Bummer!

On Wednesday last, Ted gave the studio some really bad news. On March 13 the studio will be closed... for good. The Art Association is looking for ways to tighten it's collective belt and the decision was made to close the clay studio. Odd, I think, and short-sighted, since the clay studio actually pays for itself (infrastructure, materials and Ted's salary as well) through our membership fees.

I think the Board of Directors is doing the community a disservice because closing the studio will also curtail the Childrens' Art programs. If children are not exposed to good art programs, they will have no interest in promoting the arts as adults. RATS!

Personally, I'm bummed by the Board's decision because I will have no studio in which to work. It may, however, force the issue of setting up my own studio at the farm. I do enjoy working at a cooperative studio, though, because I enjoy the interaction with other potters - guess I'll just have to locate some potters in the community.

The second glaze kiln was unloaded last Friday, and I was pretty happy with my work: five bowls, two syrup pitchers, and a glaze test tile. I like the "Tea Dust" Tenmoku, and the Clay Arts' "Floating Blue" glazes. The sort of Celadon "Green Black" isn't at all black - but I like it as well.

On another note, I made some "Wonky Stars" quilt squares to send to The Bushfire Project in Alice Springs, Australia. The squares are being made by quilters frm all over the world and sent to Tia Curtis in Alice Springs to be made into quilts for the people who have lost their homes in the gigantic Austrailain bushfires (that appear to have been deliberately set!). Several people from my Friday Block Party group have participated in the effort, and the blocks are pretty easy: my three only took me an hour each.