Life is a journey . . . I was offered a high school ceramics teaching position in Flagstaff, AZ on the Thursday before school was slated to start and I arrived ready to work the following Tuesday. Needless to say, it's been a hectic Fall moving and getting settled into a new job and back in Flagstaff. Thanksgiving has just passed and I am most thankful to have such a supportive, flexible and adventurous life-partner (did I mention how cute he is?).
Flagstaff is a magical place and I'm happy to be back. I met my husband, Robert, here in 2002 when I was writing my masters' thesis correspondance from Ohio University. He promptly whisked me away to his homestate of California where we've lived for the past six years. My only concern after living in the Eastern Sierras is that Flagstaff won't get enough snow to satiate my new need for fluffy white powder. Telemark skiing has put an additional twist in my life. Like all things - time will tell. I'll keep you all posted on how I fare this winter.
Left: Flagstaff - Oak Creek Canyon; Right: Sedona
In addition to the extraordinary mountain biking (hiking, climbing, maybe skiing?) Flagstaff has to offer, Flagstaff aslo hosts a terriffic art community. The Flagstaff Cultural Parnters hosts a "First Friday Artwalk" http://www.flagstaffartwalk.com/ and other seasonal and other special exhibitions at their headquarters, Coconino Center for the Arts. Check out http://www.culturalpartners.org/ for more info.
Julia Galloway, professor at the Univerisity of Montana in Missoula, conducted a two-day demonstration/lecture at the end of September at Northern Arizona University here in Flagstaff. Kudos once again to Jason Hess for recruiting such a great artist and teacher and for sharing her with the community. I can identify with Julia's "puritan work ethic" and am enamored with her installations that eloquently and effectively place funtional works in a gallery space. See it for yourself at her website www.juliagalloway.com
Robert and I carved out about a quarter of our gargage, in our "new to us" Flagstaff rental, for my wheel and some shelving - aka "my studio". Winter has arrived and my hands have become stiff and frozen from dipping into my throwing water bucket in my unheated garage studio space. My fantastic husband suggested that I move my wheel into the kitchen. OMG - Life is good!
Left: me in the garage - burr!; Right: pots in progress (indoors on the dining table!)
I have fired up my hybrid kiln once already in my short 3 months in Flagstaff and anticipate another two firings in December. I need a bigger kiln! I suppose I really need to buy a house . . . some land. Make pots, ride, ski, cook, eat, sleep. Is there really much more to life? Let me know if you have it figured out.
Left: loading the hybrid kiln; Right: firing the kiln at home in Arizona
Until the next newsletter in the spring of 2010 . . . .
Do what makes you happy, love deeply and live fully.
Yours truly,
Rena
@ elementalartworks.org