Thursday, February 26, 2015

Drowning


Ever feel like you're floundering? Recently, I've been so busy and overwhelmed. So, today, I just chucked it all and went to the beach. It was nice to officially start walking the dog again, after two long bouts with the flu. She met a lot of new friends, including a very saucy bird. We stopped in and dropped off a clay wall heart to replace the clay wall heart that sold at the gallery last week. And, we arrived home just in time to grade some journals!








Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Mr. Lincoln





This is generally the month when I share with my fourth graders my collection of photos of Abraham Lincoln. My photos are all on old black and white transparencies. So this year, I made a slideshow with photos that I found online. I tried to duplicate many of my transparency photos, which I had copied from a giant book of photography by Matthew Brady. It is so interesting to look at his face, and to see the weathering over the years. We learned in class, that Mr. Lincoln grew a beard in response to a suggestion by a little girl named Grace Bedell. The top photo is her letter to Lincoln, and the bottom letter is Lincoln's response to Grace. It is stained by snowdrops, because she read it while walking home from the post office on a snowy day. I like that he took the time to write to a child, during his campaign. What politician of today would do such a thing? Enjoy the photos, either with whiskers or without…  You can watch the slideshow version: https://vimeo.com/119919742.











Monday, February 23, 2015

Tutoring

Unfinished Arbol Wall Wreath

 Right now I'm trying to make a flyer for ceramic tutoring. So, I'm using these two pieces on the flyer, because they're two of my favorites. I've never taught adults how to work with clay, but I sure have taught a lot of second, third, fourth, and fifth graders before. I really like teaching third graders, because they seem to be the least nervous about taking risks with clay, and trying new things. They relax and just let "stuff" happen. It's something that I sometimes forget to do in my own ceramic practice. Their work habits are an excellent reminder...


Saucy Vase

Monday, February 16, 2015

Nesting

This is the start of a nest...
I'm running very low on clay...
Molded pinch pots...
Some decorations are in order...
Adding some twiggy texture...
Finished nests with eggs inside...
An added black wash to this piece...

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Valentine's Day Work

Making some tubes...

And, now a base...

Arms air drying near the door...

A bouquet of flowers...

Thinking about my dad as I work...

Many leaves and flowers...

Getting the arms attached...

Last weekend's bottles...

Replacement for a broken arbol...

Open Studios application hopeful...

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Plates & Hearts

Making many plates, to fill the kiln for the next firing...
I don't just want to run these through alone...
So, a large load of plates should help to fill the kiln...
Right near the work table...
Slab roller storage...
Making the stamped embellishments...
Drying in the doorway...

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Strive



Lately, I've been wondering a lot about nature vs. nurture. I've also been thinking about what makes one person strive, and another person complacent. 

I read an article about Andree Peel, a French spy for the Resistance during World War II. In the article, Andree said, "I was born brave. I just acted and did what I thought was the right thing." She risked her life, and gave her all to save others during the war. What makes a person perform such earnest service for others?  There were people, during the war, who quietly waited for it to end, took few risks, and survived. As a teacher, I see students that give their all on every assignment. They approach even simple tasks with energy and enthusiasm. And, they seem to possess a desire to give 100 percent. There are other children who are content to just relax and take a less intense route. What accounts for this difference? Is one born a "natural striver"?

In our family, I always felt that we needed to do our best. Often, I knew that I wasn't doing my best in school. I didn't apply myself, unless it was to a task that I loved or understood. But, there was always an understanding that "Hansens had Standards". This idea was modeled for me by my parents daily. My father has never NOT done his best. Even the simplest tasks are approached with the highest effort. Sometimes it's exhausting to watch. Growing up, it was the highest kind of example: a job worth doing was a job worth doing well. My mother always wanted to do everything herself. She needed to know that tasks were done correctly.  Every job had a "right way" of doing it. With this level of intensity in our home, it was hard not to believe that being a Hansen meant something. We cared how things turned out in our family.

My three siblings are extraordinary people. I love and admire them. They have chosen spouses that match and complement their good qualities. So, it is a pleasure to watch their children, from the sidelines, the results of their parenting. I can say, without bragging, that my nieces and nephews are some of the finest young people I've known. They seem to always do the right thing. They love the assorted professions and activities which they have chosen, and they seem to be trying their hardest with the challenges that they face. My niece once teased me by saying, "Looks like you're not in it to win it, Auntie Kor."  That's a teenager with high expectations.

So, how do we inspire youngsters to strive?  Exactly how is it done? I think it's nature and nurture together.  Most children really can care, if the task is interesting, it's in their nature as curiosity seekers. But, that is not enough. Leading by example is critical. If you want to inspire, you've got to be inspiring. Being an exemplar of having a strong work ethic affects those with whom you come in contact. I had a student in my third grade class, who was actively being taught a strong work ethic by her mom. Sometimes, it was hard to watch, because the mom held the bar very high. Conversations with this student during third grade, and up until her fifth grade promotion, lead me to understand the changes that her mom's example had made. I watched the child become a confident and excellent student. In fact, I watched her self esteem grow, visibly. After her fifth grade promotion, this student brought me a flower, and thanked me for our friendship. But, I was the grateful one, because I was able to watch a transformation.


Monday, February 2, 2015

It's Cup Swap Eve...

I've got my eye on this one...
She marked this one with an "M"...
Love the dotted "o"...
Fernanda's stripes are inviting...
So many to choose from...
Really liking this wedge shaped cup...
Nice color combinations...
The horse mug is awesome...
Irma's cup is just peachy...
These two look great together...
So long little cup...