Just Sayin’ Life, 108: Connections

How do you make friends?  Acquaintances?  Have you ever thought about these connections?

Studio:

One of my clay sisters shared an interview that was created in the US NorthWest about one of her clay friends, Reid Ozaki.  He was a friend to me through this gal.  Reid was always generous with kindness.  He would comment on my ceramic work even though we never met in person.  While watching this interview, I remembered that when I first opened C2C Gallery I had hoped to host salons that would foster conversations about art.  My intention was to invite people with a variety of backgrounds to my gallery or studio to discuss a specific topic – art related.  Maybe, now is the time to begin these events?

Reid Ozaki Vases

But, I digress.  I was glazing in the studio today thinking about this post and connections.  I realized that I rarely talk about my connections in the clay world. When I moved to Vermont from Michigan, I didn’t really understand how different Vermont would be from the MidWest.  I remember telling my husband, “How different can Vermont be?  It is a state in North America.”  I was so wrong.  Vermont taught me who I was as an adult.  I learned that I accept people from all walks of life.  I also learned that I am a creative person.  I fell in love with clay, first as a way to make new friends, and then, as a vocation.  What I enjoyed about the investment world was that there was (and is) always new information about businesses.  I was constantly digesting new information.  In the ceramics world, I continue to learn new skills and am always absorbing new techniques by other artists.  Reid Ozaki talked about lineage and how many new artists are taking courses from small shops.  I was fortunate to join the Vermont Clay Studio.  One of my first teachers was Ara Cardew.  Ara is the grandson of Michael Cardew, a British potter.  You can google Michael’s name.  Ara grew up working next to his grandfather.  When he was young, Miranda Thomas, was an apprentice to Michael.  Miranda moved to Vermont and set up her own studio attached to her husband’s wood shop, Charles Shackleton.

Miranda has helped several British potters move to the United States.  Ara and his family was one of them.  Ara began teaching at VCS where I was taking classes.  We learned how to make traditional UK ceramic forms for mugs, bowls, plates, vases, and casseroles.  He also taught us the how to use slip for decorating.  It’s a less expensive method of decorating pottery than using several glazes.  I was fortunate to have Ara as a teacher for several years.   When I am creating traditional forms such as mugs, bowls, plates, and teapots, I hear Ara’s voice in my head telling me the next steps necessary in making a very nice functional form.

In the next couple of blog posts, I am going to share other potters that helped form who I am today as a ceramic artist.

Ara Cardew

Ara Cardew

Ara Cardew

Miranda Thomas

Gallery:

There is a lot happening around West Michigan throughout the Fall.  It’s fun to connect you with artists that I respect.

September 21-22:  The Cracked Pot Studio Tour –

Mark Chatterley and several other fabulous ceramic artists will be opening their studios to the public.

September 18 – Opening Reception of ISEA International Open Juried Exhibition, INNOVATIONS 2024, Central Park Place, Grand Haven, MI.

Lee Ann Frame has achieved the very distinguished distinction of Master Fellowship in ISEA. She works in a wide variety of print media where she pays tribute to nature. Join her from 6-8pm.

October 5 – Art in the Yard supporting Grand Haven Schools’ Foundation

Join the artists of Lakeshore Visual Arts Collective on Saturday, October 5, 5-8pm.  It is held annually at Baker Lumber in Grand Haven, MI.  This is a fun pop-up show of a wide variety of art. There will be a food truck, live music, and beverages. This year more than 30 artists will be selling work.  10% of your purchases are donated to the Grand Haven Schools’ Foundation.  This foundation’s main mission is to make sure that every child has the ability to enter kindergarten ready for school.  I will be selling my artwork there that evening, plus co-chairing the event.

Life:

Do you read articles about how much food you should eat in one meal?  Quality of food vs quantity?  I came across this image a couple of weeks ago.  What I love about it is that I always have my hand with me to use as a measuring tool.  (FYI:  I use my hand to measure plates and bowls when I am making them, too. 😊)

Start with protein! It’s usually the toughest macro to get enough of, but it’s super important. So, let’s kick things off here. To make sure you’re all set, try batch-cooking some chicken, ground turkey, beef, or your favorite protein to have on hand.

Next up, veggies! Pile them high! Aim for 2-3 fists of non-starchy veggies with each meal. They’re packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, so load up and feel great.

Keep your carbs simple and wholesome. Carbs are where we often reach for processed foods (did you know the average American eats 400-500g of carbs a day, much of it processed?!). Instead, batch-cook some healthy, whole-food carbs ahead of time—sweet potatoes are a winner! Bake, cube, or slice them for different meals throughout the week. Plus, whole-food carbs are loaded with fiber—double win!

Watch those fats! They can sneak in extra calories if you’re not careful (especially in those processed carbs). For avocado, go with 1/4 per serving, a small handful for nuts, and a thumb-size amount for everything else.

Building a balanced meal doesn’t have to be complicated.

(written by Kimberly McDonough)

And of course, some recipes:

Hot Honey Chicken with Peach Pico de gallo – this sounds really good.

Savory Breakfast Bowl

No Bake Peanut Butter S’mores Bars – my grandkids love making smores over an open fire.  I saw this recipe and thought here is a way to give them a treat with a special memory of being able to stay up late and play with flames.

Take care,

Cyndi