00Go away rain!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQCwzJvy35RftPm2os7XW82CTWvtAzVY9yQ9Zh4R9MmQd93ris-HSl4XKzuxzO1JNMT5O4QJHWTqoLv63csznqYwZD8xdYxA1Jluu7B_ILz6t2jCh5vX7d5_lQJIHVQ6Rk3H5keBJi0k/s1600/IMG_2857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQCwzJvy35RftPm2os7XW82CTWvtAzVY9yQ9Zh4R9MmQd93ris-HSl4XKzuxzO1JNMT5O4QJHWTqoLv63csznqYwZD8xdYxA1Jluu7B_ILz6t2jCh5vX7d5_lQJIHVQ6Rk3H5keBJi0k/s1600/IMG_2857.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzJTX-w2Awb31oGn_sUykRPARKcYmFCxFVSUIQttUJIfI0SpsZDBvI6kcpNK7Uu5u7U5UQPytbhLwI4trbjGVp06ygvrJBE4wt5MXroerGt-GWECbucFcRYry8lRf9_oaNqRiFhmgUwY/s1600/IMG_2864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzJTX-w2Awb31oGn_sUykRPARKcYmFCxFVSUIQttUJIfI0SpsZDBvI6kcpNK7Uu5u7U5UQPytbhLwI4trbjGVp06ygvrJBE4wt5MXroerGt-GWECbucFcRYry8lRf9_oaNqRiFhmgUwY/s1600/IMG_2864.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">We've had a couple of days of nonstop pouring rain. Our home is at the bottom of a hilly neighborhood and in addition to the rain pouring from above we have the rain coming down the hills. There's a veritable creek that runs at the end of our backyard whenever it rains this hard. It comes under the neighbor's fence and runs right through our property. We've named it Lynt Creek. You can see from the pictures that the water really is running. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course all this rain has halted construction of the studio addition, but it has also made it abundantly clear that we need to go a little bit higher because the concrete pads we had installed to scope out the space are underwater. So, off Chris went to Home Depot (yes, in the rain) and got some more concrete pads to raise the beams that will eventually hold the structure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At this point, we are considering whether to have a step down into the existing studio or to raise the floor, which will give us opportunity to better insulate it. I really want to do the later, but that means emptying out the studio... something that I had hoped to avoid. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Imx_0l9z6GWWnVb3t84mKUun38aI8weAfVjX8cLBY6dFpD0EDO8e0dzDmnFGMXicF7_yrj8HAJeovjyAzgm8POWsLt6w2Uio8oqrhV6Ui7cO3jYniAmsmJXXRm7rEPuQuwD5PZNZ1U4/s1600/IMG_2862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Imx_0l9z6GWWnVb3t84mKUun38aI8weAfVjX8cLBY6dFpD0EDO8e0dzDmnFGMXicF7_yrj8HAJeovjyAzgm8POWsLt6w2Uio8oqrhV6Ui7cO3jYniAmsmJXXRm7rEPuQuwD5PZNZ1U4/s1600/IMG_2862.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">In any case, we'll see what we decide when we get to that point. For now the conversation centers around ideas for improving drainage and channeling the rainwater away from the studio. Another concern is how to do that without damaging my azaleas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As you can see, there's been quite a bit of progress: the trim and the doors have come off and, fortunately, the shower curtain has done a respectable job of keeping the rain out of the studio. Rain is supposed to stop tomorrow afternoon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am so grateful to have such a brilliant husband to do this for me!</span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-16133730682365837372014-04-24T17:08:00.000-04:002014-04-24T17:08:33.600-04:00Here we go... !!!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeedQYqDNERODfkFEuiyhP2EmBwxLiO-gTvok6dC1fvUAuSRwlgw0ZjEads3RFWOH-JUXB9eTZS8fETwfIyE_12EySbXQWlMTMbnMSfHxenywZAwHwbcsSA1nP0h_EBcCP1R-uhqF-Zc/s1600/IMG_2768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeedQYqDNERODfkFEuiyhP2EmBwxLiO-gTvok6dC1fvUAuSRwlgw0ZjEads3RFWOH-JUXB9eTZS8fETwfIyE_12EySbXQWlMTMbnMSfHxenywZAwHwbcsSA1nP0h_EBcCP1R-uhqF-Zc/s1600/IMG_2768.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studio tilted to the right</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The weather finally seems to have settled down so we have begun preparations for the expansion of my shed-studio (or "sheddio"). This structure was erected in 1998 and has served me very well for the past 16 years. This is my description of my studio in 2011: <a href="http://glyntpottery.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Fitting Everything into a Small Studio</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have (that's the royal "we," actually my husband is doing all the work) taken up the 10x8 ft deck in front of the sheddio and discovered that one side of it has sunk into the ground. You can see in the picture, if you look closely, that the right side is closer to the ground than the left side. So, the first job on the list is to raise the left side of the shed and make it level.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rw3rYlzuV-Q_IC-RTDNUTuLt77Fh2RsRUEfoXJIn2jQ-X4iZpY49QDdWeyegfH3ceFvWXXfw5wHf41CA_9BvpyKAD8HnhBKnbtLxVevPaAWr8u8c3D91TnA3PNivTCYcYJqpKpcPED8/s1600/IMG_2818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rw3rYlzuV-Q_IC-RTDNUTuLt77Fh2RsRUEfoXJIn2jQ-X4iZpY49QDdWeyegfH3ceFvWXXfw5wHf41CA_9BvpyKAD8HnhBKnbtLxVevPaAWr8u8c3D91TnA3PNivTCYcYJqpKpcPED8/s1600/IMG_2818.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A reorganization is in my future!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I emptied all the shelves on the left side of the building: greenware, bisqueware, a few glazed things, and a plethora of little containers w/ mason stains and underglazes. We eventually figured out that I had 150 lbs of clay stored in that right front corner of the studio, so that had to come out too. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7IqJ6aDtuB8lewGsa3uLNilifqV8ivIjF57cPSDIwhYFg7ebeUneYTIu1MmMgCAJWBH5LLsYJAslH_athqDU3oU2mH7JigeWuM8mygWhvrJU3fgZCrg3XNLAW2TjJykSJpbcYq6CMCE/s1600/MVI_2824.AVI" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7IqJ6aDtuB8lewGsa3uLNilifqV8ivIjF57cPSDIwhYFg7ebeUneYTIu1MmMgCAJWBH5LLsYJAslH_athqDU3oU2mH7JigeWuM8mygWhvrJU3fgZCrg3XNLAW2TjJykSJpbcYq6CMCE/s1600/MVI_2824.AVI" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacking up the sheddio.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We rented a hydraulic jack and after several attempts (the jack was sinking into the ground!) and corrections, we were able to jack the sheddio up enough to slip in some shims and get the building level. I'm not exactly sure what the next step will be, but the idea is to build out in front of this building a space at least the size of the old deck, or maybe a little bigger (10x10 ft).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stay tuned for more! </span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-951576038402573672014-03-25T11:23:00.000-04:002014-03-25T11:43:04.863-04:00Ready for spring!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIykDtRW18Ddt-WiGT7CqYDvoZsHvP3thVvH3rMEmv4_XPM6rCjmFd85xL9-YBfleWR-GzNJk0mV6joDhAU7T-e2akOz2-arJqLyqiWwV0wuJzeBGCRMnqMEltDyACi3yatIP9ykGhx0/s1600/downy-woodpecker-male-13-3-_1571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIykDtRW18Ddt-WiGT7CqYDvoZsHvP3thVvH3rMEmv4_XPM6rCjmFd85xL9-YBfleWR-GzNJk0mV6joDhAU7T-e2akOz2-arJqLyqiWwV0wuJzeBGCRMnqMEltDyACi3yatIP9ykGhx0/s1600/downy-woodpecker-male-13-3-_1571.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Male downy woodpecker</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The days have gotten longer and we have more daylight hours. What a blessing! I like the change of seasons, but like everyone else, I am all done with winter this year! But here we are again, March 25th and it's snowing in Northern Virginia!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yet, spring is making every effort to poke its head out of its wintry burrow. Early every morning the downy woodpecker drums on the shutters outside my window, waking me to the day and, hopefully, successfully wooing a local female. The day lilies and the daffodils have poked some tentative green shoots through the leafy mulch. The old cherry tree is, once again, full of buds (albeit snow covered ones).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I am trying new things in the studio. Now that I think that I've thoroughly explored carving my pots, I'm looking at bringing more texture to thrown pots, maybe even by carving out chunks off a thrown pot, texturing it and replacing it. I'm also working w/ dark clay.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGbzEA1vBpbMJxD1ijW89YtuC9BGw212Uz-6cKg0aW_PrUOKvZGQtXW1ID2EV15yA-3Yv6C6liEbBroYgyr3g8gvBlQ3B6E9fAy7oQ-OINZqnRLj-B-7qdFE0gug7ZffL9U7o5CbQgMY/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGbzEA1vBpbMJxD1ijW89YtuC9BGw212Uz-6cKg0aW_PrUOKvZGQtXW1ID2EV15yA-3Yv6C6liEbBroYgyr3g8gvBlQ3B6E9fAy7oQ-OINZqnRLj-B-7qdFE0gug7ZffL9U7o5CbQgMY/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working in dark clay</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQTttz7wgps89gEb-Ss8NEKMN2fl95WuDtZphWJYMiguwvhvDH1e3SK5T60K_MEiU1-HI5Vr44M_K1lbvEeej_TGVGWlgGMzzWFPv_SyWqzeLD4v80FIbSExtnAAHmbCTmG2g-UcOqdg/s1600/IMG_2658-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQTttz7wgps89gEb-Ss8NEKMN2fl95WuDtZphWJYMiguwvhvDH1e3SK5T60K_MEiU1-HI5Vr44M_K1lbvEeej_TGVGWlgGMzzWFPv_SyWqzeLD4v80FIbSExtnAAHmbCTmG2g-UcOqdg/s1600/IMG_2658-001.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cups w/ added texture</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5365515725192549457.post-12524710840047320282014-03-09T13:32:00.000-04:002014-03-09T13:32:30.537-04:00What is it with breaking pots?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0-U3WkPiBRiGaAJlm3sHBBtMgStH_Gy8he3Wf68Bilp7l4gdBXjF2I2eYHNF3COoOrI2lPRc7sUAutUWRgpviCIssT01D-5lWzWaKRkqePbAcZoryIsLY8CJC73SbdSriz9qDE0dDHo/s1600/aiweiwei-dropping-han-dynasty-urn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0-U3WkPiBRiGaAJlm3sHBBtMgStH_Gy8he3Wf68Bilp7l4gdBXjF2I2eYHNF3COoOrI2lPRc7sUAutUWRgpviCIssT01D-5lWzWaKRkqePbAcZoryIsLY8CJC73SbdSriz9qDE0dDHo/s1600/aiweiwei-dropping-han-dynasty-urn.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Colored Vases"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know I'm coming late to commenting on the issue of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Weiwei" target="_blank">Ai WeiWei</a>'s painted Han dynasty pots. This needed to percolate for a while in my brain. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">WeiWei set up an exhibit with three huge photos of himself holding and then dropping a pot dating to 200BC. In front of these photos was a collection of the same pots painted with industrial paint in garish colors. Maximo Caminero, a local artist, grabbed one of those pots and did as in the photos, dropping it to the floor and <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/feb/19/ai-weiwei-vase-miami-art-gallery-video" target="_blank">breaking it to protest</a>, he said, the fact that the <a href="http://www.pamm.org/" target="_blank">gallery</a> in question did not feature local artists. He later said that he thought it was an interactive display and he was simply mimicking the photos of WeiWei, and was very sorry when told that the broken pot was worth $1 million and that he could face up to 5 years in jail.<br /><br />I am appalled, not at Caminero, but at WeiWei. After all, Caminero only compounded WeiWei's initial desecration and, if he's to be believed, was only participating in WeiWei's installation. WeiWei's aim was to contrast East and West and highlight consumerism. The pots in questions, while being actual antiquities (from the Neolithic era), are the property of WeiWei and presumably he should be able to do what he wants to with his private property. According to an <a href="http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1430515/ai-weiwei-not-amused-smashing-us1m-vase" target="_blank">article</a> in the South China Morning Post (2/18/14), WeiWei made a difference between "smash[ing] his own belongings" and having someone else destroy them. Indeed, WeiWei has been smashing antiquities for a long time and his lawyer has <a href="http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2011/06/artist-ai-weiwei-and-damage-caused-by.html" target="_blank">criticized archaeological preservationists </a>for their reaction to these destructions when they fail to protest the Chinese government's treatment of WeiWei, a person. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1k1BCgBBGaRyEShHBk8IOPdz2bGYKrB3O4PIdTZtTQZz7wpvA5YuOOvsx05bKmVNHmWGUY6C7KwAzSETh1DjFpj5NaTtpDjgaASjaetwcFwUQL__xXr-MZpFp2hRF13buJjExgkwIdYw/s1600/Yoko+Ono.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1k1BCgBBGaRyEShHBk8IOPdz2bGYKrB3O4PIdTZtTQZz7wpvA5YuOOvsx05bKmVNHmWGUY6C7KwAzSETh1DjFpj5NaTtpDjgaASjaetwcFwUQL__xXr-MZpFp2hRF13buJjExgkwIdYw/s1600/Yoko+Ono.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yoko Ono and the vase</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yet, these pots are a legacy of the past and whoever owns them, be it a private individual, an educational institution or a national government, ought to preserve them for all of us.<br /><br />This event brought to mind <a href="http://imaginepeace.com/archives/19746" target="_blank">Yoko Ono's 1966 performance</a> at the Jeanette Cochrane Theatre in London where she broke a vase on the stage and asked people to pick up the pieces and take them home, promising that they would all meet again in 10 years time with the pieces and put the vase together again (I don't think that ever happened).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Which makes me ask: What is it with breaking pots? Do performance artists ever destroy paintings or sculptures as part of their act? <br /><br />I don't usually comment about things like this because, not having an art degree, I sometimes think that I just don't get it. But maybe I do get it: Pots are just pots, utilitarian items, and there are many more where those came from. No one is outraged at the destruction of pottery as they would be if someone slashed an ancient painting. So it's easy to destroy pots as part of a gimmick to call attention to yourself, whether you're Yoko Ono, Ai WeiWei or Maximo Caminero.<br /><br />So, in the end, I'm still appalled and saddened that we can't protect these antiquities so that they will still be available to our grandchildren and their children, but then again, we seem unable to protect the planet so maybe one Han dynasty pot is insignificant.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyymaVdAdnnD1DT5fPAaRZLSmwxEOUWgKtOt6SyFPNvJVZI2IOFNimrVG4b86LILy82bVQ08hgq8Kmc9mCYgLzrgjDhzXlC25jVTbfFYxnbRTx2H9BcmmDarvhg6xmnopgiklVXvXJgh0/s1600/Chibcha+pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyymaVdAdnnD1DT5fPAaRZLSmwxEOUWgKtOt6SyFPNvJVZI2IOFNimrVG4b86LILy82bVQ08hgq8Kmc9mCYgLzrgjDhzXlC25jVTbfFYxnbRTx2H9BcmmDarvhg6xmnopgiklVXvXJgh0/s1600/Chibcha+pot.jpg" height="160" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chibcha pot</td></tr>
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******<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A couple
of disclaimers that shed some light on my feelings about this: Some museums have more
pottery than they are able to display and they often sell some as a
means to finance their research and conservation efforts. When I was in
my early 20s, I bought an ancient Chibcha (Colombia) pot from one such
outlet. I must admit that, although I loved that pot, it accidentally broke while in my care. The other disclaimer is that a few years ago I
went to a private exhibit at the Freer Gallery in Washington, DC, where I
was allowed to handle a pot similar to the ones that WeiWei destroyed
for his exhibit. It was a very significant experience for me, as I held
the pot and felt the grooves left by the hands of the ancient potter.</span></span>Graciela Testa Lynthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13758181938892880174noreply@blogger.com5