Burnish Clay Studio Blog

Studio Updates

Visiting Artist Dwayne Sackey came to the studio this weekend to lead a soda firing, and what a great event it was. As you can see above, the kiln was loaded and fired with the help of many capable hands, and our own Will Jenkins assisted in all stages of the firing. Burnish will be bringing many more visiting artists to teach workshops over the course of the year.

This session look out for Eva Funderburgh and Stephen Robison to drop by the studio to teach some unique and magical workshops. Both artists will demonstrate some special techniques that any artist can add to their toolbox. The Funderburgh workshop is full, but there are still spaces available in the Robison surface design workshop, which will take place on October 21 and 22. Sign up while there are still spaces left!

Classes Begin

Monday we welcome our fall session, with Hilde's hand-building class from 12:30 - 3:00 and Kacie's all-level wheel throwing class from 6:00 - 8:30 pm. Remember to steer clear of classroom space when the classes are taking place, and take note of the posted studio hours around the rooms and on the tables. I have posted a schedule of classes below as a reminder, if you happen to need one.

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Creativity Requires Safety

It takes courage to create. Anyone who has ever tried their hand at making anything knows that creating new things in a public and open space can be unnerving. This is one of the reasons the staff at Burnish do everything they can to make sure the students, members, and visitors feel welcome, safe, and free to be just who they are. This is the best place from which to take risks, to make, and to generally get freaky because there is no fear of being punished, harangued or harassed for any strange new work that might arise in this special and fertile environment.

As this new session starts, let's all remember to cheer each other on, support each other in our creative endeavors, (no matter how whacked out they might seem to be), and be conscious of all the ways we can inspire each other to be better.  

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Tip of the Week!

Teamwork makes the cake work.

You might have noticed there are a number of collaborations going on around the studio lately, and there is a reason for this. Collaboration is a special kind of challenge. It creates an environment within which two artists can have a visual conversation with each other, and push each other to do things they might not do otherwise. If you have a chance to collaborate with someone, do it. You will grow from it, your relationship with the other artist will improve, and you will have a creation you most likely could not have done on your own. 

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Opportunities

One of the things I have always done is make my own opportunities. I know that might sound odd, but I have little patience for waiting around to hear if someone in a far away land thought my work good enough to be included in this or that show. So, what do I do? I create my own projects. The world is my gallery, and I use it to expose everyday people to art in unsuspecting places.

Another way to create your own opportunity is pitch a show to a gallery that you curate yourself. One such opportunity is being offered by local gallery Make.Shift Art Space. Do you have experience curating? Do you feel like you could put on an interesting, beautiful, or curious show? Apply! These folks are very open to good ideas. 

​Good luck!