THE ART OF THE TEACH!

ON TEACHING WORKSHOPS!

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO CANADA TO TEACH IN 1968, I HAD NEVER HEARD OF INTENSIVE WEEKEND WORKSHOPS GIVEN BY VERY EXPERIENCED ARTISTS OR MASTER CRAFTSMEN. THEY DIDN'T EXIST IN ENGLAND AT THAT TIME, NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO. THE SCHOOL THAT I CAME TO  WAS CENTRAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL, IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO.  IT WAS ALSO THE HOST VENUE FOR WEEKEND WORKSHOPS ORGANIZED BY THE CANADIAN GUILD OF POTTERS. I FOUND THIS FORM OF TEACHING TO BE VERY STIMULATING. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE I STARTED BEING ASKED TO BE A PRESENTER.  WITH MY EARLY PERSONAL HISTORY IN THE THEATER BUSINESS, IT WAS A NATURAL FIT THAT TOOK ME TO MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD.

IN SEVENTY YEARS OF WORKING WITH CLAY, I ONLY TAUGHT FULL-TIME FOR FIVE YEARS, TWO AT CENTRAL, AND THEN THREE AT GEORGIAN COLLEGE, BARRIE, WHERE I SET UP THE CERAMICS AND GLASS PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TRAIN STUDENTS TO BECOME SELF-EMPLOYED STUDIO POTTERS.  AFTER  THREE MORE YEARS TEACHING, I HAD HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH ADMINISTRIVIA TO LAST A LIFETIME! I WAS MAKING A LARGER INCOME FROM MY PART-TIME STUDIO WORK THAN. AS A FULL-TIME TEACHER. AND KNEW THAT I WOULD GAIN 30 HOURS PER WEEK IF I QUIT TEACHING. I WAS ALWAYS A GREAT BELIEVER IN CALCULATED RISK-TAKING IN CONCERT WITH CONFIDENCE WITH ONE'S WORK. SO I QUIT TEACHING AND WENT BACK TO MY STUDIO FULL-TIME WITH FOUR ASSISTANTS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH WORKSHOPS. FOR ME, IT WAS A VERY  NICE MARRIAGE.

I WORKED OUT SEVERAL COURSE OUTLINES AND GAVE THE VARIOUS GROUPS CHOICE OF CONTENT FROM A WIDE RANGE OF POSSIBLES. I'VE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF HUMOR IN LIFE AND LEARNING SO I DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF SUBLIMINAL TEE-SHIRTS WITH HUMOROUS MESSAGES TO SET THE MOOD.  A TWO-DAY WORKSOP HAS  FOUR SHIRTS.  THE FOURTH IS DOUBLE SIDED, AND IS WORN WHEN I AM GETTING TIRED IN THE LAST QUARTER.

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PART 1 - THROW NAKED!  FIRST MORNING.

Not what you might think!  This particularly refers to the multi-directional mind that many  people, mainly women,  have as a fact of life. The brain is compartmentalized to cope with the needs of society and family life and severely limits the power of FOCUS. IN "THROW NAKED", YOU LEAVE ALL YOUR INTERFERING THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS AT THE DOOR AND CONCENTRATE FULLY ON THE CERAMIC JOB IN HAND. IT USUALLY SPEEDS UP LEARNING BY ABOUT 50% WITH WOMEN AND 20% WITH MEN WHO, BECAUSE OF THE TRADITIONAL, UNI-DIRECTIONAL, ROLES THAT MEN PLAY, HAVE A MUCH EASIER TIME OF FOCUSSING.

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PART TWO - THINK BIG! - FIRST AFTERNOON!

THIS IS ABOUT INCREASED SIZE IN THROWING.  I BOUGHT THIS SHIRT IN A "THINK BIG STORE" ON BALTIMORE HARBOR,  SHORTLY BEFORE GOING TO CHINA IN 1990. I HAD BEEN INVITED THERE BY THE CHINESE ADMINISTRATION AS A SPECIALIST IN SLIPWARE DECORATION PROCESSES TO TEACH METHODS OF  WORKING  THAT HAD BEEN LOST DUE TO THE BARBARISM OF THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION. PARTS OF CHINA HAVE VERY STRONG SLIPWARE TRADTIONS THERE WAS A SMALL GROUP OF  TEACHERS FROM THE US, WITH ME BEING THE TOKEN CANADIAN. AS SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS, WE WERE TREATED TO THREE BANQUETS PER DAY FOR 21 DAYS, BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER, EACH ASSISTED WITH THREE LITER BOTTLES OF GREAT BEER THAT WE WERE EXPECTED TO CONSUME. IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES I NORMALLY DO WHAT I'M TOLD,  AT THE END OF THE VISIT  I HAD GAINED 21 POUNDS THAT I STILL HAVEN'T MANAGED TO COMPLETELY LOSE.  SO I HAD MYSELF MADE A NEW SHIRT TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM -" THINK TALL"

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PART 3 -- "THINK TALL " -- SECOND MORNING.

THIS SHIRT IS SUPPOSED TO THIN ME OUT AND MAKE BOTH ME AND MY THROWING TALLER. IT DIDN'T DO MUCH FOR MY PERSONAL STATURE, BUT DEFINITELY HELPED WITH TALLER WORKS IN CLAY.

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PART FOUR - SECOND AFTERNOON

DOUBLE-SIDED TEE SHIRT!

BY THE LAST AFTERNOON OF THE WORKSHOP MANY DIFFERENT PROCESSES HAVE BEEN  DONE DURING THE                                               DEMONSTRATION AND ALL THE PIECES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. DEPENDING ON THE CONTENT OF THE WORKSHOP,  THERE ARE NORMALLY ABOUT 30  EXAMPLES OF AGATE WARE OR COLORED CLAY, BRUSHWORK,  SLIPWARE, ETC, FINISHED AND READY FOR FIRING.  BY THIS TIME I'M JUST ABOUT COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED.  IF PEOPLE HAVE  FURTHER QUESTIONS I WARN THEM THAT I WILL JUST POINT TO THE FRONT OR BACK OF THE SHIRT FOR THE ANSWER!

I HAVE NOW  FINISHED MY CAREER OF DOING WORKSHOPS.  I WAS HOPING TO DO A FURTHER 11 DURING THE NEXT 2 YEARS TO MAKE A LIFETIME GOAL OF 200 WORKSHOPS.  UNFORTUNATELY I BURNED OUT AT 189 IN OCTOBER 2111. MY DOCTOR TOLD ME I HAVE TO QUIT OR RISK FURTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS.NEVER BEING ONE TO SIT ON MY  BACKSIDE AND TWIDDLE  MY THUMBS, I TOOK TO WRITING A BLOG INSTEAD TO KEEP MY BRAIN STILL FUNCTIONING. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT RIDE!  THANKS FOR HELPING ME IN RE-LIVING IT

ONE OF THESE DAYS I'M GOING TO BUY A NEW TRUMPET OR FLUEGEL HORN.  I REALLY MISS THE VALVES ON THIS U.S. ARMY ISSUE BUGLE.  ANYONE HAVE AN INSTRUMENT YOU WANT TO SELL OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF?

SEE YOU SOON WHEN MY ENERGIES RETURN LATER THIS WEEK, OR EARLY NEXT WEEK.

BEST WISHES, RH.

.

RUNNING ON SLOW!

APOLOGIES!

HI, SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING, BUT IT HAS BEEN PRETTY BUSY AROUND HERE WORKING ON A NEW BLOG POSTING WITH A LUDDITE COMPUTER USER STRUGGLING WITH AN OLD AND OVERLOADED MACHINE THAT HAS REFUSED TO PROCESS WORDS AND IMAGES. I'M USING VARIOUS COLORS OF BLUE BACK GROUND TO MATCH THE ATMOSPHERE IN  MY OFFICE.


SEE YOU AGAIN IN A DAY OR TWO..  BEST WISHES,  RH

POMP and CIRCUMSTANCE!

TUESDAY, 22 MAY 2012

POMP and CIRCUMSTANCE!


THIS POST COMES IN THE FORM OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, ONE OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S MORE ADVENTUROUS MILITARY AND EDUCATIONAL ADVISORS.

Queen Victoria - 1819 - 1901 - Crowned - JUNE 20, 1837


POMP

YESTERDAY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT,  CANADA CELEBRATED THE ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-THIRD BIRTHDAY OF QUEEN VICTORIA. I'M NEVER QUITE SURE WHY WE DO THAT, BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DECEASED SINCE JANUARY 22nd, 1901. THAT WAS 38 YEARS BEFORE I WAS EVEN BORN.   I SPENT THE FIRST 28 YEARS OF MY LIFE AS A CITIZEN OF BRITLAND, AND I'M SURE WE NEVER HAD AN ANNUAL, OR OTHER REGULAR CELEBRATION FOR THE DEAD QUEEN OF ENGLAND AND EMPRESS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. SO IT WAS WITH GREAT SURPRISE TO ME THAT IN CANADA THEY STILL CELEBRATED. THIS IS NOT JUST SOME PIDDLING PARADE, IT HAS ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES YOU CAN IMAGINE, REPLETE WITH MARCHING BANDS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. I GUESS THAT THE USA, NOT HAVING A QUEEN OF THEIR OWN, NEED TO IDENTIFY WITH WITH A DOMINANT, LONG-SEATED, NATIONAL MATRIARCH. OR COULD IT BE AS SIMPLE AS COMMERCE. COMMERCE, OF COURSE, IS WHAT DRIVES THE OTHERN MAIN, NATIONAL,  ANNUAL CANADIAN EXTRAVAGANZA, WHERE THE ROTUND MAN IN A RED SUIT WITH A WHITE BEARD SITS IN A CANADIAN-BUILT SLEIGH,  PULLED BY A NUMBER OF DECORATED REINDEER, LIKE SMALL HORSES WITH ANTLERS, AND WEARING HARNESSES OF BELLS!

I LEFT ENGLAND IN 1968 BECAUSE OF COMMERCE, OR LACK OF IT!  IT WAS THE TIME OF YET ANOTHER OF THOSE IRRESPONSIBLE RECESSIONS, AND THE TIME THAT, FOR A YOUNG ARTIST-POTTER WITH A YOUNG BUSINESS AND AN EVEN YOUNGER FAMILY, LOOKED PRETTY BLEAK. THE LABOR PARTY WAS IN POWER UNDER THE PRIME MINISTERSHIP OF THE HONOURABLE HAROLD WILSON. FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW THE UK POLITICAL STRUCTURE, THE REIGNING MONARCH IS A CONSTITUTIONAL, HISTORICAL POSITION. THE GOVERNMENT IS LED BY THE PRIME MINISTER WITH ONE OR OTHER PARTY THAT GENERALLY DO THE SAME STUPID THINGS, NO MATTER WHO IS ACTUALLY IN POWER. BETWEEN ALL THE POLITICIANS, THEY MANAGE TO SCREW UP THE ECONOMY ON A REGULAR BASIS.

CIRCUMSTANCE

IN 1967, CANADA CELEBRATED ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY, A HUGE NON-POLITICAL PARTY WITH A MAJOR EXPO '67, AND A VIBRANCY THAT HASN'T BEEN SEEN SINCE. THE BRITISH PRESS WAS FULL OF ALL THE EXCITEMENT AND IT LOOKED LIKE A GOOD TIME FOR A TRANSATLANTIC MOVE TO WHERE THE GRASS WAS DEFINITELY LOOKING GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE - THEY DIDN'T MENTION THE WINTER THOUGH!! I WENT BACK TO ENGLAND AND TALKED THE IDEA OF RELOCATION WITH MY WIFE AND DECIDED TO GO FOR IT. I NEEDED TO FIND A TEACHING JOB TO SOFTEN THE BLOW, AND THAT FELL NICELY IN PLACE. TEN MONTHS LATER, AFTER FIVE DAYS AT SEA, TWO KIDS, WIFE, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES, MY PRODUCTION POTTERY STUDIO EQUIPMENT AND MYSELF  LANDED  ON CANADIAN SOIL, ALL SET FOR THE LONG JOURNEY MAKING MY MARK ON THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT. I TAUGHT AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL FOR JUST FIVE YEARS, AND, AT THE SAME TIME, RAN A STUDIO OUT OF MY BASEMENT.  BY A VERY LUCKY ACCIDENT, I HIT TORONTO AT A TIME WHEN THE FINE CRAFT MOVEMENT WAS JUST GETTING MOVING. THE ONTARIO CRAFTS COUNCIL STARTED A FINE CRAFTS EXPO AND SUDDENLY REALIZED  THEY HAD FEW ARTISTS WHO COULD HANDLE THE DEMAND FOR BOTH ONE-OF-A-KIND ARTWORK AND ALSO HAD DEVELOPED A RANGE OF  FUNCTIONAL POTTERY. AT MY STUDIO IN ENGLAND I HAD BEEN DOING JUST THAT FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS. MUCH AS I ENJOY TEACHING, I HATE ADMINISTRIVIA! THE MORE YOU STAY IN THE ED BUSINESS, THE WORSE THE ADMINISTRIVIA! I DECIDED TO QUIT AND DEVOTE FULL TIME TO STUDIO WORK. IN SIX MONTHS I WAS SELLING FROM COAST TO COAST ACROSS CANADA AND HAVING A TOUGH TIME KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMAND, A BENEFICIAL ACCIDENT OF THE TIME. MY TEACHING CARRIED ON IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT WITH DOING WORKSHOPS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND MANY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD, WHICH ALSO MADE IT POSSIBLE TO SPEND MUCH TIME DOING CERAMIC HISTORICAL AND GLAZE AND COLOR RESEARCH. SPORADIC EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL GAVE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY THE WORLD LANDSCAPE AS WELL AS GARDEN DESIGN AND HISTORY. THIS GAVE ME THE KNOWLEDGE TO START WRITING BOOKS AND MAKING EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS SO I COULD CONTINUE TO TEACH GLOBALLY AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS SUPPORTED ME.

I HAVE BEEN UNBELIEVABLY FORTUNATE TO DO WHAT I HAVE DONE OVER A 70 YEAR TIME FRAME. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUES OF LUCK, BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, MAKING QUICK BUT NOT RASH DECISIONS, TAKING RISKS, BELIEVING THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AND WORKING HARD TO ACHIEVE GOALS. IF I CAN DO IT - SO CAN YOU!

TEACHING WORKSHOPS HAS OPENED MANY DOORS. MY FIRST TEXAS WORKSHOP WAS ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE BEEN THERE MANY TIMES SINCE.  A FEW YEARS AGO, AT THE ANNUAL TEXAS CLAY FESTIVAL IN GRUENE, I WAS PROCLAIMED "HONORARY TEXAN" AND PRESENTED WITH THIS FINE STETSON COWBOY HAT WHICH I AM ALWAYS PROUD TO WEAR. THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MAKING MY WHIRLWIND RIDE SO INCREDIBLE.

ROBIN HOPPER -  HONORARY TEXAN TWICE OVER!!
THEY FORGOT THEY HAD DONE IT A FEW YEARS EARLIER!!

LAST WEEK I WAS ALMOST READY TO QUIT WRITING THIS BLOG, BECAUSE  I WAS GETTING ALMOST ZILCH FEEDBACK. THANKS TO THOSE WHO RESPONDED AND KEPT THE PHOENIX ALIVE. IF I KEEP GETTING RESPONSES,  I WILL KEEP SHARING THOUGHTS, IDEAS, EXPERIENCES, TECHSTUFF AND EDUCATIONAL CONCEPTS. I'VE SPENT MY LIFE AS A COMMUNICATOR. IT IS SOMETHING I REALLY ENJOY. BUT I DON'T ENJOY TALKING TO MYSELF. IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS OF MADNESS!! SO PLEASE KEEP THE COMMENTS COMING. THE MORE I GET THE MORE YOU WILL GET.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

BEST WISHES, RH

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!

FRIDAY,  18 MAY 2012

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!

THIS BLOG IS BROUGHT TO YOU  BY THE SUNSHINE COLOR OF YELLOW, AND THE MELODY OF 

"FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD" 

FROM "THE WIZARD OF OZ"

GREEN TEA - TEABOWL OR CHAWAN - WHISK OR CHASEN
FOR THE JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY - CHANOYU

THANKS GREATLY TO THE MANY READER'S WHO SENT BEST WISHES VIA VARIOUS MEANS REGARDING MY TURBULENT HEALTH ISSUES. I FINALLY GOT A CT SCAN. SOON I SHOULD SOON KNOW IF I STILL HAVE A BRAIN! THIS POST IS SPECIALLY DEDICATED TO ANYONE WHO HAS ANYTHING PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY WRONG WITH THEM,  DEVELOP A SMILE AND SENSE OF HUMOR. IT IS THE BEST MEDICINE I HAVE YET FOUND. IF THERE IS ANYONE LEFT OUT THERE WHO IS NOT YET A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL MESS, TAKE HEED - SLOW DOWN - ENJOY LIFE!

MY NEXT SET OF TESTS, NEXT MONTH, SHOULD TELL ME A LARGER PICTURE. ON WHAT AND HOW MUCH I CAN DO WITHOUT FURTHER BURNOUT. AT THIS POINT I AM ON HOLD. IT HAS BEEN 14 MONTHS SINCE I PICKED UP AN AIRPORT BUG THAT STARTED A DOWNWARD SPIRAL THAT HAS MADE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO MUCH OF ANYTHING. MY DOCTOR TOOK ME OUT OF THE WORKSHOP CIRCUIT BECAUSE OF MORE STRESS ON BOTH BODY AND MIND.  THE PHYSICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BASICALLY CURTAILED 70 YEARS OF SERIOUSLY WORKING WITH CLAY.  

TREMORS IN THE HANDS PROHIBIT THROWING AND HOLDING A BRUSH FOR PAINTING OR DECORATING POTS. IT IS ALL VERY FRUSTRATING AND DEPRESSING. 

EVEN TYPING IS A PROBLEM, DAMMIT!  MY NEXT SKILL THAT MUST SOON BE LEARNED  IS WORKING WITH A DICTAPHONE APPLICATION ON MY IPAD. THEN I WILL PROBABLY LOSE MY VOICE!! THERE ISN'T MUCH THAT IS WORKING NORMALLY. AS LONG AS MY EX-BRIT SENSE OF HUMOR DOESN'T GIVE UP ON ME I CAN JUST HANG IN THERE.

ONE VERY PROMISING THING THOUGH, I AM HAVING A RENEWED LOVE AFFAIR WITH MY "ANGLOJAPANADIAN" GARDEN THAT I STARTED ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO.  PREVIOUSLY I NEVER HAD MUCH TIME TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH OF WEEDS, BECAUSE OF AN INSANE COMBINATION OF STUDIO WORK, WRITING, TRAVEL, LECTURING, WORKSHOPS AND RESEARCH. NOW THAT I CAN'T DO MUCH OF THAT LIST ANYMORE, I CAN THINK BACK TO ANOTHER WELL-KNOWN SIMON AND GARFUNKEL SONG FROM THE SIXTIES - "59TH  STREET BRIDE SONG" COMMONLY  KNOWN AS  "FEELIN' GROOVY".  THIS SONG IS FOR OVER-ACHIEVERS WHO ARE LIKELY TO FOLLOW MY BAD EXAMPLE ON A DOWNHILL HEALTH TRAJECTORY.  THE FIRST LINES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

"SLOW DOWN, YOU MOVE TO FAST" 

"59TH  STREET BRIDGE SONG"


Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.

Ba da, Ba da, Ba da, Ba da...Feelin' Groovy.

Hello lamp-post,
What cha knowin'?
I've come to watch your flowers growin'.
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me?
Doot-in' doo-doo,
Feelin' groovy.

I've got no deeds to do,
No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THE "FEELIN' GROOVY" KOI- POND-SIDE TEAHOUSE - I AM NOW ABLE TO FIND TIME TO USE IT!!

SEE YOU SOME TIME NEXT WEEK BACK AT THIS BLOGSPOT

WHY NOT!

FRIDAY, 11TH MAY, 2012




WHY NOT?

ROBIN HOPPER  -  ONCE A TEACHER, ALWAYS A TEACHER!

Almost everything that I've covered in the 64 previous postings on this blog since New Year's Eve 2011 has something to do with Art and Design in one form or other. For me, the search for the essence of art, expression and life has been a constant daily endeavor. The processing of ideas has led me to Things, Thoughts and Places that have continued to influence me over the years.


I've found that the process of doing the blog is both energizing in the way that it makes me think and extremely tiring in the amount of research needed to say what I needed to say.


Unfortunately, the ongoing and still undiagnosed health problem that I have had for nearly fourteen months has been wearing me down greatly with non-stop headaches  now for  34  weeks in a row. I will be having a Catscan next week and an MRI next month.  I will try to do new blogs as and when I can find adequate energy to do them.  They take a lot of work and thought.

One thing that is particularly frustrating is the lack of feedback from my readers. If I felt that I was operating a valuable service that was being used and beneficial, it would give me a lot more energy to do more. I'm  a going to take a week or two off for rest, relaxation and recharging my personal batteries.  

"THE SCREAM" OR "GET LOST HEADACHE!

"

Best wishes,  Robin

WHY?

MONDAY, 7TH MAY 2012


WHY CLAY? WHY POTS? WHY GARDENS?

WHY CLAY?

COLORED SLIPWARE WITH FEATHERING

I'm always amazed at the degree to which our lives are affected by coincidence or accidents of time and place. Mine has been full of such opportunities starting at the age of three, when I found clay in a serious way. It came as an unlikely gift from Hitler's bombers, pounding the region at the South of London bordering the countryside and close to several small airstrips. It was from these airstrips that the fighter pilots in Spitfire and Hurricane and Mosquito fighter aircraft frustrated much of Fuehrer Adolph Hitler and Air Vice Marshal Herman Goering's incessant bombing raids for years on end, starting with the Battle of Britain in July, 1940. I was fifteen months old when it started. The primary object of the bombing strategy was to bring Britain to its knees in the shortest possible time. The bravery of the allied fighter pilots kept the German bombers mostly at bay and caused huge losses for Germany's Luftwaffe bomber fleet and significantly slowed them from the plan. It could have been much worse.  In the words of Winston Churchill,  “Never in the history of human conflict, has so much been owed by so many, to so few. It was perhaps, their finest hour.” 
― Winston S. Churchill

London is all built on top of a huge seam of earthenware clay. It, and other clays like it. became the primary toys of my early childhood, along with massive amounts of shrapnel, the metallic remains of exploded bombs and shot down bombers.  Bombing went on for several years. Starting at three years old, I think I did my part in frustrating the Fuehrer by using the clay and shrapnel to make art.  By the end of the war, I was seven years old, and had developed good clayworking skills that led to a lifelong career.  The moral of the story is never miss out on free materials!

COLORED AND  LAMINATED CLAYS FOR AGATE WARE

Clay is the most amazing natural material that develops from the extensive decomposition of feldspathic rock. It is basically a combination silica and alumina. Depending on what other minerals the clay associates with during its formation                                               will determine the type of clay that will be formed. It can go from the purest of white kaolin to highly plastic ball clay to gritty stonewares and sagger clays that might fire anywhere from red to almost black. Clay is used for many purposes, ceramics being just one small part.  Most of the worlds surface, to a depth of approximately 4 miles is primarily comprised of clay. It is forming at a faster rate than it is being used up. There is a clay for use in just about any way that you can use clay. They can easily be blended for more specialized uses.

SEA SHELLS WITH PATTERNS LIKE AGATEWARE OR NERIAGE PORCELAIN

Working with clay is hard work, for sure,  but I can't imagine a more pleasurable way to make one's living for a lifetime. I really loved teaching, but the administrivia of academe took most of the pleasure out of it for me. Realizing that I could do as well in a productive studio and selling all my own work from my own gallery allowed a better income than teaching could give me, so that is what I did. I was very lucky to get a set of tools that both allowed and encouraged an offshoot as a writer and video teacher, so my income derives from various sources.  When one is put in jeopardy by changes in the economy, I can make another more active. I have been very fortunate in my choices and directions. 

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WHY POTS?

BISQUE FIRED PORCELAIN PITCHERS

GENERAL PURPOSE BOWLS - 1966 - ELECTRIC-FIRED

PHOENIX BIRD BOWL - PORCELAIN, GAS-FIRED

It seems like a purely natural act to manipulate clay into vessels for use or contemplation. It has been done much the same way for eons of time by almost all cultures of the world, except under arctic and highly humid jungle conditions. The global range of forms and uses defy the imagination. The hardening of clay by firing most likely goes back some 30,000 years in time.  It feels very good to be part of an art form with such longevity. It has been the largest segment of my life for seventy years now.

HUMMINGBIRD  PLATE 1 - PORCELAIN  WITH SANDBLASTED IMAGE AND BONEFUMING.

HUMMINGBIRD PLATE 2 - PORCELAIN WITH SANDBLASTED IMAGE AND BONEFUMING.

I particularly enjoy working on both functional ware for use, as well as sculptural or one-of-a-kind ware made purely for fun or personal gratification. Most of the sculptural work revolves around bird and animal sculptures.  Life is in a state of personal and perpetual  change, never boring and always in some stage in research or productivity. 

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WHY GARDENS?

TREES WITH FORMS LIKE WATERFALLS

Gardens have always been a major part of my life since I bought my first house at the age of twenty-one. I was successfully working backstage in theatre as a technician. With a strong Union I was doing very well financially. At that time, small, older houses were very affordable, even in London. It was at my first house that I started to learn about plants and designing and building gardens. Every time I sold a house to move on, I traded up and each time had a larger garden to contend with and enjoy. With my first wife and family, I decided to emigrate to Canada, and started to learn a whole new garden language because of the vastly different climate patterns. Southern Vancouver Island has a climate similar to the South East part of England but warmer.  It turned out to be perfect for me. I was lucky enough to find a small farm with outbuildings for the house and studio and sufficient land to develop the sort of garden that I always wanted.  I had truly "Died and gone to heaven". After 35 years here in a Maritime Mediterranean climate, I feel that I have achieved all that I hoped for in life. I live in Paradise, surrounded by awe inspiring beauty, both natural and manmade. It is a constant source of material and ideas do the work that I always hoped for.  The garden is like a bird sanctuary because of the combination of indigenous plants and exotics selected for berry, seed and nut production to feed the amazing birds that come in. That also informs my art work in several ways, particularly with ducks, herons. kingfishers, other waterbirds, hawks,  eagles, hummingbirds, finches and several varieties of woodpecker.  It is always a hive of activity.  Altogether it is some of my favorite subject matter, as well as an ongoing visual treat virtually every day.  If that doesn't build a huge inventory of ideas for potential artwork, I don't know what will. It always amazes me that so many people walk through the garden and then ask me where I get my ideas from. Am I crazy? There is so much beauty in one plant. With a whole garden full, it is "EYE CANDY" and "BRAIN FOOD" for months on end, and repeating with changes every year.  Nature is the prime source of visual ideas for the majority of artists, no matter what the medium of expression.

TOP POND AND STONE BRIDGE

My next posting will be on Friday, 11th May, 2012.

INTRODUCTION TO THE GARDEN - PART FOUR

MAY 4TH, 2012

EAST SIDE STORY

The last posting was about the WEST SIDE of the GARDEN, so I will call it  WEST SIDE STORY, one of my all-time favorite pieces of theater. If you look at it thoroughly, you will see much of a theatrical nature in the whole garden. The combination of my early life in theater, theater design and prop-making, with love and knowledge of plant behavior, has allowed me to play creatively.


 Going through the Korean Arch, we proceed to the EAST SIDE STORY, which is mainly about various forms of MEDITATION GARDEN. We go through Bog Gardens and over a YATSUHACHI Bridge into the Asian Woodland Path or ROJI. Then continue past the First MACHIAI or waiting bench, past the Tongue-in-Cheek ZEN Garden with its Dry River Bed and Colorful CeramiKoi. We pass the ZEN Bored Husband's Meditation Bench at the entrance to the Gallery. We will then enter the Private, Tranquil, Inner, or Meditation Garden, TSUBONIWA, or Courtyard and Koi Pond Garden. After traversing the Civilization Courtyard, and over a small, humped, stone Transition bridge, we exit by the Civilization Gate, turn right to leave the garden, and, after a few paces, exit via the Emperor's Gate at the COMPLETION of the CIRCLE.


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KOREAN ARCH - BEGINNING OF EAST SIDE GARDEN
PHOTO CREDIT:  "KATE CINO, ARTOPENINGS,CA"

LOOKING TOWARDS THE BOG GARDEN

LOOKING NORTH ON WIDE RIVER
UPPER BOG GARDEN ON RIGHT

BOG GARDEN WITH YATSUHACHI BRIDGE

There are two bog gardens in this part of the garden. I really like looking down into into the plants when they are in flower. The ZIG-ZAG, or YATSUHACHI BRIDGE is from Japanese folklore, where the belief is that, if you are being chased by evil spirits you will likely be safe on the bridge as evil spirits only fly in straight lines.

BOG GARDEN WITH YATSUHACHI BRIDGE
PHOTO CREDIT:  "KATE CINO, ARTOPENINGS,CA"

GIANT SKUNK CABBAGE
PHOTO CREDIT:  "KATE CINO, ARTOPENINGS,CA"

ASIAN WOODLAND - ROJI

The ASIAN GARDEN contains only plants from Japan, China and Korea. ROJI is the name given to the woodsy pathway that leads to a waiting bench or MACHIAI on the way to the TEAHOUSE .  THE TEA CEREMONY - CHA-NO-YU, takes place in a rustic small house. It is from a Zen Buddhist Meditation Process

KERRIA JAPONICA  "GENTLEMAN'S BUTTON"

DETAIL OR MACHIAI OR WAITING BENCH IN THE ROJI PATH
PHOTO CREDIT:  "KATE CINO, ARTOPENINGS,CA"

LANTERN WITH WINDFLOWERS

EAST ROJI PATHWAY

ZEN GARDENS are normally very spare, being raked sand, gravel and rocks, giving the abstract impression of the dry landscape. They often include dry river beds and dry waterfalls. There are usually no flowers. I took liberties and made it a "TONGUE-IN-CHEEK ZEN GARDEN and added 100 COLORFUL CERAMIC KOI FISH that are made from thick porcelain tiles.

TONGUE-IN-CHEEK ZEN GARDEN
WITH
DRY RIVER BED WITH 100 CERAMIC KOI

DRY RIVER WITH PORCELAIN FISH

TONGUE-IN-CHEEK ZEN GARDEN WITH
DRY RIVER BED WITH 100 CERAMIC KOI.
TRADITIONAL CLOUD FORM BARRIERS MAY
BE REMOVED TO DRIVE  TRUCKS IN THE GARDEN.

TONGUE-IN-CHEEK ZEN GARDEN
WITH
DRY RIVER BED WITH 100 CERAMIC KOI

TONGUE-IN-CHEEK ZEN GARDEN
WITH
DRY RIVER BED WITH 100 CERAMIC KOI

TONGUE-IN-CHEEK ZEN GARDEN
DRY RIVER BED WITH 100 CERAMIC KOI
TRANSITION TO CHECKERBOARD

ZEN GARDEN WITH STONE JAPANESE LANTERN

ZEN GARDEN -  SILVER ISLAND

STEPS FRPOM GALLERY TO ZEN GARDEN
BORED HUSBAND'S MEDITATION BENCH TO LEFT

This path leads to the Meditation Garden in the form of a TSUBONIWA or Courtyard, Pond and Patio Garden. Judi's studio is down the stairs on the lower right.

PATH AND KOI GATE TO MEDITATION GARDEN

POND AND COURTYARD GARDEN - TSUBONIWA

Meditation Garden with views from in front of the Teahouse. Spectacular in Fall with 11 different Japanese Maples

POND AND COURTYARD GARDEN - TSUBONIWA

POND,  PATIO AND COURTYARD GARDEN - TSUBONIWA

MACHIAI - MEDITATION GARDEN

ROYAL FERN - OSMUNDA REGALIS;

POND AND COURTYARD GARDEN - TSUBONIWA

POND AND COURTYARD GARDEN - TSUBONIWA
PHOTO CREDIT: BILL TERRY

POND AND COURTYARD GARDEN - TSUBONIWA
LOOKING EAST

The last few images have shown the section of the garden called CIVILIZATION. One leaves by going over a stone, hump back  bridge, through Civilization, or Transition Gate and turning right up a short pathway to exit the whole  garden through  the EMPEROR'S GATE to the OUTSIDE WORLD.

TRANSITION GATE

PATH FROM EMPEROR'S GATE

NORTH TO EMPEROR'S GATE

EMPEROR'S GATE FROM HELLEBORE,  FERN AND HOSTA GARDEN

FERN AND HELLEBORE GARDEN

FAMILY CREST

EMPERORS -  GATE - FROM OUTSIDE

PATH TO EMPEROR'S GATE

TONGUE - IN CHEEK ZEN GARDEN WITH
BORED HUSBANDS MEDITATION BENCH

This bench area includes a TONGUE-IN-CHEEK MEDITATION BENCH FOR BORED HUSBANDS WHO REFUSE TO GO INTO THE GALLERY.

SHIGARAKI GOOD LUCK BADGER-BEARS

We  have now come full circle through the garden and back to the real world. This is how the garden looks like in mid spring 2012.  It is an Artist's Interpretation of the five basic styles of Japanese Garden, namely STROLL, SCROLL, TEA, ZEN and TSUBONIWA.


The garden is in continuous change through the seasons.  Plantings are selected with all seasons in mind, as our gallery at 'CHOSIN POTTERY is open year round. There are some parts that I haven't shown you yet as they are not exciting as yet. They will have their Time in the Spotlight soon.


I have been working on this ARTWORK for 35 years. I hope that you have enjoyed your visit. Come and visit the real thing some time.


My next posting will be on Monday, 7th May 2012. It will likely be considerably shorter than the last two!