I love porcelain clay. I love everything about it. I love the delicate smooth quality of it and how it requires that I pay attention. I love that it doesn’t let me hide; every finger and nail mark is right there. These are the marks of the craftsman; they show you the item was made by a person rather than a machine.
Working with porcelain is kind of like working with Philadelphia cream cheese as a canvas. You have to wait for just the right balance between wet and dry; an exercise in attentiveness.It’s a useful thing thing to work on.
I have been working on a new series of tiles, and some carved vases. My husband throws the vases, and I carve them. Here are a couple of pieces in process:
Fr. Bernard Cook wrote, “We need to have people who mean something to us; people to whom we can turn, knowing that being with them is coming home.” I have learned that home travels. I have found it in the mountains of North Carolina, in New York City, in Cleveland, Ohio, in Blue Mountain Lake, NY (of which I will write later) and in my town, Peninsula, Ohio.
Ronda, the proprietor of the Downtown Emporium tells me that over 100 names were entered into the Name the Peninsula Python contest. Most were alliterative, some playful, some mythological in nature. Most folks seemed to assume that the python was a male. Ronda says that the official gender-neutral name of the Peninsula Python is Penn.
The world, including the Great Dane on Main (Street), passes by Ronda’s porch:
Here are some more photos of this year’s Pythons of Peninsula and the people who made it all happen.
There is something special about my town, its people, its heart and spirit. Something that truly is like coming home.
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Post a comment and I’ll enter you in the Python Posse Giveaway–and you could win cool stuff, too! You can join the latest member of the Posse, Amy, and her cohorts:Terrie Farley Moran,Sam, Travis, Barrie, and Eryl,
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**As always, My Town Monday is brought to you by Amarillo, Texas’ own Travis Erwin. Take a trip on over to his blog, One Word, One Rung, One Day, and you’ll travel to Cimarron Canyon in northern New Mexico. You’ll also find links to the blogs of other My Town Monday Marauders.
Our Python is at home in front of our studio/gallery. Designed and painted by artist Stephanie Margush, he—or she?— is resting comfortably, waiting for visitors.
The day of the python was a beautiful one in my town, the Village of Peninsula. Python imagery was everywhere, from the fronts of community buildings, to the library, to the front porches and yards of our residents. Take a look:
Innkeeper George Hoy, of the beautiful Inn at
Brandywine Falls wrote a wonderful book which tells the story of the Python. George and his dog, Louie, were available as the CD was played in the Village.
The Python Parade was magnificent. Stretching 120 feet, from head to tail, the people-powered python proceeded up Main Street, climbing the hill to Riverview Road and turning south toward the Peninsula Library and Historical Society. This was a great place for the python to park, since the mural commemorating the Peninsula Python is part of the Library.
Much has been said and written about small towns and the spirit that makes them what they are. You kind of know that it’s the right place to be, and that it’s home. The Village of Peninsula, population 602; gently resisting change since 1837.
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You can join the latest member of the Posse, Terrie Farley Moran,and her cohorts: Sam, Travis, Barrie, and Eryl, (Post a comment, suggest a name for the first python, and I’ll enter you in the Python Posse Giveaway–and you could win cool stuff, too!)
——————————————————————————————————————————- My Town Monday is the product of the vivid imagination of Travis Erwin. Click on over there and read what he has to say about his home town of Amarillo, Texas. Then check out the blogs of the other My Town Marauders.
I’m back from a wonderful week at Blue Mountain Lake, NY. What an astoundingly beautiful place! I will write more about our amazing adventure, where I climbed a mountain—and more!— later.
Our Python is at home in front of our studio/gallery. Designed and painted by artist Stephanie Margush, he—or she?— is resting comfortably, waiting for visitors.
The Python, however, needs a name. Post a suggestion, and I will enter your name in another high tech drawing (in which I will pick numbers from a hat) for the latest member of the Peninsula Python Posse.
So wander over to our neck of the woods, to the Village of Peninsula, population 602, built by the hands and hearts of generations; gently resisting change since 1837.
Besides her family, Cuyahoga Valley artist Pat Raeder’s main interests are animals and gardening. She considers herself lucky because she gets to play with dirt all year long. Each has its season: from the middle of August through Thanksgiving, and into the new year, Pat works with clay. In April, she begins the design process for her incredibly beautiful gardens.
The Jungle Series has developed over time; Pat worked on sketches for the series for many months. This group of pieces gave Raeder the opportunity to “stretch” as an artist: the pieces are more complex than those she has done in the past, and she has used more color. When I look at the work, I see a range of forms, each with it’s own character. Some are whimsical, some more serious; all have personalities and a story to tell.
Jungle Fruit
Stoneware clay, decorated with underglazes; on wood base
12″ x 12″ x 22″
Synchronicity is an interesting thing. Although Pat had taken a sculpture class in art school, she didn’t focus on clay. About 35 years ago, Pat Raeder’s husband was given a potter’s wheel and a kiln. He gave it to Pat for Christmas, and they put it in their basement. Teaching herself to throw on the potter’s wheel, Pat’s work slowly improved. But throwing wasn’t her main interest. She began to notice other potters’ work, and the variety of styles and techniques. Finding her niche in hand building, Pat has made jewelry, garden art, animals and this series. The repetition involved in producing the work over many years is a process of study and refinement, so that the artist’s hands and heart know what to do. Pat said that once she started thinking about the Jungle Series, new ideas “kept popping.” I am glad they did.
In a previous My Town Monday post, I wrote about the story of the Peninsula Python, where a runaway python, or the story thereof, terrorized the Village of Peninsula in the summer of 1944. Folks have long speculated what happened to the python, although no one really knows for sure.
On July 19th, the Village of Peninsula will celebrate the runaway reptile with the Peninsula Python Festival. From 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM, the python’s story will be commemorated with a costume parade, contests, games, music, artists’ demonstrations, food (does it taste like chicken?), and other events. Python sculptures will be decorated and displayed around the Village. Dolly Python is already adorning the front of the Downtown Emporium on the corner of Main Street and Locust. I am finishing the 2nd paper mache layer of our python. After it is completed, I’ll post photos of it for your viewing pleasure.
Our studio and gallery, Elements Gallery, is featuring the work of Akron artist, Pat Raeder. Pat is premiering her Jungle Series (the animals that didn’t get away). I’ll write more about Pat and her work in a separate post.
**On another note, #2 daughter and I will be traveling to the Adirondacks this week. I’ll try to have a post for next week. Stay tuned….
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Post a comment and you, too can be a member of the Peninsula Python Posse. Sam, Travis, Barrie, and the newest member of the Peninsula Python Posse, Eryl, would love your company (and you could win cool stuff, too!)
As always, the head honcho of the My Town Monday crew is Travis Erwin. Take a trip on over to his site, One Word, One Rung, One Day, and you can virtually visit places all over this blue planet.
Today we’re sharing recipes for side dishes, salads and desserts. With these tried-and-true recipes, we’ll be extremely popular and get invited to all sorts of picnics this summer. And if we don’t want to go, we’ll stay home and be very well fed.
These skilled hands are not known for following recipes. They tend to follow my Grandmother’s kind of cooking.
Years ago, my sister wanted to know how to make some of my grandmother’s recipes. First she asked her how much of each ingredient to use. “As much as it takes,” was my Grandmother’s reply. Then she asked how hot the oven or stovetop should be. My Grandmother said, “Cook it at a temperature hot enough to cook it, but not hot enough to burn it.” How long to cook it? “As long as it takes.” So my sister followed my Grandmother with measuring spoons and measuring cups and dutifully wrote down the ingredients. Then she made the recipe.
It tasted different. Certainly not as good as my Grandmother’s.
So here is my recipe—kind of—for Cabbage Salad:
Cut up a cabbage in slaw-sized pieces. Place it in a large bowl. Add any other sliced or shredded vegetables, i.e.: carrots, peppers. I add nuts of some kind, usually almonds or walnuts. I also add Craisins, or strawberries (fresh) or raisins. Add white basalmic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Toss and refrigerate.
It really is good. Even without a recipe.
Wander on over to Barrie’s place. You’ll find recipes from all kinds of folks. Post a recipe on your site, let Barrie know, and she’ll add you to the Round-Up.
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