Where to begin?
I have taken a break from entering images or making comments about work on this blog. Neither Francine nor I have quit making work . Work (both printmaking, drawing and ceramics) has continued and developed in grown in interesting directions but the necessity for recording it in the age of pandemic seemed redundant (unnecessary?).
In some letter I recently wrote, I mentioned that Fran and I, just a few months back, considered ourselves cosmopolitan with our trips to China and France, but we are now country bumpkins thinking more about growing vegetables than preparing for exotic travels.
I usually do not comment on family or personal issues on the blog, but have always focused on work ; but it may be appropriate at this time to note that we have recently welcomed our son and his family to our house after they escaped from Brooklyn. It has been a great pleasure to eat, talk and socialize with them and their two children in our home and studio. These activities have somewhat curtailed our studio focus but we have discovered that being able to direct our energies to our grandchildren and assist our work-at -home son and his wife is more important at this point in time. I know that our feeling certain that our family is safe and assisting them to remain safe is more important than what may be created in the studio.
Had I continued to maintain this blog, it would have included too many cancellations and changes of plans that were too painful and confusing to list. Now that everything has been cancelled I can list what would have been: A complete, rather than cancelled-half-way-through, group show at Pulse Gallery and participation in “State of the Art” as well as “Clay has its Say: Narrative Ceramics” in Lexington and Concord, a competition and a curated invitational. The biggest disappointment was the eventual cancellation, rather than rescheduling, of the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail. Much planning, expense, investment and time was put into this event. This year should have been as successful as any of the others.
This year would have been the 16th year iof the Pottery Trail which has grown tremendously since its inception. An on-line, virtual “2020 Pottery Trail “is being planned for May 30 and 31. Details of the event will be listed here as we get closer to that date.
Francine has been industrious, preparing an on-line shop for us linked to the “Shop” heading on this site. Many of the items found in this blog are beginning to be added to this site.
We will begin documenting some of the items we have been making on this blog to include Francine’s “Pandemic Vases”. These just came out of the bisque and soon will be fired.
I cannot say that the reopening and adding comments on this blog about our studio work is a return to normalcy but it is a return to communicating with the world.
Again, stepping away from my focusing only on work, I wish everyone to stay well and safe. Please focus on whatever is productive and positive in your lives.