Rick DuBose focuses on potter Jessica Battes-Grabowski.
Lynne Kelsey
It’s impossible to learn pottery from a book. Certainly, one can pick up tips and gain a basic understanding of the craft by reading, but it’s a skill that needs to be developed hands-on. We learn best by closely observing the hands of experienced potters, then taking up clay to imitate their actions.
On May 6 the Happy Potters gathered in the studio for a demonstration by guest potter Jessica Battes-Grabowski. Battes-Grabowski received her BFA in ceramics from UNT and currently is an associate professor of art at Tarrant County College. As an artist, she focuses on texture and came to demonstrate her carving techniques.
But what happens when you have an audience of 30 or 40 eager learners and one teacher? Technology to the rescue! Member Rick DuBose utilized an Apple TV utility to connect his iPhone to the wall-mounted studio television and acted as cameraman during the demonstration. Battes-Grabowski was able to demonstrate, narrate, and answer questions while all of the club members could watch her hands at work close up on the screen. This innovative approach was greatly appreciated by the Potters!
There’s rarely a slow day in the studio, as members gathered on May 22 for a holiday hand building workshop. Over the course of the morning, dozens of “hobbit houses,” along with gnomes and ornaments, appeared on work tables. These adorable items will be available at the Happy Potters booth at October’s Holiday Market, but if you need a beautiful handmade item sooner, don’t forget to check out our display window in the CATC. The holidays will be here before we know it—plan ahead!