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Friday evening musings ...


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... so here I sit on a Friday evening during our first heat wave of the summer .... Googling through pottery images ... really enjoying the fabulous work I'm seeing .... The width of talent, the depth ... Potters whose work makes you wonder how they did it ... what or who made them see things that way.

 

So I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to the pottery teachers be they in elementary school where you first turn them on to art or through high school where you let them peek at the whole big world out there ... or in University where you rap their knuckles and make them focus so they can really SEE ... To post grad where you what?? I imagine on the best days you just try to keep up with their talent and on the worst days wonder why you bother??? Late nights loading, firing and unloading kilns. Boring paperwork. Challenging students.

 

Not leaving out the community teachers who teach the people who could not get to art school ... who are just rarring to be let loose ... Who worked hard for years for those hours in the studio. And the folks who run Arts Centers and fight for your budgets and keep the lights on.

 

BRAVO and BRAVA to you all.

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I have posted more today than ever. I apologize...but it is too stinking hot down here in deep deep South Texas.

Chris, I admire teachers in today's classroom and wish them lots of luck. So a big thank you to them too. I enjoy reading other teachers/professors contributions having done that for several decades. I would also acknowledge all those older folks jumping in later in life to enjoy themselves in a great medium. In the decade since I retired from teaching University ceramics, I have met some amazing older folks in my workshops who have jumped into learning ceramics through whatever venues they can find...local art centers, workshops, etc.

I really enjoy meeting these people. My recent experience this past year as a last minute temporary substitute in the University teaching venue was plagued with students attached to headsets, kids texting constantly in lecture classes, or bringing their computers in to class to watch soap operas or soccer games.

I like teaching adult students who are focused on what they are working on. Today's classroom is not for me. Give me a workshop environment anyday.

 

Marcia

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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest JBaymore

Just saw this thread, Chris. Thanks to you for taking time to say the "thanks" :) . And my "hats off" to all teachers.... no matter what place you teach.

 

I too am particularly in awe of the primary and secondary art teachers. Tough job these days in SO many ways. Trying to keep art alive when so much of American society says it is not important.

 

Marcia, at a smaller art college I personally am not seeing TOO much of what you describe there. I am thankful for that. My largest class to date is 18 students... so I get to know them all VERY well. The ceramics department is about 60 students total. There is no place to "hide".

 

We of couse get some that I wonder about why they are wasting their tution Dollars...... but for the most part they are engaged. But truly it is probably not like back when you and I were in school with the endless hours of living in the studio. Most students these days carry one or more jobs to make the ends meet. Often full time jobs. Makes it difficult in the field of ceramics with all ot the ancillary stuff that has to happen like glaze mixing and firings and so on.

 

best,

 

................john

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