Evan here,

when it comes to my worst moment it has to be building the manipulations project. during this project i built it to tall to quickly to fast and it fell over. i realized that clay can be a jerk some time

when it comes to my best moment it has to be the press mold project. with this project i pushed myself farther then i have before, above and beyond the stipulations of the project. what i learned that i get more fulfillment from working the hardest.

list of projects

-1/2 pound clay project

-30 words, 30 pieces

- drawings of pieces

-4 models

-scale project

-manipulations project

-press mold project

Dave Mykins - last blog assignment

Handbuilding Assignments:

• Build 40 Manipulations objects based on list of 40 words
• Spend entire class period making one small object out of (2 pounds?) of clay
• Create 4 drawings of the small object made in class period
• Fold and cut one of those drawings into an interesting composition and then make 4, 4" x 4" models with bilateral symetry.
• Make a 4x scale-up of one of the 4" x 4" models
• Glaze the scaled-up object
• make a "perfect" box using slab structure method learned in class using body measurements as dimensions
• Build a slab structure that contextualizes 12 of the 40 manipulations assignment
• Build a pedestal for the "perfect" box assignment using the same slab technique that either makes the box look heavy or light
• Glaze all three slab-built assignments
•  Take a natural object and a mass produced, man-made object and build a clay object that combines the two of them in an interesting way.
• Make a plaster press-mold of the clay object and make 8 molds of the object
• Glaze some of the molds in cone-4 glaze and some in raku glazes
• Participate in Raku firing
• Phoenix project
  

Blogging Assignments:

• Being of Being Mindful
• Question for Wayne about "Stratocumulus"
• Question for Wayne about our scaled-up project for critique
• This one

Class Presentations:

• The video on that Japanese artist whose name I don't remember but he made those really awesome stone fountains along with other massive stone sculptures.
• The video on Maya Lin
• The video on Louise Nevelson
• Slideshow of Wayne's work

Worst Moments:

• Finding out all of our first major projects for the class broke in a kiln mishap
• The multiple troubles my fragile pedestal assignment caused me

Best/ enlightening moments:

• The Raku firing was awesome
• Realizing that following an assignment doesn't necessarily mean that I can't be creative, even if I don't really want to follow it. I did end up making something that I probably never would have thought of making if left to do something on my own.
• I enjoyed making my orange-headed cats
• Bringing broken pieces to new life with the last project. I'm proud of the way mine turned out, and that it is possible to salvage broken pieces. also realizing that it's not much different than if it hadn't broke because the piece you had in mind when you started is never the piece that comes out in the end.  

Jenna Bloodough

Well to start things off,

Our first assignment was the questionnaire/essay we had to write introducing ourselves

We had an entire class to create one thing

Then we had the forty words to illustrate

from those words we had to create four drawings

from the drawings we had to cut out a line segment

watch a video on Maya Lin

had to visit the gallery in the lobby to write about Waynes piece

then we had to create four model, things.

after that we enlarged one or two models depending

worked on that for weeks

glazed those with several different techniques

watched them die in a kiln

watched a movie on Louise Nevelson somewhere in here, fabolous

As well as isamu Noguchi

next we create a perfect box with slab techniques

Had a cone 4 glaze test

built a house to hold forty illustrated words

Then we created a pedestal

Mahlon and Wayne presented their work via slide show

afterwards we had to merge an organic and made man object

created press molds

pressed eight molds

Had a Raku firing

all laced together with blogging

to finish it off we had to destroy whatever was not destroyed

and re-attached in a loud way

I think my worst moment was finding out my large piece toppled over in the Kiln. That really upset me because I really adored the way I glazed it. I researched poppies, and tested out different brush strokes so the flowers appeared delicate and involved line work. Not to mention it was interesting to build, the piece was so top heavy so I was certainly proud to have it stable and standing. The one good thing that kept me from being furious was the way the clear glaze came out on that piece, it really didnt add to it in anyway infact it looked rather terrible so that eased the pain. From that though, it all makes sense now why Wayne wasn't too concerned about losing pieces, especially that one because we took quite some time to work on it.

I guess my best moments were after that big piece fell. My favorite video was Louise Nevelson, I really thought she was a great women. In my facebook I even have a quote by her "I always thought, bluntly, that I was a glamorous, goddamn exciting woman. I wanted to have a ball on earth." she was amazing. Aside from that I put together a pedestal that I enjoyed, tried out piping techniques which were fun and then the glitter. You know you did something right when you come home at the end of the day and youre covered in gold glitter. The final project was interesting, it was addicting once you got going you could not stop flocking on glitter-izing a segment. I enjoyed how flashy it could be. I think that project was something I wouldve never done myself unless it were presented to me. The materials used werenot anything I wouldve found, like flocking, and glitter seems so elementary school was much as I love it but Ive found other more 'mature' ways to make something gaudy than glitter. Normally when something breaks if it cant be glued back together, like my big bilateral piece than thats it I wouldve tossed it..not with the final piece, it was broken, you broke it, you remade it. I thought that was a nice ending touch I have to admit.

I feel as though I didnt walk away with a lot of work but to be honest I learned so much from Mahlon and Wayne, more than any other studio. After that big piece broke Nick really put it into perspective for me that Sophomore year isnt about work its about the process and that was where Mahlon kicked in a lot and since Nick said that I just stopped caring about the way assignments ended up but more as to how I worked to get them at the end point. Slab making, the materials such as flocking and glitter, mold making, raku, all new experiences that I have a solid grasp on. I guess ending with that despite how much ive complained about that infamous big piece, I dont really care that it broke I only pin point that as my worst moment because it was pre-realizing what Nick said and because it made me most mad.

Katherine Lin

List of Classwork

-make a small clay sculpture... use 5 pounds of clay?

-make 40 sculptures according to 40 words

-arrange the 40 pieces and make name tags

-make 4 observational drawings based on some of the 40 pieces

-use partial outlines of the drawings to create 4 sculptures out of 4"x4" cubes.

-enlarge one of the 4 cubic products, make two of them. (I made one.)

-learn to make slabs

-make a "perfect" box with three measurements from my body, using the slab technique

-make a container for the 40 pieces that contextualizes each one, using the slab technique

-slip paint & design the enlargement project

-glaze the container and the 40 little pieces

-make a pedestal for the box, make it seem light or heavy

-collect objects of mass production & from the nature

-combine the texture/characteristics of the two objects and make a sculpture for mold making and casting

-Raku glazing & firing

-break the finished pieces from above for the final project

-blogging, including observation from daily basis, ask a question about Wayne's work in the faculty show, a question for the enlargement project and final blogging

-tea party + group crit

Videos Played in Class

-Maya Lin

-Louise Nevelson

-Isamu Noguchi

Other presentations

-slide show of Wayne's works

-slide show of Mahlon's works

Best times:

After saying sorry and good-bye in mind to my pieces, I really enjoyed breaking every single one of them.

Raku firing was fun.

Translating descriptions on the tea packages was fun, too.

And I really enjoy studying people's working process and style. I like it when I see drawings, now I feel I'm able to see a little in sculptures, too!

Down moment:

Someone already told me it's an excuse, but I think I process slower when it comes to sculptures. It doesn't feel good just staring a the assignment sheet and produce a piece without feeling thoroughly inspired. A better image of my works would come to my mind after the project is over. Good thing it's an intro level course so the main thing is getting to know clay; and I did learn a lot about this material...

To be honest, my worst moment is when I start to compare the involvement I have in my two sophomore studios. The other one is Intro to Painting; Wayne, would you like to share the transition experience you had between these two dimensions?

List of Assignments By Adam Biggar

Forty words
Four elements
pedestal
Perfect box
chimera
phoenix
12 item box


Best time: the best time that I had in the class was the Raku firing. It was alot of fun to learn how the certian glaze would react to oxidation or reduction. Lots of Chemisty involved and I love Chem.

The Worst: The worst time in the class was when Mahlon and I loaded the kiln and the shelves fell on me. I guess we learn from our mistakes. Next time I gotta be faster. lol

List of Assignments

Kathleen Rabe Final Blog

Projects:

• manipulations project, 40 sculptures using 10 lbs of clay + 4 8x8" drawing
• Blog while you have lunch
• look at 40 sculptures and critique of drawing.
• Cut up drawings at contour lines, make 4 small sculptures using those contours.
• 1/2 pound in-class 3 hour sculpture
• Higby demo on coil building a large form
• make 4X scale sculpture using one of the 4 small contour sculptures
• Higby demo on making tools for/applying surface decoration using black/white slip
• making tools for and decorating the large contour sculpture using black and white slip
• 4 drawings of finished sculpture
• critique on large contour sculpture
• Hibgy demo on no slabroller slab technique, and demo on how to build the "perfect" box
• build a perfect box using measurements from your body
• build a sculpture that "contextualizes" 10 of the 40 objects from the manipulation project
• glaze demo
• glaze box, contextualize project and 10 sculptures
• build a pedestal for perfect box that either makes it look lighter or heavier
• bring in an organic and a manufactured object
• combine the two idea's to make one unified object (solid)
• Mahlon demo on cutting object to make mold
• cut up object to make a press mold
• make a press mold
• press mold 8 objects identical to the first, and 2 more in any form
• glaze one each: black, white, color. Room temp surface one, leave on bisque, glaze two for Raku
• Raku saturday
• Final assignment: Project Phoenix + final blog

Videos + other:

• Louise Nevelson
• Isamu Noguchi
• Maya Lin
• Mahlon's work
• Higby's work

Worst moment:

When Higby demonstrated his slab rolling technique I thought, "Wow, that's really great. It builds a stronger slab and I don't have to buy a crazy expensive slab roller".. then I tried it and realized it takes a very long time. I decided to roll my slabs, and about 4 days in to making my sculpture and constantly babysitting it, it collapsed (Que: Worst Moment). I could have salvaged it, but why? It was bad, it would have been a waste of clay. So Sunday afternoon about 2o hours before it was due I started over using Higby's slab technique. I finished by 2 am and the thing was a beast, it wasn't about to collapse. The situation ended alight, but it took me way longer then it should have.. lesson learned: Just follow directions. And for the umpteenth time in my life: You're not going to defy gravity.

Best Moment:

On the same sculpture we were to decorate the surface with a pattern using black and white slip. Decorating with pattern is something that has never appealed to me, and so at first I was hesitant. I convinced myself pretty quickly to lose whatever preciousness I had given my sculpture and to just do the assignment. The result was wholly inspiring. Letting go of whatever preconceived notions I had about what the surface of a sculpture should look like and just playing around with shape and color gave opportunity for new things to happen. The best advice I was given all semester (or perhaps my life as it pertains so perfectly to me) was "You can only imagine what you already know, and if you only make what you imagine then you will never do anything new".

Arianna

Assignments:

• 40 sculptures (manipulations) of a list of words
• 1/2 pound intense concentration sculpture
• drawings of manipulations
• 4" bi- and asymmetric models from drawings of manipulations
• two 16" sculptures (scaled up version of one 4" model)
• slipworked pattern over 16" sculpture
• clear glaze over 16" bisqued sculpture
• perfect box using Wayne's slab technique
• different slab "box" to hold 10 manipulations
• pedestal for perfect box (play with gravity)
• glaze slab "box" and pedestal
• make solid object for pressmold (organic v man made)
• make plaster mold
• make 8 of press mold objects
• glaze/decorate mold objects in following categories: bisque, black glaze, white glaze, 2 raku, color glaze, cold glaze, one of our choice
• project phoenix
• write this blog

Videos:

• Isamu Noguchi
• Louise Nevelson
• Maya Lin

Presentations/Other:

• Kiln Orientation with Shawn
• Mahlon's work (undergrad and recent)
• Wayne's work  (sample of body of work + Skywell Falls)
• Discussions over tea
• Raku Saturday

Moments:  I hope it's not cheating when I say that my best and worst moments were one in the same.  Coming out of the manipulation "box" project, I found that I was really unhappy with my work.  Not only had most of it exploded in the kiln, but there was nothing that was really drawing me to the material.  I decided to put my heart into the pedestal project and really make something that I liked.  I worked on that pedestal for a long time, making sure everything was perfect.  I was careful with my greenware box, knowing it was fragile.  But then the later it got that night, I began to focus more on the pedestal and started using the bottom edge of my box as a tool.  

That's when I punched through my box.  After the most sickening crunch I've ever heard, I realized that my hand was inside my box.  I stood back, took a deep breath, and immediately started working.  I remember thinking, "I will not, CANnot let this phase me.  Use it."  It took me about 5 minutes to finish.

So, worst moment?  All the frustration I'd felt from the first half of the semester going into that box and therefore breaking it.

Best moment? The proceeding 5 minutes.

Final blog assignment/Cindi Kelly

Videos-
Maya Lin
Louise Nevelson
Noguchi
Slide show-
Mahlon
Professor Wayne

Assignments-
Blogging
Manipulations using 40 words
4 Drawings of Manipulations
Drawing crit
Cut drawings for bi-lateral symetry project
Make 4 small bi-lateral tests
Choose from 4 small tests and make 16" by 16" by 16" large bi-lateral symetry object using the take blobs of clay and press them together method
Make a perfect slab box with measurements taken from our bodies
Make a contextual slab box for our manipulations
Make a slab pedestal for our perfect boxes
Dress our bi-lateral symetry projects with black and white slip
Crit on bi-lateral symetry project with yummy teas
Blending an organic and mass produced object to create a new one
Make a press mold for these objects
Use the mold for 8 objects
Glaze manipulations in black or white glaze
Glaze perfect box, manipulation box, and pedestal
Crit on perfect box and pedestal
Glaze 8 hybrid objects in black, white, color, raku, and cold methods
Raku firing experience
Phoenix project

I have to say that I've had a few worst moments. One was the crit on my perfect box and pedestal. It was such an ugly glaze no one could come up with anything to say about them. Fianlly Professor Wayne came up with "Your pedestal looks like furniture." Hmmmmmm. And I have hated(underline hated) the Phoenix project. It didn't bother me to break up the pieces but I had so much trouble trying to get them to stay together. I also had a vision in my mind and wasn't able to achieve this vision. Sooooo frustrating. And I was really hoping to work in wet clay some more so the Phoenix project was a disappointing final project. What did I learn? Well I guess I learned that sometimes we have disappointments and it gives us a chance to look at how we deal with them. We get a chance to see our shadow self and I have had a long 2 weeks of looking at my shadow self and didn't like it. I have felt bitchy and ugly and frustrated for this whole project and what really felt bad was that I felt out of control of my actions and words. If I offended anyone, please accept my apologies. I am sorry. Whew. Glad that's over and out!

My best moments were working on the box for our manipulations. I felt it was an exciting project where we were able to feel a little freedom in our work. I loved seeing all the different concepts that were born from this project. I thought everyone's creativity shined. I felt a little envious of all the beautiful pieces that came from all the talented clay artists in our class. I also loved, loved, loved our raku moment. It was a really fun and the results were amazing! Thanks Professor Wayne. You are Awesome.

Nick's Final Blog

- Become familiar with web logging in order to work on expression and observation. Also, the biographical questionnaire helped Wayne and Mahlon get a grasp on the class character.
- Make objects that correspond to a list of 40 words. A practice of understanding concept and arrival.
- One class was dedicated to making one object with a small amount of clay. This class was to teach focus and attention to detail.
- Drawings from 4 objects made from the manipulations project. Drawing is an integral part of an artist work as we learned from watching Maya Lin's video.
- Visit the Fosdick to see Wayne's piece after reading his essay and then posting a question on the blog.
- Use the 12x12 drawing to form a sculpture keeping symmetry and asymmetry in mind. This project helped with drafting a project and seeing how to work within confines of building with coils. Also, the manipulations project helped look at the artist’s process in forming a body of work that is cohesive.
- Build a housing unit for the 40 manipulations that we did. The housing work put the small figures into a new environment with the intentions of altering the perceptions of the small objects through installation.
- Handbuild a perfect box from slabs. This project helped focus on precision.
- Build a site or “pedestal” to work with the box. Figured out how to make one object seem heavy or light
- Using one manmade and one natural object connect the object and make a solid sculpture from them. This project helped feed off concept. Definitely, one of the harder projects.
- We then had to make a mold of the sculpture and press mold 8 of them. This helped me work with plaster and reassembly. We then had to make one sculpture using the press mold parts that was different form the original. We then raku fired these as well as used other materials to cover the surface and looked at how they enhanced or changed the piece.
- The last assignment was to break everything and reassemble it. After it was assembled into a new sculpture we had to address the surface.
- Finally, I am writing the last blog assignment.

The worst thing that happened to me during this semester in the ceramics studio was pouring the dry mix of the ^04 gloss glaze into the bucket of water and then realizing it was too watered down. While the gerstley sub may have played a part, the glaze was way to thin to build up a sufficient layer of glaze. I felt bad that the other students’ work turned out differently than they had planned. I guess I’ll stick to precision weighing of everything, especially in large batches.

I thoroughly enjoyed drinking tea during the critiques. It was great seeing Wayne get in the raku groove. I was glad that I was able to look past the idea that I had to have concrete sculptures out of every project. The class became very process oriented for me and I was able to explore many different methods of working towards arrival without worrying what the outcome would be. I learned to think less and work more.

The final project was exciting for me because I'd never worked with hot glue, because I wasn't in foundations. It is a great material. I was able to build sculptures out of objects that I more than willingly smashed(so satisfying, even if i liked the sculptures; its just mud). Unfortunately, my forms ended up looking like animals, maybe even birds as some suggested. It was then pointed out that the project title was the Pheonix project. I was completely unaware, perhaps it was buried in my unconscious. Astonishingly my two final forms echoed ideas that I'd pursued in my four elements project...

Victor D. Franco *final entry*

05.01.10


All assignments:

Bring in basic tools
Autobiographical questionnaire
Being Mindful blog (on-going)
In-class (handful of clay)Time Commitment
40 Maniplations from given words
Four 12' x 12' drawings of slections from Manipulations
Read Wayne's Art and Expectation speech
Go to Fosdick Nelson faculty show and look at Wayne's piece and...
Come up with a question to post on blog for Wayne's piece
Four Elements
Four drawings on 12' x12' of finished Four Elements
Container (Conceptual Box) for 12 Manipulations
The 'Perfect' Box
A site (pedestal)for the 'Perfect' Box
Help Mahlon load glaze/greenware kilns (on-going throughout semester)
Bring in two objects: one natural, one manmade
Drawing of the two objects combinations
Hybrid Sculpture of two objects
8 Press Molds based on final Hybrid Sculpture
Glazing of 8 Press Molds
Attend the Raku firing (see events)
Project Phoenix
The final blog entry

Videos, events, and formal crits/discussions:
Maya Lin
Half-American, half Japenese guy (forgot name)
Louise Nevelson
Mahlon Artist Talk
Wayne Artist Talk
Two Tea Party Crits
The Raku Firing


The MOST DIFFICULT moment:

A combination of five moments: When my Four Elements piece cracked and continued to crack, when I first discovered my 'Perfect Box' was nowhere to be found, when I first discovered my pedestal for my 'Perfect Box' was lost, when Mahlon made me feel stupid with his patronizing attitude (mockingly completing a sentence for me after asking me a question about what I was doing), and when I had to apologize to Mahlon. Most of all, the most difficult moment was having to apologize to Mahlon because I was extremely embarassed for having sent out an angry e-mail to him and other members of the class implying that it was his fault my pedestal was missing. Later on I found out that my pedestal was in a seperate kiln and had been unloaded at a later time. I also realized that Mahlon, like I, had the right to make mistakes. Human errors are the most taxing for me. I dislike failing those around me and I also dislike feeling like I have no control. Surrending my frustration and humbling myself before Mahlon, or it could have been almost anyone, was the worst moment. This moment made me realize further, as I have always known, that I cannot always trust my firey Latino blood (feelings) and that I need to cool down before acting. I tend to be really emotional.


The BEST moment:

When I got to break all my pieces, except for my pedestal (which I will hold on to). This was my best moment because it was very therapeutic. Thank you Wayne. After all the misery, it's over -it hit me then. All this was all very fallible, and very temporary -it was only around to make me learn a few things. We all break...sometimes.

Justine Cruz

Assignments:
Autobiographical Questionnaire
Being Mindful Blog
Time commitment sculpture
40 Small sculptures from words
4 Drawings from sculptures
4 Elements
Container for sculpture
Perfect Box
Pedestal for Box
Hybrid sculpture
8 Press Molds
Project Phoenix
Final Blog

Videos, events, and formal crits/discussions:
Maya Lin
Louise Nevelson
Mahlon Artist Talk
Wayne Artist Talk
Tea Party Crits
Raku Firing

My Worst Moment…would have to be when container for my sculptures, my perfect (not so perfect) box and pedestal all broke! It was disappointing but I learned a lot about the craft of clay and how you really have to work at it to get it to do what you want. I learned that slipping and scoring the very important when building a sculpture!

My Best Moment…was definitely doing the raku firing because I have never done that before so I was wicked excited about that and I was told that we wouldn’t do that at all at Alfred so that was awesome! I also really enjoyed making the press molds I thought the process for that project was really interesting. I feel like I learned the most from that project with drying time and putting the three part mold together, then smoothing it out. The decoration on the press molds I also had a lot of fun doing, so in my final project I wanted those pieces to be a focal point! I have really enjoyed this class and I think it’s funny that the last project was named project Justine!! Even though my stuff broke through the process of firing and such it’s good to be able to break everything and reassemble it in a different way, it’s giving new life to old work. Thanks for a great class!

The List...
Autobiographical Questionnaire
The Being on Being Mindful Blog
Manipulation Assignment
Time Commitment Assignment
Drawings Derived from the Manipulation Collection
4 elements
Slab built box assignment
pedestal for slab built box
container for bisqued pieces
Press Molds
Phoenix Project
Final Blog Assignment

Videos/Discussions:
Maya Lin
Mahlon
Wayne

Events/Crits:
4 elements crit
Press molds/box assignment
Raku Firing

Worst Moment:
Trying to make it through every monday class. Glass blow slots at 5 in the morning gave me little sleep. The movies in the library made me fall asleep but as long as I was doing something with my hands and making something I was fine.But it wasn't that bad of a worst moment.It did make me work harder after I took a nap and went back down to the studio.

Best Moment:
Breaking my work for the final project. There were some things I had trouble parting with but mostly it was nice being able to destroy my work. I learned I'm a more processed oriented person and am less concerned about the final project.

Becca Polinski

Final Blog

April 28, 8:50pm

Assignments:
40 mini sculptures from words
1 lb timed sculpture
4 drawings from mini sculptures
Cut up drawings
4 Miquette 4" sculptures
16" coil built sculpture
Slip pattern on coil sculpture
Glaze coil built sculpture
Slab built box from body measurements
Slab built container for mini sculptures
Heavy/Light pedestal for box
2 objects for mold making
5 drawings for mold making project
1 Hybridized sculpture form
Plaster mold
8 Molds of hybridized sculpture
Glazed Box
Glazed Container
Glazed B/W Mini sculptures
8 Molds glazed: Black, White, Color, Cold "glaze"
Raku Firing
Project Phoenix
Final Blog
Class Clean up

Movies/Crits/In class events:

Maya Lin
Louise Nevelson
Noguchi
Mahlon Talk
Wayne Talk
4 Tea Party Crits


Best Moment:
Dancing with Wayne at the Raku firing, But close second would be "Glazing"

Worst Moment:
Its just clay, so no bad moments had :D

Elliott Thorpe

Projects and Assignments:
Tiny Sculptures based on words and beginning of blog assignment
Drew four of the tiny sculptures
Made four models based on the contour line of the drawings
Picked one of the models to enlarge and produce twice
Slipped the two enlarged sculptures
Glazed the two enlarged sculptures
Perfect box and container
Pedestal for perfect box
Glazed small pieces, pedestal, box and container
Press Mold process (make eight)
glaze press mold pieces
Raku fire
Phoenix Project
Final Blog assignment

Videos, events, and formal crits/discussions:
crited manipulation project, pedestals, and press molds
briefly looked at containers
Maya Lin video and some bossy sculpture lady
presentations by Mahlon and Wayne about their work

1) Worst Moment was not listening to directions.
Result: I got made fun of a lot
I learned: that we're given instructions for a reason in the long run in may help to listen to the instructions the first time around to learn techniques then break the rules the second time for further learning experiences.

2) I don't feel I had a best moment showing me that I can push myself harder and I have room to grow.

Alexis Christina Crowley

the following is a comprehensive list of everything that happened in handbuilding this semester:
-Mahlon introduced himself and said some things about the class
-Wayne came back from china
-we mixed clay
-we made 40 1/2lb? sculptures based off of words (such as bundle, which showed up twice)
-we made a 2 lb sculpture within the confines of the class time in which we were supposed to use all methods of clay manipulation (I made something very ugly because I was trying to coil, pinch, roll and all that, later I found out the goal was to pay attention to detail, which I did not do in the least)
-we were told about the blog and asked to make a descriptive entry once a day (again, the goal was learning to pay attention to detail) one time I wrote about wanting a prickly pear, which i still want. this assignment eventually faded away.
-we made 4 drawings of the small word sculptures
-we made 4 4x4 solid clay blocks
-we cut up some of those drawings based on contours, so we could do this bilateral symmetry thing with the blocks, which would become models for a blown up version of themselves (blown up 4 times of course) - these were built using the coil method.
-we were given black and white slip to 'clothe' the strange blown up things
-at some point we watched a video of isamu naguchi, and maya lin, and also louise nevelson but i wasn't there for louise and I wish I was (how do you eat a pear, darling?)
-at some point we also saw slide presentations of both mahlon and wayne's work
-somewhere in there the kiln guy talked to us about firing kilns
-we were given awesome slab making machines and canvas and told to make a shelfing unit to contextualize our word sculptures
-at some point we were asked to read a lecture wayne gave and then go to the gallery and view his piece, then, based off those experiences, ask him a question about it on the blog.
-we also had to post a question about our weird blown up 4 times piece
-using the same slab making machine we were told to make a perfect box based off of body measurements
-later we were asked to make a pedestal for the perfect box that made it appear either heavy or light, also based off of body measurements
-We were asked to find 2 objects- 1 natural, 1 man-made- to fuse together to make a new object (ray gun) that had another size restriction related to the body. Once we made the solid clay prototype, we made a plaster mold of it. Once we made the plaster press mold, we cast 8 of them. Once we cast 8 of them we glazed or covered each of them differently.
- Now we have to make this blog post that is a list of everything in the world that happened this semester, and an answering of two questions.
- our last assignment will be the breaking and remaking EXTRAVAGANZA with a possibility of flocking or rubber to cover everything in the world that we made this semester.
crits:
-we looked at the word sculptures
-we crited the drawings
-we crited the blown up 4 times weird things with slip on them, over tea
-we crited the boxes and pedestals over tea
-we crited the mold made objects and the contextualizing shelving units today, without tea.
events:
-kiln loadings and unloadings and loadings and unloadings
-Raku firing! awesome (and personally painful as I had a migraine)


Worst Moment?:
pshew, i dont know. waiting for clay to dry. Waiting is my least favorite thing, and it gets in the way of working.
Or building that first blown up 4 times weird thing. I hated that, I was trying not to hate it, but I did. I felt like I didn't know what I was doing, which is how I always feel when it comes to making something that isn't anything. I can't care about it.
Or getting the glazed pieces back. I really hated that. they were ugly and dry, and I can't see why glazes should ever be ugly when there are so many better options out there. plus glazing is one of my favorite things about ceramics and there is nothing more dissapointing than fugly glazes.
I learned that I still hate clay a little bit, but for reasons that are avoidable outside of the classroom setting. (I almost decided against ever handbuilding again in my life).

Best Moment?:
uuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmm............ making the mattresses for the boat (contextualized shelving unit thing). I like making things that are things, I understand that some other people don't... well, I don't really understand it but I know that it happens. Being able to make a thing with a reason for existing, that I wouldn't have been able to make with another material, except maybe wax, brought me back to liking handbuilding. I'm not sure that I learned anything from that because I already knew that I'm stubbourn and I only like making things that are things.

My other best moment would have been the raku firing but i wasn't in tip top shape, so seeing the resulting ray guns was my other best moment.
I learned that I'm gonna try and do a raku firing this summer.

actually, in the end my best moment will probably be breaking everything and covering up the ugly glazes with flocking and rubber. I will learn of the wonders of powdered fabric and liquid rubber.

Becca Polinski

April 15, 2:27 am

This blog is for sharing what we are feeling inside of ourselves, right now I am experiencing a "wonderful" combination of exhaustion and pure painful itchiness.

Arianna

Becca Polinski

April 8, 12:12 pm

I wish my mood could mirror the current sunny weather, but some how the serenity I felt this past weekend is gone. I'm not one to be homesick, but in earnest the only thing I really want right now is to be home. Home with my Mom, be near my family and though it isn't always a stress free environment there, there is a sense of "terra firma"; A place that could help me get my head straightened. Then I'm reminded of all the work that is to be done and that hope of falling to home is gone. My skin literally feels like it is crawling with unease and now matter how much work I try to get done the relief is short lived because, well once something is finally done there is always something else that needs attention. Sometimes I start dreaming of the moment when I get a solid time to myself, then I remember that there is no caching a break there is just more to come. So here is to finding a way to get my head screwed on and getting all to be done, done.

Arianna

Arianna

Cotton candy's a funny thing. Especially when you get it in an Easter basket from your roommate's parents during your third year of college.

Stuffed and smooshed, it comes in a tub. I take off the lid, pull back the "freshness seal" and dip my fingers into the dizzying array of thinly spun sugar. I pinch some out, crushing the already crushed, and touch a bit to the end of my tongue. Beads of pink saliva run around like little insects, gathering more and more as they travel. Eventually they slow. The candy goes in my mouth and I'm immediately transported back to the summer before 1st grade, sitting in the ballpark, eating this miraculous food because I had pushed my parents enough to buy me one of the brightly colored clouds floating through the stands.

My eyes refocus and I'm sitting in my apartment. I should be reading for class, but instead I'm enjoying the sugar and the memories.

Ceramic Performance Piece

Hey everyone!

Just to let you all know tomorrow (Friday) at 12:30 I am doing a Ceramic time based endurance performance piece outside the grad spaces in the courtyard in Harder hall. If you guys would come by and spread the word that would be awesome! I am performing from 12:30-8:30 on both Friday AND Saturday. It is apart of an on going project for my sculpture class all based off of an 8' Cube that we have to interact with and will be going on through out April so you should stop by other times and see what all the other awesome things are!
Hope you are all enjoying the weather!

Becca Polinski

Arianna

This is how I've felt today.

Becca Polinski

March 30 2:41am

Its amazing how a place changes as time progresses, and how you perceive the space as that time moves forward. Last week if you had told me that I would spend 4 nights in a row (which is probably still a growing number) in Harder hall until closing...I would have cried on the spot and guesstimated that this moment would find me in complete misery. Surprisingly enough that would have only been true last night. Tonight even though I found myself in the studio nearing 2am I feel jittery, ready to get the rest of this week over with. Now that might be the eggs and toast I just scarfed down and the numerous cups of coffee I've been drinking all day talking. Or it could be the sleep deprivation telling me my thoughts don't make sense any more and I should go to sleep and talk about perseption of place and time another day...I think I will take the latter on this one, Good night!

Alexis of sleepless nights

yesterday was a waste, I couldn't get a thing done. I decided to sleep it off several hours ago. I haven't slept a wink. Right when yesterday was turning into today I started getting all these ideas for what I wanted to do with today. I wrote things down and lay my head down to rest. Unfortunately I was to razzed about what I want to do. My head won't stop, its like an amusement park with gigantic loop-de-loops and that ride where you stand inside this big cylinder and spread your arms out as you press yourself to the wall, and then it starts to spin and the centrifugal force keeps you pasted to the walls as the floor comes out from under your feet. Best ride ever. Anyway, you can imagine how hard it is to sleep with something so exciting going on in your head. Now my stomach feels like its coated with acid, and overall i feel like a word on the tip of the tongue. I just want to get this day going but I know I need the sleep, 0therwise I would make my day start right now, at 2:3o in the a.m. I'll play my go to lullaby music and hopefully that will work like the whole pavlov's dogs association thing.

Arianna

I am not and will not feel bad about anything on a day like today.  There's nothing to feel bad about, so why can't I help it?

Snow, you can just suck it.

the new look

 

sigh....

I am sitting at the library. Thinking, looking, talking to people, doing anything but the work I need to do. I want to get this paper done early. I don't like the stress of waiting until the last minute. It makes me hurt all over. Listening to the library noise, it sounds a little like raindrops hitting the windshield of my car. But I guess it's just the sound of the heater. I put my glasses on so I could see what I'm staring at out the window and "Holy Crap!" the blurry line on the hill turns out to be a parking lot full of cars. Oh, look! It's time to go! I didn't get anything done except to think of nothing in particular and to watch the picture outside the window.

Becca Polinski

March 23, 12:08 pm

I sit in my bed wrapped in blankets coddling my Kleenex box with wishes that an illness was something college students never got. Since I have seen everyone I have started feeling fantastically worse. Needless to say I will not be joining everyone for class, but who wants a fever and throaty cough for company in class? I know that I certainly don't, but they are here. Like the unwanted In-Laws, Mr. Cough and Mrs. Fever have pushed their way into my dorm and have set up shop. My only hope is that they get the back-sided comments out of the way quickly and be on their merry.

Arianna

On Saturday I bought bagels at Wegmans.  Normally, you wouldn't need to know this, except that the last one I had went stale a couple days ago.  My roommate threw it in the freezer to at least prevent mold from stealing it away from me.

After a quick search of the kitchen for the obvious brown bag, I find it in the door of the freezer.  Strange how even paper bag gets cold when it's in a cold place.  My fingertips warm little dots on the surface, making the bag feel damp in my hands.  I crinklecrinkle open the bag and pull out the thoroughly frozen, already stale bagel.

I stand there.

And think.

"This wouldn't be an issue if I wasn't craving bagel this morning."

I try plunging a knife into the side, and miracle of miracle, it works.  But then I can't move the knife to split it, so I just pull it out.

I open the door to the toaster oven, (squeak-SLAM), then set the bagel in the middle, turn it to medium toast and wait.  The toaster counts down the minutes in typical clock fashion while I get a plate and the cream cheese out.  I take a glob and slap it on the plate, using the edge of the plate for resistance.  

Waiting takes too long, so I walk away and get distracted, but soon I hear a distinct high pitched ding, head back to the kitchen and hope that it worked.  The bagel comes out piping hot - too hot to touch, though I try.  I plunge the knife back in, try to split it again, but I rush since it's so hot and cut through the back.  I decide to try the tear and dip method, which works out well.

The bagel doesn't really taste all that bad.  The heat helped with the inevitable chewiness, the "everything" on top still leaves that garlicky aftertaste, and the cream cheese helps.  A lot.

Craving satisfied.

Katherine Lin

Stayed up late last night and woke up early this morning to prepare for my group presentation. It's a 559 paged book report for my history class. We got 7 people in the group and each person speaks approximately a minute. Even though the personal presenting time is short, I still got nervous.

I practice when I need to give a presentation in English. Last night I stayed up late, attempted to re-read the chapters I'll be presenting. I woke up this morning on the living room couch, and went on Google to research pronunciations for the Roman/Greek character names to make sure I do everything to avoid embarrassing mistakes.

There are 15 slides we were showing in class, mines are slide 9 and 10. The class ended before we got to slide 5. Professor says there's no time for the rest of us and we don't need to do it.

This strange frustration still occurs when I have to use my English in public. Critic, class blogs, presentations, and class discussion. Still have to get so paranoid just to make my language sound a little less awkward.

rain

the weather is grey.
is it time to feel the earth?
many are reading.

It's late. Well not late but I am tired. It was a long day from Friday noon to Saturday midnight. I need to to catch up on sleep. I should have done my art history homework but I'm going to wait until morning. That will probably be a mistake. Anyway, I am going to recommit to the blog. I promise. Starting tomorrow......

Victor D. Franco

03.18.10

Its kind of empty here *desert cactus rolling sound effect*

Today, I led the first official Creative Arts Therapy Club meeting...I'm excited! There, we came up with potential events for the rest of the semester in order to get our name out there and promote an understanding of what art therapy is and what it can do.

I ate...salad again. Oh, and reluctantly, a sweet potato fry -it was crunchy, sweet, and salty at the same time.

Today was a busy day. And, the days will probably only get busier as it gets closer to the end.

I need sleep. I need to get to sleep earlier than 12 am. Signing off now...

Victor D. Franco

03.17.10

So, I forgot about the blog for a while there...

I can't believe this weather -why is it soooo good? I can wear flip-flops again! Alfred better not be decieving us. I really hope it stays this way beyond this week (which is the supposed duration of the sunniness).

I've been trying to be catch up on my New Year's resolution and eat healthier/go to the gym. So far, I'm golden. I really hope I keep it up.

Nothing really peculiar has been eaten these past few days for lunch: salad with tofu, lasagna, salad, salad, salad with tofu again.

Oh, well...there was that noxious aquamarine colored 'pistachio pudding' today in celeb. of St. Patrick's. It looked gross but was actually pretty good.

Ooh, and yesterday I saw a Chinese acrobat show in Holmes! My favorite part was when the power ranger ninja outfitted guy climbed up a rediculous stack of chairs almost touching Holmes' ceiling and stopped to show off his superior felxibility and balance with every chair added. I should have...brought a camera.

Arianna

Warm sun submerging into my skin, and I can already feel my batteries recharged. We, as human beings are most definitely solar-powered.

What a day. Not much happened, but everything happened. I got to wear a skirt and shoes without socks for the first time this year. I got to have lunch with a friend who had graduated last year. I subsidized the small fine on a patron's account because he donated money to the library without me asking. I got to vent about something that happened not too long ago, but now I have prospective on it. I did things right today, all over the board. The day isn't done, though. I guess I could still screw something up.

But now the sun is down, and I'm a little chilly. It's a little daunting to know that I'll have to walk back up two hills with a sleeveless shirt, a skirt, no socks, and a thin coat. I'm shivering just thinking about it.

Like Becca said, today is only one day of many left to be lived.

Becca Polinski

March 17, 12:36am

There is something about absolute exhaustion and complete frustration that will just bring you down. I suppose going to bed late and waking up early doesn't help and seeing as 1:00am is nearing, this is gonna be short.

Tomorrow: I look forward to another beautiful day to bring up my spirit.
Tonight: I hope for a lasting deep sleep
Today: Was exhausting but it is only one day of many left to be lived.

Good night-

Arianna

There are few words for today.  I've been out of it anyway.  

My brain is thoroughly shut down.  

I hope it wakes up for tomorrow.

I just rediscovered Cindy Sherman's photography.

Becca Polinski

March 15, 11:05 am

Today I decide to skip the poetry for once and just write. Write about my observations of life, and how things work. Trying to figure out what it is I'm doing here, striving to ready myself for what ever life has to throw at me next.

As any other person will tell you when you ask them, "whats on your mind" I would say a lot. I suppose there is all ways something on my mind, after all there are plenty of thoughts to think and there is a never ending supply of things to keep me up at night. The other night I was talking with my room mate and she asked me the very same question. I found her reply to my answer to be almost funny in an unfortunately ironic way, she said to me "...jeez Becca, when are you gonna catch a break?" The answer to that, I'm not sure, but I found it ironic for her to say that mostly because I really don't think a "break" is something that I can get. I'm not really sure if anyone will ever get one. After all from what life has shown me thus far (which I suppose isn't very much) instead of getting a break, you just learn to live with what ever has happened and then move on to what ever is next. People hope for things to get better, they feel that if they can do this or have that, that life would be so much easier, and once they get there they find what they thought would solve all their problems just makes entirely new ones. I have been realizing maybe that is because life is a series of lessons to be learned and you can't learn the lesson before you've experienced it. I guess what I've decided is to just take life in strides, take what comes to me and deal with it the best I can. As for catching a break, I'll settle for treating myself to a nice cup of coffee, going for walks in the woods with no one around, reading a good book next to a rainy window while listening to Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis or playing blood-thirsty card games with my Grandmother over a big bowl of popcorn and an ice cold Coke.

Katherine Lin - A Strange Experience

I was drying my hair after showered last night. My sister was the next one to use shower room so she came to get ready. My heart beat gradually raised when I dried my hair. First I thought it was because of the hot shower.
I finished drying hair and quickly brushed teeth. My stomach tightened and felt like to vomit when I rinsed my mouth. My view suddenly went black in a second or two; I was scared and tried to call for help but couldn't assemble words. I could barely hear my own voice. Then I couldn't hear anything but a strange humming sound that rhymed with my heart beat. (could be the water that got in my ears during showering)
I felt dizzy; I ran to the couch and fell in it. My sister didn't know what to do, I told her to get mom. The humming sounds were gone when I saw mom. I asked mom to stay while I fell asleep because I was still trembling.

I realized later that I probably held myself back from fainting.
I've been staying in front of the computer to work on a research paper for most of the day, and didn't go out to take walks. The fact that I tend to take long showers might also add to the cause. (the evaporated chlorinated water and things) We were thinking of asking my doctor but it was the last night before I take bus back to school. I probably should ask the health center when back to AU.

Katherine Lin's question

My question for the study is related to my working process. I haven't had much sculpture experience, and so, this ceramic course is quite new to me.I enjoyed making straight edges and rigid shapes from the previous assignments, so I started with a simple triangular form.When it came to slip painting, I began with geometric patterns that followed the sculpture.Later, after seeing the test tile, I realized the white slip was likely to blend into the clay color after firing. I got slightly frustrated since most of the design was white, and stopped working for a few days.The clay body was dried when I came back. I spent more time smoothing the surface and decided to differentiate white patterns by carving.As a result, the clay dust that came from carving covered the entire piece. I wiped it with sponge to blend the patterns more, now it has a sense of being worn-out.I want to know what kind of relationship the patterns and the piece itself present; and if the fact that I kept changing my mind shows in the work.

Arianna

I completely forgot to mention this in class!

The Bergren Forum is on Thursday from 12:10 to 1pm in Nevins.  Everyone should go!  The first student lecturer, Liz Wager, is presenting this week, and she happens to be my roommate.  She will be talking about and reading her poetry, which is excellent.

Gogogo!

Kathleen Rabe

Sometimes I make food and when I eat it I have no idea how I made it taste so good. That sounds ridiculous, but it's true. I was eating lunch I made today; garlic, onion, rice noodles, broccoli.. simple enough. Some chilies my roommate picked in Croatia, a piece of danish rye I learned to make in Copenhagen.. maybe that's it. What a multicultural lunch.

My boyfriend is a chef. He runs a restaurant in downtown Austin, very hoity-toity (do people still use that?). It's Italian. When he cooks for me it's literally like eating art. Ha, imagine putting a painting in your mouth and it's gone. I feel like that it kind of, actually. He has devoted his whole life to this art, and in an hour I eat it all. How rude. I would be mortified if he ate my teapot that is sitting on the table.

Maybe it's the ultimate art. Food transcends generations, certainly. It makes people happy. It torments. It's interesting that it's kind of a language everyone is willing to speak, the same guy who is making racial jokes at the dinner table could easily have had taco's for lunch and udon for dinner. Food is so easily accepted. Certainly more so then religion, cultural dress, even more then architecture.. or art for that matter.

Kathleen Rabe Midterm Q

In the manipulation project I made a small egg for the word laminate. More then the feeling of protection has come from that egg. It sparked something in me and now I have egg drawings, prints, paintings.. maybe it's about fertility and spring and my ache for home..

From the drawing of that egg I made a small sculpture. And from that sculpture a large piece, which is no longer quite so literal; it has flat and curved sides, the original inspiration of an egg somewhat abstracted into a 5 sided form. I then made stamps and stamped drawings of eggs all over the finished piece. The first egg and the final piece were distant relatives at this point and I wanted them to come back together. My question is: Did putting the original inspiration of an egg all over the outside of the piece create a cohesive result or does the form and the "clothing" seem like two ends to one idea with no middle ground?

Thanks.

Dave Mykins Midterm Question

Would you say that it's necessarily a bad thing that I didn't "strictly" follow the assignment on the 4 elements project, or is it more important that I pursued the project with my own interests in mind? Also does the fact that it sort of looks like an elephant take away an element of seriousness from my work and make it seem tacky? I feel like it almost looks TOO much like an elephant. 

Also, someone told me it looked phallic... this isn't something I want it to convey.

Dave Mykins question on "stratocumulus"

Looking over the questions about the piece to see if the question I had in mind had been asked already, I notice that a lot of people stated that it reminded them of clouds. Not knowing what stratocumulus meant, I was confused at first. visually I did not read it as "cloud" but as "slab of clay". My curiosity led me to look up the definition for "stratocumulus". After learning that it had to do with clouds, it began to make sense. But now I am left wondering whether or not this was a word that I should have known to begin with, or if everyone else looked up the definition before making a post.

With that said, "stratocumulus" is a fitting piece for this assignment. Being that the first time I saw it I made judgments before fully understanding it, (which I still don't, so I should say "understand it better") but now that I know the meaning of the title, I begin to actually think about the piece as more than a slab of clay with cracks in it.

So my questions for you are:

1) Did the title come before or after the piece was made? (and what do you find to be your way of creating? do you typically come up with a concept first, or do you physically make something and assign meaning afterward?) 

- last semester in my sound/ video class, Andrew Deutsch went off on an interesting tangent about that debate

2) Was this piece something that was planned out before you made it, or is it just something that you made and then built an idea around? ( sorry, I realize that this question is very similar to my last question)

3) Is the exact definition of the word "stratocumulus" important to the piece or is it just important that it has to do with nature?

-stra·to·cu·mu·lus

   [strey-toh-kyoo-myuh-luhs, strat-oh-]  Show IPA

–noun,plural-lus.

a cloud of a class characterized by large dark, rounded masses, usually in groups, lines, or waves, the individual elements being larger than those in altocumulus and the whole being at a lower altitude, usually below 8000 feet (2400 m).

Origin: 
1890–95; strato- + -cumulus

Justine Cruz- Question

Im sorry my question is late...but I was wondering if the slip work on my 4 elements piece was to distracting for the shape? I feel as though I might have gotten carried away...but I had fun so I don't really mind.

Jenna Bloodough Question

My question for the bilateral symmetry piece is,
Do you think the detailing helps support/compliment the shape/lines of the piece?
That was a big concern of mine when we were assigned clothing the piece, to slip in a way that flowed with the other line formations of the piece because I certainly had some funky building.

Conceptual

Hey this is Evan here. My question about my 4 elements project is less about the work itself and more about art in general. It seems to me that in the other classes I have attended have had a very ridgid structure centered around the conceptual aspects of the piece with craft taking a close second while this class seems to be more centered around craft with the conceptual aspects of the piece taking a back seat. My question is is it necissary to have a strong conceptual backing to make good art, and if so how do you take a piece with a weak conceptual backing (like the 4 elementa piece) and make it stronger.

Ursula:The 24 hour stomach flu is a beautiful thing

I was painfully sitting through my philosophy class more focused on the imaginary knife that had found itself swimming around my digestive region. Sweat beads were forming on my forehead creating a cool feeling throughout my body in the 90 degree room. It was comforting knowing that I was going to feel better as soon as I stood up to run down the hallway smelling of pizza into the bathroom where I proceeded to eject some silky gray material out of my mouth aiming in the general direction of the toilet. I failed miserably but luckily, my fellow suite mate whisked me away to the comforts of the living room couch with a wegmans' grocery bag inside a lovely transparent green trashcan probably bought at ikea...or wal mart. I made my visits to the bathroom but they became less frequent for my strength was diminishing. I had yogurt that day...and a coffee. But those were flushed down into the sewage line. I didn't want anything but water that i could only sip every five minutes unless it disagreed with my stomach in which i had to wait 20 minutes before preceding. My lips turned an off white of a wedding dress I would like to wear someday. I started sipping on some gatorade which dyed my lips close to their original color of a pale salmon color. Thank goodness there was some color in my face.

Ursula's Question

My intention of my slipping work was about painting on my piece to create an abstracted illusion that made the piece appear to be transparent. Did I have any success in my creation or is there a better way I could have went about my procedure?

Becca Polinski: Question

Feb 27, 9:21pm

Since I need my glazing to be very selective, and I want the edges between the glazed and non-glazed part of the piece to be very precise; What type of tape do you suggest using for a piece that has been fired once? Will masking-tape work, or do I need something that is more heavy duty?

Victor D. Franco

02.27.10

*Four studies (big project) midterm question*

My piece has various cracks on it. I tried to incorporate them into the slip design. Was I successful with what I tried to do?



I skipped lunch today. I'm hungry.

My question By: Adam Biggar

How could I play more with the organic element of my form?

Arianna

This just needs to be documented:

Two heavily drunk guys walking up the hill next to my apartment. This is their conversation:


- I'm not gonna lie to you as a friend
= mumble mumble [texting]
- You always blame me for everything and that's fucked up!
= [still texting]
- Gimme a HUG! [hugs him around the waist]
= [still texting]

Elliott

My question to everyone is, does the fact that my sculpture is not displayed on an alternative side than the original side it was assembled on affect the visual value of my project?

Alexis' Midterm Question (?)

I think the slipwork i did on the top of the piece ( accentuating the arrow shape with a white line, and black shoe prints facing in the opposite direction) implies some blunt narrative, just based on the fact that they are such iconic things that are directly related and put in opposition to each other.
The rest of the decoration and the form itself are very abstract, both relating to the original drawing.

Do you think there is a disconnect between the slipwork on the top and the rest of the piece?

Cindi's question- Fat person or cheeseburger?

Sculpture for sculpture's sake. I guess that is what this project was meant for. I did learn a lot about the material, leather hard being what I think may be the most important thing I learned. When I started doing my piece, I liked the shape. Then someone told me it looked like a fat person's shape. Another person told me it looked like a cheeseburger. I started hating my piece but kept trying to remember that I'm here to learn. It doesn't matter what it looks like as long as I become familiar with the process. So when I turned it over and and began the slipping process all I could think of was "try to mask the burger shape. Get rid of the fat rolls.". I tried to hide the crease by slipping with white to make the crease come forward. I tried to make the roll recede by slipping with black. I am wondering if I acheived this masquerade. Does my piece still look like a fat person or a cheeseburger?

Nick Moen's Question

Line:
a) a boundary of an area
b) an arrangement or placement of persons or objects of one kind in an orderly series
c) a narrow elongated mark drawn or projected
d) a straight or curved geometric element that is generated by a moving point and that has extension only along the path of the point
e) a mark recording a boundary, division, or contour
f) a defining outline

How can the line as a "general plan" develop movement, contrast, and separation in the piece? How do the slip line affect the lines of contour and vice versa? How does the silhouette created by negative space interact with the negative spaces created by surface lines?

Arianna's Midterm Question

A question started sneaking into the back of my mind just as I was finishing up my large piece.

Does the pattern fit the form/shape?

What do you guys think?

Victor D. Franco

...

*accidently posted only date (02.26.10) before and could not figure out how to edit it*

I'm at a work study meeting during which almost nothing productive is ever done. I'm looking foward to lunch at Nana's with Cindi afterwards.

This past week has been really busy, a blur- hence why I haven't been on here much at all.

This weather is rediculous. It is times like these that I wish I had chosen another school. Other than that, Alfred Univ. is pretty much okay...

Do you ever plan to or just spontaneously sit down to talk to someone and then their friends come and join in? What if you planned it and just wanted to have a nice lunch with JUST THEM and not their friends? Isn't that annoying? Its one of my pet peeves.

I participated in CYLI this Wednesday and I think...I've learned to like children more than I used to -which is a good thing if I want to go into art therapy.

Arianna

My feelings can only be described in pictures today.

I'd rather not do this today:

But homemade these are on the menu:

I've partaken of this already:

Have I mentioned how I love these?  I've started a collection:

I keep thinking that now my day is free I should go do this:

Except this would be me in my tiny coupe:

But I really want to go here:

Okay, or even to here:

Or here:

I guess another day will bring me somewhere else.

Crowley (Irish for descendant of the Hero)

I was eating an apple the other day while my motor functions were being cancelled out by a migraine. Because of this I took a bite at a funny angle and bit right through to the core - something I learned to avoid like the plague as a child because I loathed the bitter taste and tough texture. This time it tasted just like the rest of the apple, but my taste buds might have been overridden by the migraine. I think I even chewed a couple seeds, which is usually unheard of from me. Anyway I was shocked by this turn of events and I wish there was someone there to watch me because it must have been real funny as I turned my head with my eyebrows in the air and my eyes all wide to look at the apple in my hand. There was a perfect round opening to the core, with the cute little seeds all lined up against these spines inside. It's so strange how hollow it is in there, and how lightly the seeds just set in there place. Apples are very gentle things when you think about it - strong but gentle. The flesh provides resistence when you bite into it but the flavor is light and sweet, kind of welcoming. Not like oranges, they bite back with their acid (although still quite delicious). The thick white flesh is the fortress, all to protect this tiny secret room in the middle, where the little brown drops of potential trees lay sleeping. Thats what apples are, elaborate biological cradles.

I'm gonna eat so many more apples from now on.

Jenna Bloodough

Today was a break in general. My glass crit went well and is over, that was a big one for me. I fell on the way to glass, funny, but the boy behind me just blew past me..at least share a laugh..rude. I couldn't really concentrate in glass because I was so bogged down with the crit but I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my back. Now Im baking brownies and relaxing. Tomorrow we shall start new things

Cindi wants SNOW

I am hoping for the snowstorm of the century! Or at least the decade. I remember snow up to my waist. Of course I may have been shorter then. Let's see the snow fly horizontally. Let's see it build up around the trees and cars. Let's see the snow dervishes whirling everywhere. Let's hear the soft silence that a good storm produces. I want to be snowed in for days with nothing to do but think and cook and play with the boys. Or maybe I should wish to be snowed in at the school with so much time on my hands I can make 300 boxes. Or maybe I could have time to read and study for my midterm. Or maybe, or maybe.....

Hat Hair

Where has that hat gone?

Becca Polinski

February 25, 3:23pm


Time spins
Moments fly by
The mind can't keep up
Hoping for a slow
A day to recollect
What it is we do
A music in my brain
It's time to Stand Up
Time to get on the move
Inspiration
Something needed
To hold the soul
To push the mind forward
To find a way
To find some time
To find the means
To reverse
To do what can't be done
To hope for a new day
A new way to respond
A new message to lead
A way to follow
The way you would follow yourself
In a time loop
Remembering yourself
And creating as you go

Cindi Kelly, I think

I get confused. I wonder if it's my age or if I'm trying to do too much, or am I just stupid? Organizing isn't a strong suit of mine. Whenever I get a chance I try to reorganize my organizing skills. I'll try to write things down, I'll try to use my phone calender, I ask my husband to remember things for me, I'll waste more money on a planner. Is it because I don't care? Is it because I am just trying to challenge myself? I do sudoku, I try crossword puzzles, I stand on my head to get the blood moving into my brain. Is it helping? We'll see at the end of midterm week.

Arianna

Funny how something you do so often earlier turns into a constantly forgotten activity. Like washing dishes, face lotion or even, say, a blog for class.

Noticed at 7:55 am

I'd been awake for a few minutes and tried to go back to sleep before my alarm at 8. This never really works for me, but I always attempt it. Facing away from my roommate, I can hear her laptop mouse making noise: click-click. click click. click click. I wonder what she's doing that could make that noise. Knowing that solitaire is often open on her computer, I try to think of what action in the game could make that noise, and figure out that it is most decidedly not solitaire.

I flip around, pissed off that once again my comforter and sheets don't line up; I kick them into order and it hardly works. At the end of it, my left leg is chilly because it only has the comforter on top of it (and is now in a cold spot), but my right foot is too warm because it has the entire bottom of my sheet around it. I've thought of safety-pinning the sheet and the comforters at the corners but then never get around to it. This time it'll happen.

My lips taste weird - oddly sweet? Later I figure out it's probably my toothpaste from last night. Also, note to self: I need to use more chapstick.

I keep my eyes closed even though they don't want to be closed anymore. I become extremely aware of my eyelids and the pressure that I'm exerting to keep them shut. I finally open them, taking a peek at the clock. am 7:58 it reads, and the Alarm A icon is still showing. My arm surfaces from the mess of sheets and the Alarm A icon disappears.

Elliott

I'm sorry everyone that it has been a while since my last entry. My experience today, I am feeling very fatigued and overwhelmed that for the past three weeks we have been working on the same project. Unlike others, I started this project immediately and feel like I have accomplished quite a bit more by successfully completing two forms that have interacting aspects. At this point I am struggling to fulfill the last two steps, which are; slipping and making the objects sit in an alternative position. I'm having trouble keeping interest having worked so long on this project. The reason I'm struggling so much with the slipping process is because this tedious process of work does not hold my attention well, I'm not one for decorated elaborate pieces, I'm more interested in making "fine objects." However, in doing this project I have succeeded in leaps and bounds. I have learned that my first method in creating this was not necessarily the best way of completing the assignment. I'm glad to say that I have definitely learned something and I am very pleased with the forms themselves.

Victor D. Franco

02.20.10

I haven't been posting every day lately...I have too many things going on. But, I'm trying and that's what should matter.

I woke up today to a fairly relaxing day -much more so than most. The weekdays are crazy. So, needless to say, even though I always have to go in to the studio to work on a project, I'm happy when Friday night comes along.

Today, I walked to Powell for brunch because Ade was closed (all day) for a football banquet. I've thought before: why are the football players so special? I've concluded: because they work really hard and they don't get free tuition just because they play football. Ouch, the injuries...I can only imagine.

Anyway, when I arrived at Powell, everyone was standing outside because someone burned something and the fire alarm went off. I was invited to sit with two people I barely knew -which makes me anxious because I don't generally easily find commonalities with people I don't know very well. I'm not good at bridging the gap, except for the occasional passing "how are you?" and "hello" I dislike the fakeness of "how are you?" (fakeness because if you really cared and had the time you would sit down to hear about the person's day/state) but...I still participate in it anyway. That's not to say that I don't care when I ask...but, it just frustrates me that people always say "good", and that I wish I could stop to listen to something more. I'm going to practice not asking "how are you?" from now on...

I ate a ham and provolone cheese wrap with barbecue sauce (did I mention I love brabecue sauce?), and some salad (composed of lettuce and carrots)...plus some Special K cereal with 2% milk and orange juice. Yeah, I'm still trying to at least mention what I've eaten...but these posts have turned from being mindful about food to being mindful of my thoughts. Its great :D

Cindi Kelly

A friend of mine committed suicide and the body was recovered on the beach. There was a note but so many questions need to be answered. What could have driven him to this is, of course, the obvious question. The family is mystified and angry. I am afraid that we will find out some things that may be unsettling. He was a painter. The tragic life of an artist. What did I really know about him? He was kind but a loner. He always seemed to be scrambling to pay his bills though I didn't know what or how much his debt was. He could change your golf swing and take 10 strokes off your game. He always had a story to tell. He liked old things. He easily charmed women. He loved to sing and fancied himself a cowboy. His paintings were interesting though I watched him struggle with painting. He was very encouraging except to himself. Grumble and smile. He loved animals and put them in his paintings often. He could get under your skin. Good-bye John. We'll miss you.

A.Cl.re.ox.wi.ls.ey

One of my suite mates is Korean and me her and another suite mate sometimes sit around the t.v. and watch an episode of one of her Korean dramas. Currently we are viewing 'Autumn Falls', next is 'Spring Waltz'- that one is set in vienna and the main character is a pianist. I'm pumped. Anyway, in Autumn Falls this birthday comes up and its all dramatic and important and both (yes both) mothers make the daughter this special birthday seaweed soup. We asked the Korean suite mate if you were allowed to eat the birthday soup when you aren't having your birthday, and she said she didn't know.

Then I got to thinking it wouldn't be special if you could have the birthday soup whenever you wanted. But what if some kid really loved that seaweed soup, what kind of mother wouldn't make it for the kid on days when they were sick or sad? Then I thought it would be great if this were the tradition of the birthday seaweed soup of Korea:

Publicly it is accepted that the birthday soup is strictly for birthdays, but each mother, independent of each other, on days when a child is sick or sad makes them the birthday soup and tells them that its a secret, and it is a secret because they never tell anyone. In loo of mothers, because sometimes you don't have one or the one you have isn't so great, a father or older sibling will do the same thing.

This makes sense because people like to have things that are special, keep those things special, and USE those special things.

Kathleen Rabe

I should spell my name the traditional way. Raabe. Maybe that would make this day more interesting.

Black beans and rice with a homemade corn tortilla. Cooked the traditional costa rican way, with Salsa Lisano. Jesus, I would kill for some salsa lisano. we just ran out, the last of it in with the fresh black beans. yet another need for texas.

food associations. sensory associations. different sences evoke different levels of memory for me.. when i look at old work of mine i will automaticlly remember what i was going threw when i made it, but i dont feel that time again. when i hear a song i may have listened to at that time however, the memory is physical, its overwelming. it is the same with food, it takes me there. black beans and rice reminds me of spiders and tucans, climbing waterfalls with a staff infection in my leg, skin infections from a tiny pig, building a kiln in the heat, ceramics in the bern.

taste, sound.. silence. birds in the morning. wishing for a ketzal. the tortilla's in the comal, the fire popping. my fire is popping. the smells in the air, i could be there.

taste, sound, sight, touch.. clay between my toes. exhasted from crushing, crushing and crushing and heat and frozen fresh leche snacks and crushing. its so oddly cold between my toes.

taste, sound, sight, touch, smell..