Artifact 1-Slideshow of my time at NCCAT
Artifact 1-Reflection
For my first artifact I am choosing my experience at NCCAT in May 2008 and the impact it had on me. This artifact is in the form of a slideshow that documents the experience. The slideshow shows my colleagues, my inspiration and cheerleaders throughout my time in the mountains. The slideshow shows me working in the studio. The slide show also shows the galleries and artists that we visited as well as my studio experience. I took the photographs for this slideshow May 12-16, 2007 in Cullowhee, NC. The slide show is hosted through www.slide.com.
The purpose of this slideshow is to give visual documentation of my time at NCCAT and what I experienced while I was there. I learned so much from the workshop and NCCAT, some can be seen in photos of me in the studio- but there is much more that I took home that cannot be photographed. I learned about painting with slips, raku firing, underglazing and worked on my skills on the potters wheel. I also learned more about the history of pottery in North Carolina. However, in addition to this the main thing that I took from this workshop was a newfound enthusiasm for clay. I felt so inspired by the other art educators that I met. Even more inspiring were the non-art educators, regular classroom teachers willing to step outside of their comfort zone to embrace this art form. Surely I could do the same. Creating the slideshow for my electronic portfolio reminded me of what a rewarding experience the workshop at NCCAT was. In addition, the slideshow is a way to share the experience with other teachers that would like to attend a seminar at NCCAT.
For as long as I can remember, I have focused on developing my two-dimensional art. I have always drawn and painted. In college I branched out and studied textiles, and I was exposed to weaving, surface design and embellishment. When I was in undergrad I completed a course in Metal Design and also Ceramics. Both classed were a struggle for me, I felt so out of my element. Ceramics was really tough for me- I just didn’t like the feel of the clay. I didn’t make the connection. I never became an expert at throwing or hand building- but I made it through the course- with an ‘A’ no less. Although I made a good grade- it was not because I was good at throwing on the wheel or constructing slab designs- but because I tried, and because of sheer volume. My works were always lopsided and cracked- but I often made double, triple the required amount, trying to master this third dimension…but I never learned to love the clay.
In my first year of teaching at the high school I dreaded teaching ceramics- but I knew I had to do it. I had potters wheels, glazes and a kiln room- all the ‘fixins’ for a great clay studio. The only thing missing- my own passion. Reflecting back on this now, I am not sure if it was because I doubted my own ability, or because I really had not made the connection to clay as a medium. Whatever the reason, believe me when I say that I really did not enjoy the clay portion of my curriculum. However, I incorporated ceramics into my 9-12 curriculum and somehow the projects came out good and I didn’t burn down the school.
Fast forward to last year, 2007-08. I landed a job teaching K-2 art- a totally new experience for me. There is another art teacher at my school that teaches the first grade students, she is a potter and lives and breathes 3-D art- eek! I decided that this would be the year that I would learn more about clay- to let my guard down. In addition to working closely with the other art teacher, I also wanted to look to outside sources for a chance to inspire my inner 3-D artist. When I saw that NCCAT was offering a workshop on Contemporary Potters in Western North Carolina, I knew that this would be chance to challenge myself. The purpose of this workshop was to learn more about the rich history of ceramics in North Carolina, specifically the Western part of the state. In addition to learning about the history and impact on the local economy, a large component of the workshop was studio related.
Taking this seminar allowed me to challenge my weakest area as an artist, and subsequently as a teacher. I do not feel that my lessons involving three dimensional art and artists in the past have been my most successful, and I know that is largely due to my own shortcomings in this area. By improving my skills and knowledge as an artist I knew will improve my teaching.