Thoughts from Alison that might at least entertain you!

New Bowls

Well this is the one.  One of the most beautiful pottery pieces I have ever seen - and now with it's own dedicated position at Prune Ridge.  This is technically a chip/dip bowl.  It's all one piece, thrown as two separate pieces, and then the top was attached to the bottom after they were dried.  The colors are a warm yellow-beige and varying greens to make what look like reeds to me.  So lovely!  I also added a picture to the bowls photo album of a new bowl on our dresser.  That one has a great carved repeating/alternating flower pattern on it.  I've been re-visiting my attraction to bowls lately.  One of my bowls (painted by me) says "Waiting To Be Filled."  That's not exactly it, though - at least not at this point.  It's about being open to receive, and trusting that what fills the space is what's needed.  Happy Weekend, All.  Be Well out there in The World!

Art Fairs: Tackled

Well I did it.  Went to the Art Fairs in A2 this morning.  (Yes, plural - did you know there are 4 art fairs at the same time in Ann Arbor?  Actually even more because there are several smaller unofficial groupings of artists that materialize around the official ones.)  I went downtown early, hoofed around a little bit while the tents were still opening up for the morning and then had a good time.  I set out with 3 things in mind that I was interested in hunting for.  I came home with 2 of the 3 things I thought I'd find, plus 3 other things too (it always seems to work that way).  I'll share some pics here when I have that act together, but of course there are two new bowls in our house.  One is one of the most beautiful pieces I've ever seen - sort of a bowl within a bowl.  Technically it's a chip/dip thing, but it's not what you expect from a chip/dip set.  I also had a little fair food, met some neat artists, and people watched a bit.  Life is good in artsy A2.  Happy Weekend, Friends!

Art Fairs

Well here we are at Art Fair week in Ann Arbor.  This feels like a peculiar week for me all around.  Normally (at least for the past 20 years or so), I would be away this week for a conference.  I chose not to go this year, which is peculiar feeling #1.  I'm also working a regular week this week, when lots of things in Ann Arbor simply shut down (including our club), which is peculiar feeling #2 - primarily because most of my office mates are not working this week.  An irregular workweek is also peculiar feeling #3 with no evenings or shows at the club this week.  The fact that our city is filled with art (pottery and bowls!), a festival atmosphere, and food - and I don't really have any plans to partake of the festivities is peculiar feeling #4.  Weird.  I may venture into the fair on my own on Friday, but we'll see.  As much as I love this kind of thing, the fact is that I don't love the combination of gigantic crowds, extreme heat, and the "where the hell do I park?" factor.  Wish me luck...

Pottery Class Update 2

Week 3 of my pottery class has come and gone.  I have made exactly one pot at this point.  I'm feeling like this is definitely not a skill set that I have naturally, and probably not one that I'm going to develop very simply.  Week 1's class was all about simply getting the clay on the wheel and centering it (not easy!).  Week 2 was the beginning of learning to make pots.  Most of the class made several pots that night - many people had 4 or 5.  I had 1!  Week 3 was either learning how to trim the pots you made during week 2, or practicing making more pots.  I chose to trim the one pot I have.  I guess at least I have now made one pot more than I've ever made or attempted before this class!

Pottery Class Update

I've now had the first two classes of my 6 week pottery class!  So far I've learned (mostly) how to center the clay on the wheel, which isn't easy.  I don't get it every time, but sometimes at least!  Last night we worked at making our first pots - starting w/ cylinders (think a pencil cup vs. a bowl).  I should say last night most of the class worked at making pots.  I worked at making one pot and lots of useless/shapeless piles of clay.  Woohoo!  Turns out this might not be an art for me, but we'll see.  I'm having fun.  Last night I came home with less clay on me than the week before, and the people in the class are fun too.  Go, Pottery Class!