Touchstones & New Beginnings: A Community Art Project
With the first weekend behind them, the hard-working Ceramics Team from Imagine Art and AmeriCorps volunteers are at it again this coming Saturday and Sunday, the 22 and 23 of May. In-depth planning and hours of preparation made last Saturday’s workshop go smoother than anyone expected. All eight participants produced a three-dimensional clay totem piece. They are helping shape a dream into reality.
AmeriCorps’ task during this event is to help St. Luke congregants and Clarksville community members create totems out of clay, then fire them. The finished products will be placed on one of three poles and displayed in front of St. Luke United Methodist Church. They will be called Peace Poles.
Jonathan Baker mixes colorful stains to paint on the pieces. Before the clay is rolled out in a slab, Jon and Bryana pound and squeeze the clay to remove any air pockets, which can cause a piece to explode in the kiln.
Sarala Kasbe, the lone non-AmeriCorps’ volunteer, made a really cool totem piece and stained it purple. And four hot, tasty pizzas were delivered that satisfied the hungry artists.
AmeriCorps members in action. Daisy shooting video of Jon and Bryana, two ceramic team members, rolling out slab. Rick is turning up the settled stain to get at the good stuff on the bottom.
Pastor Bonnie How and John Molina share that determined look of an artist, as Justine and Chris look on, silently encouraging. The Tudor style home is the backdrop.
James and Grandma Laura contemplate dinosaur designs, while Lisa stares into a perfect box.
Bonnie’s piece of love looks good enough to eat. Jackson seals a seam in the clay while assembling a box.
Chris Green-Martinez stains her totem piece. Seems like everybody is stirring up a bucket.
Saturday ended with a smattering of rain. All were grateful that the larger storm missed the event. By the look of things, a good time was had by all and everybody is very anxious to see if their pieces will make it. Bryana, Jonathon and Kelsey are keeping their eyes on things to get ahead of any developing cracks in the clay and repair them.
To learn more about the entire community art project, click or tap the link below.
