Reasons why we need to play in the dirt or clay after this pandemic: It is holistic creative therapeutic fun.
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Creating with Clay
It always feels like Christmas when you open the kiln after a glaze firing, so much anticipation and sparkle from the colors. You never know exactly how the pieces will look, if the student added enough glaze coats, or if they added something you didn't quite see them do.
Working with clay is very therapeutic as well as something that is rarely taught anymore because of the "mess". Most children and adults like to create in 3D, they just need some help to get their imagination come to reality. I am fortunate to have a large kiln at Mesa Union School to help students create whimsical owls, pinch pot flower bowls, slab dogs, handprints for Kindergarteners, pinch pot sea turtles, and of course I had to make a test coil plaque for my mother for Mother's Day!
This summer I will be teaching a clay class with a friend Terry who has also worked with clay for a number of years. We have a variety of projects in mind including the crazy boxes that come out unique to each child. And of course, you need to at least try your hand at coils. These take some time to get even pressure on the clay snake.
The summer clay class is June 25 - 29th 9:30 am - NOON $185 includes all supplies and you won't have to worry about the mess!
Creative Venture at Elementary School
I have been working at Mesa Union School this year and at the end of the year we put a together an ocean mural designing a variety of sea creatures out of clay and using mosaics to add three dimensions to the work. The Principal Dr. Bluestein wanted a variety of marine life found in our local Channel Islands so the students could see what treasures are in our backyard.
This Tri-typh mural has the Ventura Peir incorporated in the school's bulletin board, stretching out to the Channel Islands and a whimsical sailboat. Beneath the pier is a crab and sea-star on the rocks. The next scene is in the kelp bed and has an inquisitive moray eel, prowling leopard shark, and our state fish, a Garabaldi peering out of the kelp. The last scene is a huge breaking wave with a school of fish, a rainbow jellyfish, and a couple of frolicking dolphins. I am very happy the students pictured below gave of their summer break to complete the final placement of tiles to make this mural pop!
Mesa Union Elementary School is very supportive of the arts and has a kiln room in addition to the fine art program and has a variety of murals around the campus. In a time where many of the arts are being cut from the program, the Board of Directors support the Arts! Hooray, this could not have been accomplished without them. Come see this in person surrounding the play area. We are planning a continuation of this mural coming soon in January of 2018!
