Frosty the Snowbong

Frosty the (unfired, don't want him to melt now, do we?) Snowbong

While I applaud initiative, some parts of what might be this student's 'high school and beyond' plan and holiday spirit would best be saved for the 'beyond' high school part. Or, from around three student-lifetime's worth of observation of how this plan has played out with far too many others, forgotten altogether. I love ya, my students - that's why I'm telling' it straight.

No bongs, kids - no bongs. Did Calvin & Hobbes make a snowman like this? No, Calvin & Hobbes did not.

(Why are bongs usually so less than aesthetically pleasing? Do they appear better after using them? Why not just put in the work to make cool art in the first place and avoid having to use a bong to make it look good?)

Darkroom Scene From "Boyhood"

A scene from Richard Linklater's film "Boyhood". Though it has been Hollywood-ized some and contains straight-spoken language, the heart is dead on and worth hearing, and thinking about. If you don't believe me when I say it, then listen to Mr. Turlington . . .

August 28th 2015

Once again it's time to start back to school. I look forward to making or renewing your acquaintance, and getting to work in the studios.

And by the by - here be dragons.

Dragon sculpture in progress by Clarisse Chaussee

Work in progress by Clarisse Chaussee

Farm Alone

Ryan Cass enjoys shooting video as well as still photography, and summer did not slow him down.

June 17th 2015

Some pieces from the last few firings as we wrap the year up. Thanks for all the fun times - let's do it again! (After, like, taking a couple months off, enjoying some sun and sleeping in).

Teapot by Ella Hutchinson

Ella Hutchinson

Blue slab vases by Kaylee Feeney

Kaylee Feeney

Coil pot by Madeleine Truffat

Madeleine Truffat

Cup by Michael Rhoads

Michael Rhoads

Thrown and altered cup by Anders Ledell

Anders Ledell

Bowl by Jordan Lemieux

Jordan Lemieux

Shino bowl by Anders Ledell
Handbuilt cup by Chase Sutton
Iron red bottle by Clarisse Chaussee
Bowl by Doug Kafka
Bowl by Jacob Davis
Coil pot by Karley Bentler
Bowl by Kaylee Feeney
Handbuilt cup by Madeleine Truffat
Helicopter by Matthew Bland
Bowl by Michael Rhoads
Tray by Michelle Maciel Sedona
Head pot by Nick Sogge
Sgraffito plate by Nicole Rauch
Handbuilt cup by Emily Rauch
Shino tray by Ryan Kubasta
Zachary Anderson-Nord
Vase by Zachary Anderson-Nord
Slab vase by Madeleine Truffat

May 6th 2015

Raku pot by Zachary Anderson-Nord

Zachary Anderson-Nord

Handbuilt cup by Joleen Nguyen

Joleen Nguyen

Slab tray by Liyou Alemu

Liyou Alemu

Minion by Joshua Hochstetler

Joshua Hochstetler

Shino tea bowl by Avery Magnelli
Slab tray by Joleen Nguyen
Celadon tea bowl by Joleen Nguyen
Raku sea urchin cup by Kaylee Feeney
Broken and patched celadon tea bowl by Madeleine Truffat
Tenmoku tea bowl by Michael Rhoads
Celadon platter by Zachary Anderson-Nord
Bowl by Zachary Anderson-Nord
Deep bowl by Zachary Anderson-Nord

May 5th 2015

Happy cinco de mayo.

cinco de mayo

2015 Washington State High School Photo Contest

The annual high school photography contest took place in our gym Saturday and was as big and exciting as ever. Around 70 schools participated, submitting 4000ish images. This year our judges were Eirik Johnson, a professor of photography at UW who also works with Photo Center NW; Margaret Zydek, photo professor at Bellevue College; and Catherine Abegg, a primarily portrait and wedding photographer. Reactions to their choices ranged from "Yes!" to "Why the HECK did they choose THAT?!", but from a sea of images they managed to winnow out 1st through 6th places in each of twelve categories. Our students put up a pretty good showing this year and earned third place overall. Below are not only the images that received recognition (a few still need to be added), but also some good works that were lost in the crowd.

The first three photos below will be professionally framed and join the traveling show that exhibits in the Seattle Art Museum, among other venues.

Bailey Fjelstul, 2nd place camera phone

Bailey Fjelstul, 2nd place camera phone


Mairead Brown, 3rd place portrait

Mairead Brown, 3rd place portrait


Chase Graham, 3rd place manipulation

Chase Graham, 3rd place manipulation


Other Images That Placed:

Chris Sciumbato, 4th place camera phone

Chris Sciumbato, 4th place camera phone


Zamir Gonzalez, 5th place architecture

Zamir Gonzalez, 5th place architecture


Caitlin Clarke, 5th place landscape

Caitlin Clarke, 5th place landscape


Chris Sciumbato, 6th place abstract

Chris Sciumbato, 6th place abstract


Kristin Willis, 6th place animal

Kristin Willis, 6th place animal


Maddux Pearson, 6th place camera phone

Maddux Pearson, 6th place camera phone


Finalists:

Chantal Ramos, finalist landscape
Elliot Mock, finalist landscape
Ryan Cass, finalist abstract
Taylor Simonson, finalist abstract
Lexi Hungerford, finalist color

Select Images:

Ryan Cass, select abstract
Lexi Hungerford, select abstract
Bailey Fjelstul, select camera phone
Noah Puff, select camera phone
Noah Puff, select camera phone
Kyra Hedman, select camera phone
Meghan Duft, select camera phone
Chase Graham, select camera phone
Ioan Butiu, select color
Bailey Fjelstul, select landscape
Hannah McCausland, select landscape
Chase Graham, select landscape
Taylor Simonson, select people
Taylor Simonson, select portrait
Nina Xiong, select still life
Beth Malkin, select still life

Other Good Photos:

Taylor Simonson
Taylor Simonson
Taylor Simonson
Jacob Johanson
Srijit Paul
Amanda Brundson
Elliot Mock
Maddie Urschel
Ryan Cass

March 26th 2015

New semester, new students, and a few new pieces now with more in the works.

Square amber tray with carved treerings by Kaylee Feeney

Kaylee Feeney

Shino fire guinomi by Ishaq Hilber Abdul-Haq

Ishaq Hilber Abdul-Haq

Shaner's gold plate by Eric Bjers

Eric Bjers

Textured sculptural celadon tray by Ryan Jones

Ryan Jones

January 23rd 2015

Some students do Running Start and take college classes during high school, and some students do Running Finish, trying to cram all the work they should have completed a Long Time Ago in the last day of the semester. It was a running finish kinda day - all the way into early evening. After all the dust and Dektol had settled, though, there were a few small things.

Hand by Sydney Ross

Sydney Ross is always willing to lend a hand.

Blue textured cup by Peyton Carroll

Peyton Carroll

Malcom's shine cup by Chris Wright

Chris Wright

Winn blue and tenmoku cup by Dustin Lloyd

Dustin Lloyd

Blue bowl by Briana McGinnis
Blue slab vase by Emma Gastineau
Cruise ship by Idries Rashid

Pages

time well spent

closeup view Jack Troy cup, links to Jack Troy artist page

time to explore

link to newest page of ceramic artist links, including link to Scott Parady, pictured

time flies

Link to monthly image blog