2018-02-27 - Tuesday - Josh Copus workshop, day 2

I wasn't planning on attending the second day of the Josh Copus workshop, but I couldn't resist going back.

Tuesday was more of the same high energy presentation with lots of fun stories thrown in --and pizza!

I want to thank Josh for the workshop, Denny Gerwin for the program at Queens and Molly Bloomer for heading up the art club and inviting me to the workshop.

Josh demonstrating decorating bricks.
(Molly is taking photos, top left.)

Denny manning the pizza oven.

Lots of goodies.

Denny's got the dough.

Josh is going strong with a new group of students.

That evening I went to Clayworks and made some larger Empty Bowls with cut rims. I'm planning on doing some slip transfer on the rims.

When I was leaving I noticed this tree out back. I'm not sure what kind it is; it could be a Bradford Pear volunteer, but it was striking in the artificial light.

I mean, just look at it.

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2018-02-26 - Monday - Josh Copus workshop

This might actually be the furthest behind I've ever been on this blog. Major catch-up. I hope I'm up to date by the holidays...

Monday I attended the Josh Copus workshop at Queens University. I really like Josh's work and his philosophy and his energy. This man has an unending supply. It's great to be around that positive attitude whenever possible. He's also a great story teller and I love good stories.

During the workshop he showed us the brick factory. He made waterstruck bricks and asked people to decorate them for a project he's doing. We all had a chance to make some bricks and decorate some others.

He also brought the wild clay petting zoo. He has samples of ~10 wild clays with a fired bowl made from each. Though he made each bowl from the same amount of clay, they are all different sizes due to the material's properties. One of my favorites is called "butterfat". It's fascinating but not very structural.

He also worked on one of his large sculptural pieces.

Good times.

Josh with his brick mold.

Bricks are waterstruck.

Participants participating.

A sign his nephew(?) made.

Throwing the base for one of his sculpture pieces.

Denny Gerwin working on some bricks.

The decorated bricks.

Mine.

A view of the table.

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2018-02-24 - Saturday - Justin Rothshank workshop

Saturday was the first day of the Justin Rothshank workshop. Justin produces unique work with decals, glazes, and many firings. It was fascinating to hear about his work philosophy and about his part in creating the Union Project in Pittsburgh. Quite an accomplished person for being under 40.

Justin Rothshank demoing.

My friend Sue always brings the best chocolate.

Bumper sticker in the parking lot.

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2018-02-22 - Thursday - Grass and raku class

I mowed the grass for the first time this year --in February. It's going to be a long summer.

Later, I watched the raku class at Clayworks fire the kiln. I'm not in the raku class, but I wanted to see them do a tumble stack glaze firing. It was fun to watch and yielded some amazing results.

February people! February.

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2018-02-21 - Wednesday - Spring!

Spring has definitely taken a foothold in our yard.

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2018-02-17 - Saturday - Thonotosassa

Saturday we hung out with my parents in Thonotosassa. We went to breakfast, did some shopping, and then sat out on the patio. My dad has been asking me to bring some pottery with me so I set up a four foot table with some work on it. I sold a few pieces to friends in the park and then I packed it up again as it was getting pretty breezy.

Sometimes it's just nice to kick back and just sit for a while.

Mom & Dad's golf cart.

Small display.

Sunset and moon rise.

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2018-02-16 - Friday - Florida

Way behind again. Life gets busy. Here we go...

Karen and I took a trip to Florida to see my parents and do some sightseeing.

We visited the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. Along with the permanent Dali collection, we saw the Dali/Duchamp exhibit, and yes, we even saw the urinal.

The museum is a very interesting building by itself and I got a lot more appreciation of Dali's work. I had no idea the range of styles he mastered during his career. One of my favorites was "The Ghost of Vermeer van Delft Which Can Be Used As a Table".

Karen in the Enigma.

The spiral staircase.

A view of the "golden circle" from the Enigma.

"The Hallucinogenic Toreador"

Next, we met my friend Rich Meredith at the Morean Center for Clay. Rich lives in St. Petersburg so we don't get to catch up often.

Wood kiln.

Wood kiln door bricks in holder.

Rich in front of wood kiln.

They have quite an impressive kiln yard.

We had a nice lunch with Rich and then it was back to the RV park for a 50's dance with my parents.

Mom and dad can still cut a rug,
just a bit more slowly.

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