| I grew up and started college
in the northwest. I finished my Bachelor of Arts at
the University of the District of Columbia when I was
40 years old and subsequently completed my Master of
Fine Arts at Antioch University in Columbia, Maryland
eight years later. I attended a total of seven colleges
before I finished my MFA and spent 30 years reaching
this point. I still enjoy and benefit from lectures
and workshops which I attend as often as possible.
I taught ceramics to both children and adults in a
private studio in Washington, DC for 17 years. n the
past 24 years since finishing my MFA, I have taught
part time in four colleges in and around Washington,
DC, taught at a community center in Burien and at Green
River Community College as well as doing short term
clay workshops. I have spent much time developing new
glazes at various temperatures for both gas and electric
firing as well as editing a newsletter for the Washington
Potters Association for the last 11 years.
Besides my college teaching, I have worked in a camp
for the handicapped most of the last 24 summers; done
seminars for experienced teachers in creative crafts
and clay; worked as a pottery consultant in Paraguay;
and done many demonstrations on the potters wheel at
various locations and for the enjoyment of all ages.
In 1985 I worked for three months as a ceramic consultant
to the Interamerican Development Bank in Paraguay teaching
glazes and glazing techniques to experienced potters
for use with their wood fired kilns. I found the experience
rewarding and gratifying. I felt that the potters grew
and began to understand the process of glazing for the
first time‹none of them had glazed before. I learned
a tremendous amount about local resources for materials,
local suppliers and references not known previously
to the potters of the country.
My Master's thesis dealt with design as it relates
to ceramic work. Course work toward the MFA thoroughly
covered all aspects of wheel throwing and hand building
techniques, glaze and clay calculation, kiln construction,
and ceramic art history.
I have a reputation for being patient and understanding
teacher. I feel that the teacher in any given situation
learns at least as much as the students. The feed back
I get from my students makes me feel that my unique
approach to teaching is quite successful. I have just
begun teaching for Seniors Making Art in 2 local senior
centers. Many of my students are younger than I am and
we are all having a great time. It is always surprising
to me how often I hear "I always wanted to try
my hand at making pottery and this is the first time
I have had a chance!" It is never too late to learn!
I have worked in porcelain and stoneware for over 30
years. I try to price my functional ware so that my
work can be used daily in the home. A few years ago
I started decorating with bright colors and am thoroughly
enjoying this new direction. My latest decorated pieces
are non-functional wall-hanging wheel thrown beads in
black and white. It is exciting to be able to continue
to grow and change in my work.
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