Crafty In Cobb

Do you want see something amazing that you most likely have never seen before? It's not in Cobb County but just around the corner. World renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly returns to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens after a 12 year hiatus. The exhibit runs through October 30.     The boldly colored glass art is installed throughout the gardens and even impressed my 8-year old son. He said "I thought this art would be boring and it's not." I know that's not a perfect plug for the event. But, those are pretty positive words for a boy who's been taken to a large city garden against his will for the afternoon. Chihuly is a master of appropriating naturally derived forms from plants and the ocean into his chosen medium of glass. Somewhat abstract and other worldly. Somewhat familiar and comfortable. Always vibrantly colorful and very pretty to view. The setting of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens is quite extraordinary and not to be...

I taught a 2-day youth ceramics class to 4-6 year olds a few weeks ago. Boy, did I have my work cut out for me! The class had 12 children enrolled, most of whom were 4 or 5. I think I was a little ambitious in terms of what a group that large could do. But, I believe they had fun during our two 1-hour sessions. Week 1 COLORFUL PINCH POTS - The children made pinch pots and were instructed to use at least 3 colors of engobe (a clay-based paint). They were given a round ball of clay and shown how to form using pinches to make a nice little pot. This skill would help them with their Week 2 work. ART MEDALLIONS - There was time to paint a second piece. I prepared medallions for the students to paint. After firing they can become art to hang on the wall. Week 2 PINCH POT PETS - The children were good at making pinch pots. This day they made them again but flipped them over and made them into a cat or dog. Most chose cats. These took some time and the childr...