Instruction: Week Four in the Studio

Something I really want from this semester is more events for camaraderie and bonding. A chance for us all to share good conversations, good food, and exchange ideas. Learning new technique and strategies through collaboration is something I've always felt passionate about.

Week four was quite busy as I started the week off with making a dozen rattles to raku. I wanted everyone particapting to have something to glaze and a memento of the time we all spent together. Building community is crucial to my practice and one of the fastest ways for me to grow my own work.

On Wednesday, I got up early and made it into the studio to prepare for the raku-bq later that evening. I remade a glaze that was getting to bottom barrel and let this serve as a note to all; dissolve borax in boiling water before using it in a recipe. Since it had been a minute since anyone fired a kiln, the kiln pad was in need of some cleaning . I prepped the kiln, filled garbage cans with straw, and made a little glazing station. It felt really good to organize something and know that I had the knowledge to guide us through it.

As the time came to start our firing, people arrived with food and drink. more than enough and I was delighted by how much everyone showed up. Bringing enough grub to feed everyone and more. Super important to me as I applied to come make work at IUS because I needed to be around likeminded artists in order for my practice to grow. Being there with my peers and firing their work was getting to see fruits of my efforts.

The rest of the time I wasn’t in the studio I was either working or thinking of what project I wanted to tackle next. I hope to accomplish some new and exciting things for myself this semester. I’m so bad about taking pictures that it’s actually making some parts of my entries difficult to recall. Note to all and myself, take more mementos so you can better recall what once was.

The only photo from this week is a blurry picture of my cat and unmade bed. enjoy.