Ceramics

Because this is a blog about everything me and mine, here is my latest project. This one is for school and a new subject for me: ceramics. So far ceramics has been very enjoyable, it seems to fit into the category of the kind of projects I like, some what tedious, yet still very enjoyable with a design all my own.

This is a small, clay, coil built vase (about 8 inches tall) and is my version of a totem pole. I have a vivid memory of when I was young and lived in Alaska when a local carver worked with 6th graders at my school to carve a totem pole and later I got to help put it up by pulling ropes to stand it straight. If my memory serves me right, it is in the middle of the school ground and is very, very tall ( probably not as tall to me now;) ). It was a fun day and I always thought it was amazing that even though we were in Alaska, my school grew vegetables, was involved in 4-H, and frankly, had the coolest playground.

Here is a link talking about the totem pole in the Denali Elementary School playground. I had no idea that they tell the story of the totem pole each year and did not even know about the poem until I tried to find info on it. http://lessonplans.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/totems-of-respect/

Here are some pics of the vase in progress. I have only built the form and carved the design (and am very new at ceramics!). Stay tuned for finished pictures and the next couple of ceramic projects I will be working on: a recreation of a 13th century Korean 22 inch tall vase and a small carving of the Ice King from Adventure Time!

- ChellytheBean