PHOENIX: July 2012

PLEASE ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF,

I’M A MAN OF CLAY AND GLAZE

PUSHED MUD AROUND FOR SEVENTY YEARS

OR TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DAYS.

Robin Hopper is a man of many parts, mostly worn out, rusty or dysfunctional, due to a lifetime of excesses! He started working with clay at the age of three and is still doing it over 70 years later. His lengthy, peripatetic career as a mudpusher has included side trips into working as a Professional Actor, Stage Designer, Property Maker, Stage Manager, Stage Carpenter, Grocer, Greengrocer, Jazz Musician, Teapot, Wine and Beer-Bottle, Trumpet, Trombone and Bugle Player, European Travel Guide, Founder of Several Clay/Art/Craft Organizations, Alchemist, Geologist, Primatologist, Linguist, Ornithologist, Botanist, Ceramic Historian, Educator, Author, Garden Designer, Lecturer on Japanese Garden Design, Laborer and Star of Stage, Screen and Potter’s Wheel!

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!

THE GUY ON THE LEFT IS 21 AND WORKING ON HIS FIRST GIG AS A PROFESSIONAL ACTOR IN LONDON'S WEST END, THE EQUIVALENT OF NEW YORK'S BROADWAY. THE PLAY WAS THE BRITISH PREMIERE OF WELL-KNOWN AMERICAN PLAY "INHERIT THE WIND". THE DATE WAS 1961. (Photo Credit: Robert Pitt) THE GUY ON THE RIGHT IS 52 YEARS OLDER AND SHOWING THE RAVAGES OF TIME, EXPERIENCE AND DECAY. (Photo Credit: Michael Schoenholtz)

Promises! Promises! Promises!

FIRST THE BAD NEWS!
I'M RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND BECAUSE OF MANY INTERRUPTIONS THAT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN CONSTANT THIS WEEK. I WILL ATTEMPT TO GET SOMETHING MORE TOGETHER IN THE "IDEAS" COLUMN IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AS LONG AS "THE STINKING FISH STUDIO TOUR" DOESN'T WIPE ME OUT OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. CUTTING DOWN THE GIANT HOGWEED MIGHT ALSO BE SOMETHING OF A CHALLENGE. THAT IS ALSO ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA!

GIANT HOGWEED ( HERACLEUM mantegazzianum) BEFORE IT BITES THE DUST!
EACH HEAD HAS HUNDREDS OF SEEDS AND MY SOIL IS VERY FERTILE. BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT
BUT UNDESIRABLE IN MOST OTHER WAYS. THE WIFE SAYS IT HAS GOT TO GO!
IT WILL BE GONE TOMORROW.

THE GOOD NEWS!

I SPENT SOME TIME TODAY PHOTOGRAPHING MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF FERN AND OTHER PLANTS. THEY WILL BE THE SUBJECT IN THE NEXT "IDEAS" POSTINGS, "LOOKING, SEEING AND INTERPRETING!"

SEE YOU LATER!

Monday, July 23, 2012

THUGS IN THE GARDEN! IDEAS AT WORK!

TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2012

IDEAS

I KEEP MENTIONING THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IDEAS, BUT SOMETHING OR OTHER KEEPS GETTING IN THE WAY AND IT GETS POSTPONED. MY INTENT IS TO HAVE IDEAS AS A REGULAR COLUMN. A LARGE AMOUNT OF SURFACE DECORATION IN MY OWN WORK NORMALLY COMES DIRECTLY FROM NATURE OR OUR LARGE GARDEN THAT I DESIGNED TO GIVE ME A CONSTANT SOURCE OF IDEAS.

IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME HOW MANY PEOPLE TREK THROUGH OUR EXTENSIVE GARDEN, THEN COME INTO OUR GALLERY AND ASK "WHERE DO I GET MY IDEAS FROM". I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS OBVIOUS! SOME OF THE PLANTS GROW SO TALL THAT I WOULDN'T THINK YOU COULD POSSIBLY MISS THEM. SIMPLIFIED OR ABSTRACTED BRUSH DRAWINGS DIRECT FROM THE GARDEN PAINTED ON NEWLY AVAILABLE PORCELAIN CANVAS SUBSTRATES ARE MY FAVORITE. I THEN DECIDE WHAT AND HOW TO INTERPRET AND WHAT PROCESS, GLAZE, KILN TYPE AND FIRING TEMPERATURE IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE MOST SATISFACTION. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO A RECENT LOSING BATTLE WITH A TROPICAL BACTERIA AND SUBSEQUENT TREMORS, I HAVE LOST MUCH HAND CONTROL FOR DOING FINE BRUSHWORK. I AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS CAN BE RECTIFIED.
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HERACLEUM mantegazzianum

INTERESTING HOW TIMES CHANGE IN THE WORLD OF HORTICULTURE. FIFTY YEARS AGO, THIS MAGNIFICENT PLANT WAS BEING TOUTED AS ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE STATUESQUE PLANTS FOR LARGER GARDENS THAT NEEDED SOME "OOMPH" IN THE LANDSCAPE. THIS ONE TOPS OUT AT BETWEEN TWELVE AND FOURTEEN FEET IN HEIGHT. BEAUTIFUL THOUGH IT IS, IT IS NOW REGARDED AS A PARIAH, AND IS BEING RIPPED OUT AND BURNED WHEREVER IT SHOWS ITS GORGEOUS FACE. ITS PRIMARY SIN IS HAVING A TOXIC SAP THAT CAN BURN SENSITIVE SKIN LEAVING RASHES AND BLISTERS. ITS SECONDARY SIN IS THAT IT PRODUCES THOUSANDS OF FERTILE SEEDS, ENOUGH TO COVER THE PLANET EARTH IN A FAIRLY SHORT TIME. ITS COMMON NAMES ARE GIANT HOGWEED, GIANT QUEEN ANNE'S LACE, WILD PARSNIP, CARTWHEEL FLOWER, WILD RHUBARB OR GIANT COW PARSLEY. WE ALWAYS CUT IT BACK TO GROUND LEVEL AND BURN IT BEFORE IT CAN GO TO SEED.

SOME PLANTS ARE JUST MADE WITH DESIGNERS IN MIND

Brush Drawing

Simple Brush Drawing abstracted from photographic image

Giant Hogweed Leaf

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TEAZLE

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL THUG IS THE THISTLE TYPE PLANT CALLED THE TEAZLE.

TEAZLE

SIMPLIFIED BRUSH DRAWING OF TEAZLE

TEAZLES, AND MANY OTHER PLANTS OF THE THISTLE FAMILY, OFFER BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRUSHWORK DESIGNS. THE MORE YOU LOOK INTO NATURE, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO FINDA WEALTH OF GREAT IDEAS FOR POTTERY DECORATION.

THE RACCOON OUTSIDE MY OFFICE WINDOW DIDN'T STAY AROUND LONG ENOUGH FOR A DRAWN PORTRAIT BUT I DID MANAGE A SLIGHTLY BLURRED PHOTO.
CUTE LITTLE THUG, EH!
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ANOTHER THUG IN THE GARDEN CHECKING ME OUT THROUGH MY OFFICE WINDOW!

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IN MY OPINION, DEVELOPING DRAWING SKILLS IS THE VERY BEST FOUNDATION TO ENCOURAGE IDEA DEVELOPMENT. ALWAYS CARRY A SKETCHBOOK TO JOT DOWN DRAWINGS AND FORMATIVE IDEAS FOR FUTURE EXPLORATION. IF YOU ARE PRONE TO INSOMNIA, KEEP A SKETCHBOOK ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE. IDEAS OFTEN PRESENT THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND ARE GONE IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN! DON'T ATTEMPT FRAMEABLE DRAWINGS, YOU ARE JUST CATCHING WORKING CONCEPTS FOR INTERPRETATION LATER. THERE IS A VAST RANGE OF DECORATION METHODS. TEST SOME OF THEM OUT TO EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS. REMEMBER, YOU CAN ONLY CREATE TRULY ORIGINAL WORK THROUGH FOLLOWING YOUR
OWN DIRECTION.

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I'M PLANNING TO TRY AND KEEP TO ONE BLOG POSTING PER WEEK AS LONG AS I CAN MANAGE IT WITH MY CURRENT HEALTH ISSUES AND HAVE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS TO SHARE.

REST AND RELAXATION DON'T SEEM TO HAVE HAD MUCH EFFECT AS YET. MEDITATION SEEMS TO BE IMPROVING THE SITUATION SLIGHTLY. I HAVE MANY OTHER MEDICAL TESTS LINED UP OVER THE NEXT MONTH. I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOMETHING WILL WORK SOON.

POSTINGS WILL MOST LIKELY BE MADE ON TUESDAY MORNINGS. COMMENTS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

SEE YOU AGAIN SOON. RH

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

MISSA 2012 FINAL IMAGES

MORE MAGICAL

MISSA MUGSHOTS,

ACTUAL ART ACTIVITIES,

SILENT AUCTION, AND

SALSA DANCE PARTY SENDOFF!

DAVE DA BOSS

HEAD CHEF LUKE - 2ND FROM RIGHT - AND SOME OF THE GREAT AND GASTRONOMIC
KITCHEN STAFF ON BODACIOUS GUMBO NIGHT

LOGAN, MEIRA AND SHANA ON BODACIOUS GUMBO NIGHT

SOCIALIZING BOOKBINDERS DON AND PAUL ON GUMBO NIGHT

BILLY RAY MANGHAM'S BIRTHDAY

BATTLING BUNNYKING AND TRAINER - CERAMIC SCULPTURE COURSE

3D COLLAGE

BRUSH EXPLORATIONS

BRUSHES

GREGARIOUS GNOME AND CREATOR

BITS'NPIECES 3D COLLAGE

THE SILENT AUCTION

FINAL DINNER AND DANCE

THE END

THIS IS THE LAST OF FIVE POSTINGS ABOUT MISSA 2012. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE TO BRING THIS MAGICAL PLACE TO A WIDE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE. SOME REFER TO IT AS THE ART WORLD'S BEST KEPT SECRET, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT MISSA AND THE DIVERSE PROGRAMS WE OFFER MAY BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE: missa.ca AND ON FACEBOOK.

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I NOW HAVE TO FOLLOW DOCTOR'S ORDERS AND KEEP AWAY FROM MY COMPUTER KEYBOARD FOR A FEW WEEKS - UNLESS THERE IS SOME BURNING ISSUE THAT I CAN'T KEEP AWAY FROM! TUNE IN OCCASIONALLY TO CHECK WHAT MIGHT HAVE TURNED UP.

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

"BREAKING SILENCE #4"

ART SCHOOL WAS NEVER LIKE THIS WHEN I WAS AN ART STUDENT - 1955-1961

MISSA TEESHIRT DESIGNED BY TEXAN CERAMIC ARTIST RANDY BRODNAX

We have now come to the end of this year's session. It has been my distinct pleasure to introduce MISSA to you through the past four postings. This posting focusses on courses and happenings during the last week and many of the people that make it happen. The idea to start MISSA was mine, but the initial simple idea needed a team to bring it to fruition. Throughout the 28 years that it has been running a veritable army of people have been involved, from board members to instructors, technical staff, musicians, volunteers and kitchen staff. The opportunity to hold the school on the wonderful campus of Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific has been most fortunate and hugely appreciated. We try to keep our course tuition at a little above break-even point to encourage participation by those who maybe financially stretched, but needing guidance. We offer bursaries to help in this direction and do special fundraising initiatives to develop a cache to draw from. MISSA has become a role model for other programs such as the Eye of the Dog School of Art in San Marcos, Texas. Billy Ray and Beverly Mangham, Founders of that School taught their inimitable courses for us again this year.

I received a comment on one of my Missa Blogs from Australia, bemoaning the current state of available art education with cutbacks from individual courses to whole departments and even institutions. This is happening all over the world. Art and culture are at the very foundation of humanity and the opportunity for personal expression one of our most important human rights.
There are many centers that have developed out of the insight and passion of the few.

It is not that difficult to start a cultural center. It needs vision, passion and push to achieve much that costs little, gives pride of accomplishment and saves sanity at the same time.

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PLENTY OF FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND ACTION.

WORN TO THE BONES

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I HAVE SO MANY IMAGES THAT I WILL HAVE TO DO ANOTHER POSTING IN A COUPLE OF DAYS TO ACCOMMODATE THEM. THE IMAGES SHOWN HERE ARE STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, TEACHING FACULTYAND ASSISTANTS.

DAVE SKILLINGS - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SHANA WATSON - EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

TONY BOUNSALL - THE PREZ

JO-ANN RICHARDS - THE VICE PREZ

BARB LOVICK - SECRETARY

BETTY BURROUGHS (ON THE RIGHT) - AND TECHIE DAN

BILLY RAY MANGHAM (TEACHER) AND TECHIE STEVEN

PEGGY ELMES - CHIEF TECHIE

MISSING, OUT OF FOCUS OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE.

JUDI SCOTT - PAST PRESIDENT,
ANN PENNANT ( TREASURER),
ROBIN HOPPER - FOUNDING PRESIDENT EMERITUS, ISABEL TIPTON - FIBER SPECIALIST,
CAROL RAE - ART DIRECTOR,
DEBORAH CZERNECKY - PAINTING DIRECTOR
KAREL ROESSINGH - MUSIC DIRECTOR
GRETCHEN MARKLE - PAINTING DIRECTOR
MEIRA MATHISON - CERAMICS COODINATOR

TEACHING FACULTY - 2012