P is for Pottery

Thursday was my last day of pottery class at the Cultural Arts Center. My teacher (I use the term loosely) Jim is a former English teacher and a wine connoisseur. When I say wine connoisseur, I mean that each class he went out for wine and came back tipsy. This makes pottery for the novice oh-so-much-fun! A lot more for fun him than the rest of us. At first I thought it was a little odd that no on seemed to mind the fact that we all paid tuition to a guy who was only present for half the lesson and whose "arthritis" acted up every time someone needed some direction on a project. Not to mention if any one of us had reported to our employers looped, we would have been canned on the spot. I have since discovered that it doesn't matter to "potter heads" what type of actual instruction you have. It is all about the zen experience of creating art and letting yourself feel the clay. On the other hand, I need lots of specific detailed instruction and just ended up learning through trial and error. The only thing I could count on from Jim was a contact high from his breath. Don't misunderstand, I ended up really enjoying class and found that I could embrace the art of the wheel.
I do want to share my thoughts on the piece pictured below. I worked pretty hard on making a couple of canisters I thought I could use or even give as gifts. I had finally mastered centering on the wheel, the glazing process, and all the other pottery mumbo-

jumbo that went along with it. I arrived at the kiln room to see my canister sittin' pretty. Sweet! I reached to pick it up and was shocked to discover that the lid was fused to the body. I shake it few times to double check. Yep, still stuck. The kiln room lady (at least I imagine her to be a lady) left the lid on the jar and proceeded to fire it. Stupid kiln room lady. Now I am holding a totally nonfunctional canister. Nothing goes in and nothing comes out. I can't use it and I certainly can't give it away. All I can do is play tricks on unsuspecting people who want cookies from me. Would you like a cookie? What's the matter? Can't get the lid off? Ha ha...the joke is on you!

Here is a peek at a few of my creations. Not good enough to open my own road-side stand, but it will satisfy my creative urges for a while. I think my next class will be jewelry making. Although I heard that welding while intoxicated could be hazardous, so I hope Jim sticks to pottery.