research day

Lubna Chowdhary // Artist Profile from Jamie Isbell on Vimeo.

"temporarily"

: during a limited time. :not permanent.

vs. that which is permanent.  lasting, and eternal.  (when oceans rise)

via moode

how lovely

to see an old friend, eat dinner, and notice your art in use on her counter.  just lovely.

to do and see

La Fontaine Stravinsky

Centre Georges Pompidou

the big ask

from an e-mail from 5.7.14 at 6:38pm: (edited, clearly)
"Hello, my name is A and i was wondering if you would be willing to donate about a cup of black glaze to my school. You see, I go to a public charter school known as ___ and due to the flooding we had our school is rather broke. We recently did a clay project in art and everyone else used up the little amount of glaze we had from last year and due to lack of money my teacher can't buy any more. So i was wondering if you would mind lending me a cup of glaze for my tea set I made. It would really mean the world to me. "

"Really! Thank you so much!!! Is it ok if my mom picks it up on her way home work tomorrow? Oh and i will be sure to stop by and show you my tea set when it is finished. :)"

hope she knows i'm looking forward to seeing something like this:

Samita Masami | "Remoteness" 1992. Porcelain with gold and silver pigments over black glaze

or these:

Hedwig Bollhagen via rawearthopensky

via rawearthopensky

I like when people go for the big ask.  many many people in my life are where they are because they weren't afraid to just ask for what they want.  seriously, it doesn't hurt anyone to ask.  it builds your own confidence, reminds you what goal you're reaching for, and builds character.  even when you receive a whole bunch of 'no's' in response to your big ask (which you will)…chances are it's an opportunity to work harder.  an opportunity to refine your shpeal, to ask in a different way, to look for a different kind of place or person to ask.

i think god appreciates the big ask, too.  not every opportunity is going to fall out of the sky into our laps, people.  some opportunities god has fully in the works and in his plan, but he's just waiting for us to figure out that we really want it.  that we'll appreciate it.  that we'll see it as the huge opportunity and blessing that it is and act on it.  it probably takes a little work to orchestrate opportunities and miracles…I wouldn't blame him for waiting until we're in the right mindset to observe the miracle and jump into action because of it.

even jesus went for the big ask.  before being killed he went and asked god 'i'll do what you say because you're the boss man and i trust you, but couldn't we do this any other way?  it would be really really great if there was another option that we could explore here…'
and god said no and the way we understand jesus has forever been enriched by that observation of the big ask and receiving a big fat no.  you've got to remember that sometimes your big ask will result in a big fat no for a big fat good reason, but it doesn't mean you should stop being awesome. or that you should ever stop asking :)

Eva Kwong

 "Bobtail" (2006)

Acalephoid Series

Stoneware, salt glaze, colored slips

23 x 13 x 13

 "Energy Vibrations" (2008)

Noetic Moments Series

Thrown porcelain

60 x 110 x 7

"Bacteria, Diatoms & Cells" (2006)

 Stoneware, earthenware, salt glaze, glaze

180 x 180 x 5

"Tumor and Temple" (2012)

"The purpose of my art is to call attention to our distorted perceptions of individual experiences...In Tumor Hive, a room-sized arc form of cloth in pinks and reds interprets the enormous emotional impact of an excised lump of cells gone amok. I share the experience of illness, but with bold shapes and visceral colors that draw in the viewer. Temple Hive, a large sculpture which viewers are meant to spend time in, is an idealization of the act of building a blanket fort in childhood. The work becomes a monument to a lost act and invites the audience to participate in the idea. They share in a moment of childhood interpreted with the skill of adulthood..." Monica Vidal

flight

The Invention of the Balloon
1784
Terracotta, height 110 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

weeks 2 & 3...wait no almost 7...

some important things I've gathered from camp so far:

1. most of it is about confidence. if I am unsure, uneasy, or at all questioning my ability to lead / impart knowledge / create a happy time for all...they'll know it and we'll all suffer.  

2. some projects just don't work out...and that's all right.  sending home pretty artwork is a nice thing to do, but when it comes down to it I believe it's about the experience (so make it good.  when the kids are frustrated and nothing is working as it should, this is when it's most important to lead by staying calm, listening, and taking note not to do that project again!)

3. planning is as difficult as you make it.  aka, don't wait until the last minute...but also catch yourself when planning activities in the mindset of just filling time.  it's easy to forget that the time I have with the kids is precious, so the artists and projects and activities that I share with them should have meaning and importance!  which leads to...

4.  get inspired!  just like you can not make art without looking at art, you can not teach art without being inspired by things that you see.  I have once again dropped the ball on remembering to extensively use my eyes, but luckily it's an easy thing to resume.  with that, here's what I'm getting excited for and inspired by and thinking of sharing for camp next week...

 Sycamore leaves/stitched together with stalks/hung from a tree, Pollok Park, Glasgow (1986)

Andy Goldsworthy 

Pebbles around a hole, Kinagashima-Cho, Japan (1987)

Andy Goldsworthy

Early morning calm, Knotweed stalks, pushed into lake bottom, 

made complete by their own reflections (1988)

Andy Goldsworthy

increasingly convinced

i have become increasingly convinced that to create, you must look.  you must observe, you must experience, you must reflect, you must use your eyes and your mind and your intuition
at the same time.

Sean Avery

Feeple (male) - mixed media

15 x 15 x 15cm

see more of his work here

Diana Al-Hadid

Built from our Tallest Tales, 2008

Wood, metal, polystyrene, polymer gypsum, fiberglass, plastic, concrete and paint 365.8 x 254 x 203.2 cm (144 x 100 x 80 in)