"Embrace the Steely Silence"

Had my high school observation lesson plan yesterday, asked a question about if a texture was a person, what would this texture's mood be? It was like all the crickets in the world congregated in that one room. However, I embraced those crickets and it allowed for making us all feel so awkward, finally people began stating what a personified texture may be like and act like. It was a helpful exercise, that taught having a purpose behind including texture with a piece of ceramics. But I'f I hadn't embraced that silence, I would have never gotten their brains working in the out of the box direction I wanted it to start working in, for the lesson plan.

The Excitement of Our Youth

About a month ago, I was headed home to see my brother who had just arrived home from his fourth term in Afghanistan. It was an incredible weekend, but on my way home as I neared closer to central New York (Syracuse area) I passed an overhead walking bridge with a mother and two children on it, I saw them from about 100 yards away as they excitedly waved at every car that passed. As I passed that bridge I eagerly waved back and with much surprise I saw the children's mother began waving back as a confirmation of seeing me. It only lasted one split second but I had made a connection with those kid's and their parent without doing anything other than raising my hand and acknowledging their kind gestures. After I passed, I found myself smiling for about 30 seconds, and thinking to myself of how wonderful a young child's excitement towards all aspects of life are, and the fact that it makes me so happy to see that and furthermore, the fact that I think about those things at all always leave me feeling like I'm undoubtedly doing the right thing in becoming an educator. I know that it is a natural phenomenon to grow older and lose that genuine almost unreasonable excitement for all things under the sun. But I'd always like to keep some of those aspects, especially when teaching, no matter how old my student's, I feel as though if you share that kind of excitement with your student's there is no way that they wouldn't share it back. It was a really great omen to start the rest of my weekend, because for the rest of that weekend I shared that unadulterated excitement that those children had for the passing cars, with my own excitement for seeing my brother, and being reunited as a whole family, feeling blessed, feeling whole, feeling content with the simplest of pleasures.
 

Trimis, Savva

I loved reading the Trimis, Savva article. It didn't raise many questions for me, it more reinforced beliefs I already had. Growing up my parents always made sure to connect me with nature and the world surrounding my neighborhood. From the time I was an infant I was taken to the Adirondack Mountains once a year, where we'd spend a week camping, and exploring nature. As I grew older I had always thought that some how those trips had an impact on the way I thought as an adolescent and onward. The question's this reading did raise for me were more literal ones such as:

With our ever growing obsession with safety and security, will these practices always be able to be withheld?
If so will the school district I am employed offer possible transportation, and or be comfortable with an entire class of children walking around a forest, beach or anywhere that could pose potential yet unrealistic threats?

Video Analysis

I notice that much of the students learning and discovery is constantly reinforced by the teachers. Whether the instructor is reinforcing the students actions by asking questions, or trying to do the same thing the child is doing it reinforces the students learning. I notice also that the teachers use a lot of 3D materials or if they're using paints its very hands on. The teacher is constantly asking the children what they are doing and why, once the students answer, the teacher will often reply with another question asking the students if the teacher is doing it correctly. This gives the student's a chance to be absolutely sure of what they're doing, enough so that they can instruct someone else on their methods of creating whatever they have created. This instills confidence in the student and a very solid sense that they know what they are doing.

Studio Explorations

My studio explorations will be focused around the month I spent in the lower level of my house last February after being released from the hospital from breaking my back. I am not exactly sure how I will represent this but I know it will involve x-rays a calendar my back brace and possibly a performance or video.

Art!

Terra-Cotta Bust (Self)

                                                            

Wood Fire Mug

 Film Photography, Double Exposures

The Udu, Ceramic Percussion Instrument

Wheel Thrown Clay, Cone 10

Pen & Ink Stipple

Tree Pot

Pumpkin Roll
Wood Fired

Raku Pot

Cloud Bowl

Pumpkin Roll Texture

Experimental Coil Built Pot
Raku Fired

My art is mainly focused around the ceramic medium, although I have dabbled in photography and drawing. The work you see above is the product of many studio classes. In these studio classes I was given many generic assignments, but I'd always try to push my work to the next level regardless of what the professor's guide lines were. I am obsessive when it comes to my work, I have no issue's with tediousness, which is why some of my pieces have taken me multiple days to complete. Once I have a vision in my head I cannot get it out until I have created it to the absolute best of my abilities. As far as a true statement I feel as though I don't know my own work enough to make one. What I do know is that I'm experimenting and discovering more about myself with every piece I create so I must be on to something.

Class Activity

We all read articles on different activists of art education. After reading these articles we had to critically analyze, and provide examples of what they did to make an impact and in what ways. We didn't finish completely but the main idea of the exercise was to establish an understanding of what a teacher can have an impact on. Whether it be a student, community or other professionals. I will elaborate more once the activity is done.