by Kirby Lindsay, posted 28 November 2011
On December 2nd, from 6p – 9p, Fremonsters – and their friends – can stroll the Fremont First Friday Art Walk, to see the art, and shop a broad selection of holiday gift items. Every month the Art Walk venues offer unique works for sale – a selection of truly one-of-a-kind pieces by talented artists.
For December Susan Petersen, of Urban Earth nursery, will welcomed five ceramic sculptors. This show will specifically to offer visitors access to the largest number of pieces – both large and small – on sale for those looking for imaginative and unusual gift items.
A Hunger For Expression
The five ceramic sculptors on display at Urban Earth share one common factor among their diverse works – all five women study ceramics at the Kirkland Arts Center with instructor Carol Gouthro.
While they are all students in fact, in practice they are also experienced artists who have produced art – in a vast variety of mediums – for decades. “We’re the geezers,” Sandy Schwarz admitted proudly. Three of the artists – Schwarz, Judy Thomas and Barbara Hostetler – explained how the work in clay has expanded their ability to express themselves.
When many people her age are considering retirement, Thomas admitted, “I feel so lucky,” about finding Gouthro and her classes, “I’m just grateful I can do pottery, and not play golf.”
Hostetler has worked in clay and glass for decades, although this is the first year she has shown her work. Thomas mentioned mediums as diverse as flower arranging to cooking, while Schwarz took pottery classes – throwing pots – and jewelry before finding Gouthro’s class.
“I was in one of my many phases,” Thomas explained, “doing concrete pears.” While “trying to satisfy that artistic urge,” creating garden art, Thomas decided concrete was “too cold,” and called a ceramicist friend to ask to use her studio to try clay. The friend refused, but suggested she take a class. Thomas admitted she initially balked – she didn’t want to go back to being a student – but she’s now taken Gouthro’s 10-week course multiple times in the last five years.
A Diversity Of Realizations
“The common thread,” Thomas explained, “is that we’re all at Kirkland Arts Center.” Yet, the ‘students’ seem to approach their assignments, and all their works, from the same diversity shown in their backgrounds and personalities.
“When you are artistic, it never leaves you,” stated Schwarz, best of all, she said, artistic expression, “doesn’t have an expiration date.”
All heaped praise on the instruction methods of Gouthro. “She’s an excellent teacher,” Schwarz praised. At the start of classes, she will assign a particular project, but never demands her students stick strictly to assignment. Students have been known to follow their own muse or, as Hostetler admitted, never finish the assignment in favor of other works.
These works, diverse and creative, will be displayed at Urban Earth. “I’m providing some ornaments that are like things I’ve done before,” Schwarz explained, and she will show newer works, “using this as a kind of test-the-waters.”
Thomas also has ornaments to show, she said, “and a bird feeder where the food doesn’t get wet,” that she has experimented with. Petersen also asked that she bring back the ‘Chicken Jar,’ she displayed during her solo show at the nursery in October.
As for Hostetler, “I’m doing Birch trees, and glass snowflakes.”
In addition, the show at Urban Earth will feature works by fellow students Alice Schroder and Susan Asplund. Peterson hasn’t let the modest size of the nursery building limit the selection. “We’re going to make space,” she insisted, inside and outside, to show off whatever the artists bring along.
On Friday, December 2nd, stop by Urban Earth nursery at 1051 N 35th to meet these extraordinary women – and see their works. To additionally chart a course among other venues of the December Art Walk, visit the Fremont First Friday website. Even if not in the market for unique and creative gifts, the Art Walk will entertain and engage the imagination – check it out!
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©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.