The Creative Community 2.0 with Artist Lynda Weinman

TV Santa Barbara
23 Jan 202328:11

Summary

TLDRIn this episode of the Creative Community, host David Starkey interviews ceramic artist Linda Weinman, delving into her journey from a tech background to 3D printing in ceramics. Linda shares her experience learning digital fabrication for molds, the creative process behind her unique pieces, and the joy of collaborating with other artists. The conversation highlights the importance of embracing imperfections and the challenges of learning new techniques, showcasing the fusion of art and technology in modern ceramics.

Takeaways

  • ๐ŸŽจ Linda Weinman's journey into ceramics began with a desire to have a ceramic studio during retirement, reigniting her passion from high school.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŽจ She initially found traditional pottery classes unsatisfying, leading her to explore digital fabrication for ceramic molds, which combined her tech background with ceramics.
  • ๐Ÿ’ป Linda's background includes animation, special effects, and 2D graphics, with some experience in 3D from teaching computer graphics.
  • ๐Ÿ  Her husband's involvement in building a parametric house inspired her to seek a similar creative fulfillment in ceramics, leading to the establishment of her own studio.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ The use of 3D software like Rhino for designing ceramic molds was a pivotal moment, as it allowed for the creation of complex shapes and forms not possible with traditional methods.
  • ๐Ÿค Collaboration with other artists, such as Patrick Hall, has been a significant part of Linda's growth, combining different techniques and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in ceramics.
  • ๐ŸŒ The COVID-19 pandemic provided an unexpected opportunity for Linda to focus on learning 3D clay printing, turning a challenging time into a period of creative exploration.
  • ๐Ÿค– Embracing the imperfections and 'beautiful disasters' that can occur during the 3D printing process has led to unique and interesting pieces in Linda's work.
  • ๐Ÿ† Linda created 'Insecurity Trophies' to symbolize the struggles and self-doubt that artists face, turning failures into meaningful art.
  • ๐ŸŒฑ Her work has been influenced by nature, as seen in pieces inspired by Lotusland's garden, and she has explored various techniques and assignments to grow as an artist.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฎ Linda's upcoming show at Sullivan Goss, titled 'Regeneration,' showcases her evolving style, moving from functional to more sculptural and meditative pieces.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of discussion in the interview?

    -The main topic of discussion in the interview is Linda Weinman's journey as a ceramic artist, particularly focusing on her use of 3D printing technology in her work.

  • What was the initial motivation for Linda to get back into ceramics?

    -Linda's initial motivation to get back into ceramics was her desire to have a ceramic studio as she and her husband were building a custom house during their retirement.

  • How did Linda's background in animation and computer graphics influence her approach to ceramics?

    -Linda's background in animation and computer graphics influenced her approach to ceramics by allowing her to combine her technical skills with her artistic interests, particularly through the use of 3D software to design molds.

  • What was the significance of the class Linda took at Anderson Ranch in Colorado?

    -The class at Anderson Ranch was significant because it introduced Linda to digital fabrication for ceramic molds, which utilized 3D software to design molds. This experience helped her realize she could combine her tech background with ceramics.

  • What was the first piece Linda modeled using Rhino 3D software?

    -The first piece Linda modeled using Rhino 3D software was a tray, which was later CNC milled based on the computer instructions.

  • How did Linda's husband's involvement in architecture influence her work?

    -Linda's husband's involvement in architecture, specifically building a parametric house, inspired her to explore the possibilities of combining her tech background with ceramics. She discovered that the software used in architecture was the same as what she used in her ceramic designs.

  • What was Linda's experience like when she first started learning 3D clay printing?

    -Linda's experience when she first started learning 3D clay printing was challenging but rewarding. She taught herself through YouTube videos and reached out to others who knew how to do it, turning her dining room into a 3D clay printing room.

  • What is the significance of the term 'beautiful disasters' in Linda's work?

    -The term 'beautiful disasters' refers to the unexpected and imperfect outcomes that sometimes occur during the 3D printing process. Linda embraces these imperfections, finding beauty in the chaotic results and even creating pieces based on these accidents.

  • Can you describe the collaboration between Linda and Patrick Hall?

    -Linda and Patrick Hall collaborated on a project where Linda's 3D printed pieces were combined with Patrick's traditional pottery. Patrick, an accomplished potter, contributed the base and lid of the pieces, while Linda provided the 3D printed neck sections.

  • What advice does Linda give to someone interested in pursuing a similar path in ceramics and 3D printing?

    -Linda advises starting with learning the software, as it is a significant part of the process. She emphasizes the importance of trial and error, and encourages persistence in overcoming the challenges that come with working with technology and ceramics.

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŽจ Linda Weinman's Journey into Ceramics and 3D Printing

In this segment, Linda Weinman, a ceramic artist, is introduced by host David Starkey. Linda discusses her transition into ceramics during retirement, her initial foray into traditional pottery at a community center, and her eventual discovery of digital fabrication for ceramic molds at Anderson Ranch in Colorado. This class reignited her passion for ceramics by combining her technical background with the art form. Linda's background includes animation, special effects, and computer graphics, which she taught. She found a connection between these skills and the 3D software used in both her house construction and ceramics, leading to her deep interest in the field.

05:01

๐Ÿ›  The Intersection of Technology and Ceramics

This paragraph delves into Linda's experience with digital fabrication for ceramics, highlighting her teacher Del Harrow's pioneering work in the field. Linda describes the process of designing molds on a computer and using a CNC machine to create them, which was a revelation to her. The segment also touches on the contrast between high-tech processes and the organic forms they can produce. Linda's first modeling project, a tray designed in Rhino 3D software, is showcased, illustrating the transition from a blank computer screen to a tangible ceramic piece, with the necessary hand-building techniques that follow.

10:01

๐Ÿ  From Home Studio to Creative Exploration

Linda shares her experience of setting up a 3D clay printing room in her dining room during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. She describes the process of learning to use the clay printer through online resources and her enjoyment of the creative process despite the challenges. The segment also discusses the concept of 'beautiful disasters' that occur when the printing process goes awry, leading to unique and interesting outcomes. Linda's approach to embracing imperfections and the creative process is highlighted, along with her philosophy of inventing and solving problems in her art.

15:03

๐Ÿค Collaborative Artistry and the Growth of Artistic Skills

In this part, Linda talks about her collaboration with established potter Patrick Hall, which resulted in a successful show at Sullivan Goss. The collaboration involved combining Linda's 3D printed pieces with Patrick's traditional pottery, creating a unique fusion of techniques. Linda emphasizes the value of such partnerships in enhancing her skills and confidence. She also mentions her use of various resources, including YouTube and courses on 3D modeling, to educate herself during the pandemic.

20:04

๐Ÿ† Insecurity Trophies: Embracing the Creative Process

Linda introduces her 'Insecurity Trophies,' a project born from the realization that the failures and imperfections in her work held a deeper meaning. The trophies, initially intended for an event, evolved into a reflection on self-worth and the struggle with the idea of being an artist. Linda discusses the profound impact of embracing mistakes and the personal growth that came from overcoming her initial insecurities and the challenges of learning a new craft.

25:06

๐ŸŒฑ Artistic Inspiration and Upcoming Exhibitions

The final paragraph focuses on Linda's recent and upcoming work, including a show at Sullivan Goss titled 'regeneration.' She discusses her transition from functional to more sculptural pieces, such as a gazing ball, and her 'trippy apothecary jar' series, which combines resin beads, plastic, and ceramics. Linda also shares her advice for aspiring artists, emphasizing the importance of learning the software and embracing the trial-and-error nature of the creative process.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กCeramicist

A ceramicist is an artist who specializes in creating objects, art, and designs using clay as the primary medium. In the video, Linda Weinman is referred to as a ceramicist, highlighting her work with clay and the use of 3D printing technology to create unique ceramic pieces. The term is central to the theme as it defines Linda's profession and the focus of the interview.

๐Ÿ’ก3D Printing Technology

3D printing technology refers to the process of creating three-dimensional objects from a digital file by layering material, such as clay, under computer control. The video discusses Linda's use of 3D printing in her ceramic work, showcasing how she integrates modern technology with traditional ceramics to create innovative art pieces.

๐Ÿ’กDigital Fabrication

Digital fabrication is the use of digital technologies to fabricate physical objects, often through computer-controlled manufacturing processes. In the context of the video, Linda learned digital fabrication for ceramic molds, which involves designing molds on 3D software and then milling them using a CNC machine, a process that combines her technical background with her passion for ceramics.

๐Ÿ’กCNC Machine

A CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine is a type of computer-controlled machine tool used in the manufacturing process to create parts by cutting, shaping, and drilling materials. In the script, Linda mentions using a CNC machine to mill molds for her ceramic pieces, demonstrating the application of advanced manufacturing techniques in the field of ceramics.

๐Ÿ’กRhino 3D

Rhino 3D is a commercial 3D computer graphics software used for creating 3D models, animations, and renderings. Linda mentions using Rhino 3D to design her ceramic molds, highlighting how this software was instrumental in her creative process and allowed her to bring her designs from concept to physical reality.

๐Ÿ’กParametric Design

Parametric design is a process in which the characteristics of a design are defined by parameters that can be altered to change the shape or form of the design. The video script mentions the first parametric house in Santa Barbara, which Linda's husband helped build, and this concept is also applied in her ceramic work, showing a connection between architecture and ceramics through design methodology.

๐Ÿ’กWabi-Sabi

Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese aesthetic concept that finds beauty in imperfection and impermanence. Linda discusses embracing the imperfections in her work, referring to 'wabi-sabi' as a philosophy that appreciates the unique beauty in mistakes and accidents, which is a significant theme in the video as it relates to the creative process and the acceptance of natural flaws in art.

๐Ÿ’กInsecurity Trophies

In the video, Linda creates 'Insecurity Trophies' as a reflection on self-worth and the struggle with feelings of inadequacy in one's artistic endeavors. These trophies, born from her own experiences and mistakes, serve as a symbol of acknowledging and overcoming personal insecurities, thus becoming a key concept in her artistic narrative.

๐Ÿ’กCollaboration

Collaboration in the video refers to the process of working together with another artist to create a combined piece of art. Linda mentions her collaboration with Patrick Hall, where they merged their respective skills in pottery and 3D printing to create a unique ceramic piece for an exhibition, illustrating the benefits of artistic partnerships in expanding one's creative horizons.

๐Ÿ’กRegenerative Art

While not explicitly defined in the script, the term 'regeneration' in the context of the upcoming show titled 'Regeneration' could be interpreted as art that embodies the concept of renewal, growth, or transformation. Linda's newer work for the show may reflect themes of rebirth or environmental sustainability, suggesting a deeper message within her art related to the cyclical nature of life.

Highlights

Introduction to Linda Weinman, an artist integrating 3D printing technology into her ceramic work.

Linda's journey from a desire to have a ceramic studio to learning digital fabrication for ceramic molds.

Her initial disappointment with traditional pottery classes leading her to explore 3D software for design.

Linda's background in animation, special effects, and computer graphics influencing her approach to ceramics.

The connection between the software used in her house design and the software used in her ceramic work.

The process of creating her first pot after a 50-year hiatus and the lack of fulfillment it provided.

Linda's discovery of Rhino 3D software and its role in designing molds for ceramics.

The importance of hand-building skills in ceramics, even when using 3D printing technology.

The creative process of 'form finding' in the computer for ceramic design.

Linda's experience learning 3D clay printing during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The role of imperfections and 'beautiful disasters' in the creative process of ceramics.

Linda's collaboration with established potter Patrick Hall, combining traditional pottery with 3D printed elements.

The use of Grasshopper software for parametric and algorithmic design in ceramics.

Linda's creation of 'insecurity trophies' as a reflection on the struggles and failures in the artistic process.

Her involvement in a fundraiser for Lotus Land, creating pieces inspired by plants.

The upcoming show at Sullivan Goss titled 'regeneration' featuring Linda's new ceramic works.

Linda's advice for aspiring artists: start with learning the software and embrace the trial and error process.

Transcripts

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[Music]

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thank you

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[Music]

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welcome to the creative Community I'm

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your host David Starkey and my guest

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this time is artist Linda weinman Linda

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welcome thank you

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um we are going to see a world of clay

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today and and other materials and we're

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going to talk about uh your work as a

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ceramicist and and especially using 3D

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printing technology right yeah

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um so before we we look at the um the

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first image I know people may know you

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from your your company

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lynda.com but can you talk a little bit

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like and sort of give us some context

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for how you came to kind of Designing

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things on the computer that would

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ultimately be printed sure

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um I I know when we look at my slides I

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kind of put them in their

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chronologically so that I could talk

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through that particular story but I

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wanted to have a ceramic Studio my

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husband was building a custom house and

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we're retired and I had done Ceramics in

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high school and I just remembered that I

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loved it and

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um I had hoped to get back to that in

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retirement and that was basically the

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Genesis of of wanting to be involved

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with Ceramics right and I took a class

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at Community Center here in Santa

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Barbara and I it just didn't really

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float my boat I was you know I had

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thrown before and I made another pod and

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it succeeded but it wasn't that

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gratifying I was sort of disappointed

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that I had asked for the studio and I

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was thinking oh my gosh I better you

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know figure out if I really like this or

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not so I took a class at Anderson Ranch

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which is in Colorado

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and that class kind of tied me back to

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my technical Roots because it was

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digital fabrication for ceramic molds

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and it was utilizing 3D

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software to design molds and I thought

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wow that's really interesting maybe I

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can combine my tech background with

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Ceramics and then once I did that I got

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completely hooked right so now if I'm

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remembering correctly you sort of got

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your start doing animation and special

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effects right yes and also a lot of just

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2D graphics and computer Graphics in

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general and I used to teach computer

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graphics and I dabbled a little bit in

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3D back then but I would have been

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really rudimentary yes although a lot of

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the principles are the same in every 3D

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program it's kind of

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just similar you usually have four views

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and you can see the front and the side

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the back of the top right you know you

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have to sort of navigate in 3D space

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okay

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um and then there are different terms

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for some of the operations that you

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would do to make certain shapes

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well we're going to see how that come to

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life here momentarily but I think the

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first slide that we have is is not

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actually

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um oh yeah tell us about that well I

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wanted to

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um bring this up because my husband

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built with architect Robin Donaldson

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who's local uh the first parametric

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house in Santa Barbara and probably the

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first parametric house in all of

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California if not the US and so you can

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see that the designs are are very

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different than a normal rectilinear home

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and

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um he was just enjoying designing this

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house so much and I was feeling like um

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gee I wonder what I do what I could do

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you know to be as happy as he is

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building this house and so that led me

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to ask him if he would build me a studio

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and then I figured oh I better make sure

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I really like Ceramics before I build

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this studio and we just had to guess on

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Gwen Lurie who was I think this is a

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cover story in the riv correct yeah not

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too long ago so

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um the and so that must be an

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interesting sort of back and forth that

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the two of you guys have as you're

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talking about your different projects

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right truly and what was really shocking

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to me when I went and took that class in

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Colorado was I was being taught in

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exactly the same software that we were

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using to build our house

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that was a shock

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yeah exactly let's take a look at the

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next one and I think this is called

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first pot yeah so this is when I took

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the community college class right what I

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threw and the teacher said to me oh it

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looks like you've done this before and

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you know all the muscle memory came back

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um it had been 50 years since I'd thrown

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a pot but it's a beautiful it's a

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beautiful yet simple piece and

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and it was just I don't know it just

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didn't do much for me so I was hoping

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that I you know would maybe go to hand

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building or just learn some different

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techniques that were more exciting to me

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um but even though I I came out with a

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pot I wasn't that excited or inspired

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really all right so the next the next

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image that we have uh we're looking

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who's this working right now

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um okay so this was my teacher Del hero

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who was teaching the digital fabrication

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of molds class okay and he's one of the

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Pioneers in that space and so for a lot

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of people who do Ceramics mold making is

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a a pretty conventional process and

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mostly you would make molds off physical

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objects or you would hand create a mold

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and in this case we were designing the

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molds in the computer yeah yes and then

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using a CNC machine to Mill Mill the

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molds and we're going to see I mean what

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was struck me as how um there's a these

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really natural or naturalistic forms

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that you sort of get out of this you

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know super high-tech

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programming so let's let's move on and I

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think we're going to see the the next

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one okay this is a a computer screen

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correct so this was this was the first

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thing that I modeled uh it was going to

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be a tray and and I was you know

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teaching myself how to use this is Rhino

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3D that was the software that I

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discovered in this class was the same

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software that the Architects were using

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to build our house and of course this is

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a way more simple form than what they

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were doing but um I think I show in one

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of the slides the final outcome of this

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particular work but it was going to be

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cnc'd with a milling machine and so the

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machine

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looks at the code and knows where to put

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the drill and how to how to make this

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form based on the computer instructions

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when we're looking at this

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um obviously you're starting with a

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blank screen I mean are there options

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for you to select from oh yeah here yes

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oh yes many many options right and then

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you're kind of tweaking that as you go

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yes and I had that in my mind's eye that

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particular form but sometimes I do what

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I call form Finding in the computer

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where I'm just going through a lot of

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different shapes and then finding the

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thing that speaks to me and then going

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down that rabbit hole that way or

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another well I think that it made the

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next one maybe actually the the piece

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itself yes this is the piece upside down

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okay so I'm not really showing them all

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but you know you just still have to do

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hand building and attach a foot and

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these are all things that any ceramicist

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would right need to know how to do and

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so the is that something that you do by

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your by hand yourself then yes I did I

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did that and it was actually the first

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time I'd ever done it was in this class

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okay so I sort of lied to get into the

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class you were supposed to be an

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intermediate ceramicist and I just

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thought I would be able to take to the

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software pretty quickly so that I could

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maybe fake my way through the rest but I

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was I was very embarrassed to be asking

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all the other students how to do things

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like so rudimentary but I did not know

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how yeah but I'm sure they were they

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were I mean people are so uptight about

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not knowing when you're new to something

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and you think everybody is gonna you

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know look down on you and and actually

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it's quite the opposite I think people

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enjoy helping each other I do and you

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know we were talking before the show

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about this the creative Community It's a

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larger Endeavor and I do think that

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that's something for people to remember

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whatever art field they're in is that

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they're there are people out there who

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want to help you definitely I think we

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all

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are you know the star of our own movie

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or whatever you know we're all very you

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know thinking oh I have you know a hair

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out of place or I have you know this

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shirt doesn't fit me right or whatever

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and then everybody else is just worrying

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about their own hair in their own shirt

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and so I think there's a lot of

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self-consciousness that comes with being

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a new artist and a lot of it is just

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totally you know in your way and

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fabricated by you it's not true good

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point well take a look at the next one I

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think this is is this the finished

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product yeah yeah that's the finished

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piece you can kind of see the

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resemblance to the computer model and uh

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and now what is it made out of it's made

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out of b mix which is a type of ceramic

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clay white clay yeah it's got a

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beautiful shine on it yes I used some

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underglaze and some clear I think and

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later on I think we're going to see an

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image of you glazing away yeah yeah so

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the the actual

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creation of it it you know it comes from

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your mind to the computer it's printed

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out but then there's a lot of work

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afterwards oh definitely you know it's

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uh my husband loves to say that I I'll

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do anything that that involves pushing a

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button but I think he fails to witness

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all the other things that I do besides

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push that button okay well let's see

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we'll get a glimpse of that

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um let's see what what's our next thing

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I think this might be

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um this is when I first got my clay

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printer which was after I took that

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class right and it was actually at the

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very very beginning of covid and so I

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was sort of on my own learning this in

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my dining room we turned my dining room

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into a 3D clay printing room and uh I

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was watching YouTube videos and just

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reaching out to people who knew how to

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do it and trying to teach myself every

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which way yeah it was such a weird time

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for everybody I think artists in

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particular with this kind of feeling of

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Detachment and great uncertainty what's

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going to happen did you find out was uh

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making these figures was that something

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that was reassuring somehow oh I was

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having the greatest room I kept saying

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to everybody I think I'm the only person

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on the planet who loves the pandemic but

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you know for me to just have time to

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focus on learning something new and do

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something so fun and interesting was

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really a joy yeah

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well let's take a look at the next image

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that we have here so um this is a I

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think another video showing the the

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process yeah how the printing actually

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works it's a big tube and it's filled

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with wetter clay than normal so in the

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beginning I was buying clay that had

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been pre-hydrated

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um and was the right kind of clay for a

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3D printer but eventually I got a pug

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mill when I got more serious about it

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which is a mixing a clay mixing device

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and so now I put water into the clay and

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mix it myself and fill tubes myself and

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this ball part of the process yeah but

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things go wrong I know from talking to

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other ceramicists all the time when

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you're working with Clay I mean oh yes

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um any spectacular stories of things not

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going right I mean what's been really

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interesting there's also the sort of

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wabi-sabi school of um you know embrace

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the imperfections embrace the mistakes

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and I found that I love it actually when

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the machine kind of goes off the rails

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and makes I call them beautiful

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disasters where it just makes a big pile

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of crazy noodles and sometimes they're

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so beautiful and it is and there is an

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element of a sort of machine and man in

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there it's it's just this really

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interesting

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um sort of half half algorithmic half

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just big mess right yeah of of nothing

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that makes sense and I actually have

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made pieces out of that wow that's great

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and I call them beautiful disasters yeah

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well and I think that's kind of an

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essential part of the creative process

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anyway is just going awry and kind of

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fixing things definitely and also making

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up your own rules you know it's I often

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say

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um for me what being an artist is is I

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am a problem solver but I'm inventing

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problems and then I'm solving my own

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problems that I've invented and I'm

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inventing a set of rules that are in my

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head they're really not you know in

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stone I mean there are certain rules of

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gravity and physics and things like that

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you can't do anything about but there

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also are just rules about what's

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acceptable what's a mistake what's

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what's beautiful what isn't those are

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all more subjective now as you're are

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working on these pieces are you drawing

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on a kind of mental

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Topography of different pieces that you

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admire different artists that you admire

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I probably

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um you know I think

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um

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I do love polka dots a lot and I've been

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a big fan of yayor kusama for a long

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time and you know her her work

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um is is um you know it's wild it's wild

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but it's also involves a lot of

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repetitive patterns and and patterning

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and I I love surface design I love

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pattern

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um and I I am very you know well aware

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of art history and especially Modern Art

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and so I do have influences but I also

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really like to do things that are more

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original or are taking me down I call

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them rabbit holes but just an area of

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Interest I get interested in a certain

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feature or a certain idea and then just

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keep going and taking it further and

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further until I'm bored or distracted

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with the next idea well let's let's take

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a another look at the at some of these

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ideas

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what's interesting always just to sort

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of hear the abstraction and then to go

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take a look absolutely and I mean I

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think for some you know painters who are

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painting realistically or or even

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abstract painters who may have you know

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something fully fleshed out in their

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mind before they're putting pen to paper

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or whatever for me I I don't always

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there are times that I do and then there

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definitely are a lot of happy accidents

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and and little you know side trips that

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I take because I find things interesting

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okay yeah so yeah so this you know I put

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this up here because in the very

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beginning it was so mysterious to me I

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would see a lot of pieces that people

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were posting but I would never see the

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model and I thought that it was sort of

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interesting to show I think I have

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another slide too that shows what the

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actual model looked like and then what

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the end piece looks like so you can kind

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of see on the lower right how that

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really spiky piece turned out with all

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these Loops yeah and you know sometimes

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it's just very mysterious and I started

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to blog about you know

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how to do things and and ask questions

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about why certain things were true and

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um and it was just a great way for me to

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document my own Learning Journey yeah so

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that's your clay butchers

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[Laughter]

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um how did you come up with that idea

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um I mean I was just trying to think of

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a name for my blog and

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um you know I guess I don't know it's

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funny I mean I just thought of this but

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like lynda.com was very clearly a female

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lead you know

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um idea and uh and so I guess the

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putting the sort of feminine buttress in

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there also kind of nods to the fact that

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this is a female well yeah and I hear

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the word bot and goddess kind of sort of

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true and also

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um you know there's sort of the uh am I

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um

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uh into s m or something you know I mean

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there's sort of that as well yeah

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exactly but like you know there's sort

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of the um that connotation as well I

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just thought it was a cute name yeah no

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it's cool so is this if somebody wanted

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to go here could they purchase their

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pieces oh uh no but they could read

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about my early journey and my process

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and this is my living room table my

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dining room table where I had set up my

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art studio during covet so do you have

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the studio know that you were talking

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about I have an amazing studio so you

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don't have to do it no I don't

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let's take a look at that my husband's

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very happy he has some fine little clay

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handprints all over the house anymore

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um yeah this was

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um you know one of my kill loads and I

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bought the Kiln also during covid and I

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taught myself how to load it on YouTube

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and I was really you know kind of

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isolated learning this craft and

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but I also got to meet a lot of

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interesting people I started to study

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with different teachers and watch a lot

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of YouTube videos and linda.com courses

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and all kinds of things on 3D modeling

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and it turned out to be a handy resource

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it was actually and I and uh you know I

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have often used used it for my own

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learning but

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um it was kind of fun after

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um you know being retired to go back and

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use it as well that's cool well I'm

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going to take a look I think we're going

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to we're starting to move towards um

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actually some of the the specific pieces

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here yeah this is a piece that I

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collaborated with Patrick Hall who

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um we actually had a show at Sullivan

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Goss and he's an extremely accomplished

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and established Potter and works very

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large he has um he's kind of a super

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tall big guy his hands are like twice

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the size of mine and he throws enormous

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pots and

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we were together at the community Clay

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Studio in Goleta and he was looking at

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some of the 3D things that I was

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printing and he had this idea that we

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could combine my work in his and it was

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a very successful collaboration we ended

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up having a show at Sullivan Goss

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together

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and

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um that was something that I wanted to

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bring up because

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for me collaborating with other artists

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has been a way to really grow my own

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experiences and my own abilities and

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confidence and so um

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that was a real joy to get to work with

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Patrick and see our two different crafts

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combined like that and I think he got

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really excited as well so what would be

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the specific nature of the collaboration

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what did you do and what did he do well

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in if we go back to that picture the

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neck of the piece is 3D printed and the

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base of it is thrown and then he made

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the lid so he did the Lion's Share of

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the work here

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um but you're making difference I'm

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giving him a part that he is

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uh that he wouldn't not have known how

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to do nor would I have known how to do

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what he did and so it became a

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collaboration let's take a look at the

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next image we have out there

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this is just showing some of the

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software

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um it's a little bit visual this is

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called grasshopper and it's a type of

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parametric algorithmic software that you

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can kind of put together like circuit

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boardery and

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um you can make things with sliders and

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you know things like you were asking can

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I make the spikes bigger or smaller

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things like that so I just thought it

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would be interesting to show your

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audience what it looks like yeah it

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looks really good it does it looks a

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little

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that's true

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here's our show that we had together and

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I'm excited to say that I've been asked

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by Sullivan Goss to have a new show and

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that is going to open in a couple weeks

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okay so uh this will be February it's

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opening at the end of January 27th

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through March 27th okay so if people are

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watching this in the far distant future

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we're talking about 2023 correct yes

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very good point okay so what are we

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looking at here okay so these are my

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insecurity trophies

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um I was asked by a good friend of mine

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to make a trophy for an event she's an

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event planner and I in on the road to

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making her perfect trophy I had all of

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these mistakes and mishaps and then I

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realized there was a lot of there was

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sort of a real profundity to the

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mistakes and giving yourself a trophy

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for a failure or for

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um you know something that we say to

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ourselves like for me if the fighting am

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I good enough like am I worthy enough to

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be an artist do I deserve to put so much

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of my effort and energy into being an

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artist and so to me the insecurity

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trophies were were a piece of work that

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I did that I was really proud of because

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um and it's funny because I got asked to

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do a trophy also for

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um the one 805 organization and their

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their logo is a heart and I was making

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heart bases for them but then a lot of

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them were cracking and they weren't

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working right and then I looked at those

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and said well isn't that the way love is

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like you know isn't this more this is

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more interesting than a person than a

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perfect tour right right to have a

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cracked heart you know and so I think

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sometimes

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um I don't know you listen to some

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artists and they talk about all the

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meaning in their work and I'm not sure

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that I always believe that they knew the

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meeting before they started

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um for me yeah until the crack happened

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and so to me as I was making these

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trophies I just realized that that's a

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that's a really important idea that

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usually you're giving it for what you

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think of as good but that there's there

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is a lot of failure in art especially in

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Ceramics as you pointed out and also

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we're so hard on ourselves our uh for me

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I was ashamed literally ashamed to go to

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that workshop and not know how to do

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Ceramics and I think as I was

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introducing myself I even got teary

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and there were a lot of other people too

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who seemed

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um you know to be uh apologizing for for

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what they didn't know and that's been

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something that I'm very happy I've

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overcome and it's behind me but I would

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say in the beginning it was a big

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struggle to get over that

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we only got about five minutes left

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London I want to make sure that we get a

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look at as much of your work sure yeah

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this is for Lotus land had a a

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fundraiser and they invited me to come

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to the Garden get inspired by plants and

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so I made a bunch of pieces and these

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are some of them and that I also wanted

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to mention as a technique to learn and

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grow you can advance to the next one is

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just you know to be given an assignment

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is really a great exercise and the fact

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that I wasn't you know I didn't go to

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art school I didn't study any of this it

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was for me my own Challenge and I just

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um was really proud of the work that I

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did and and it even sold and they made

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you know raise money for lettuce land

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which was super cool yeah so yeah we can

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keep moving through stuff and this was

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something that I made with Joan actually

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um we got asked by the curator could we

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make a six foot tall Cactus and we did

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and so those are her flowers and my 3D

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printed Cactus Parts okay yeah I've got

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a few of Jones flowers in my bag oh I

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bet they're so beautiful yeah and then

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there was this article that got written

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uh

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just included that

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um and then I was invited to be in a

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show very early on this is Maybe

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two years ago at porch gallery and I

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thought my name will never be next to

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Beatrice wood but there it is there it

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is that was pretty amazing and I also

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learned that my cousin was in it as well

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who I didn't know so now this is

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um work that I've been doing for the

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show that's coming up with Sullivan Goss

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and the name of the show is

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regeneration and so

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um these are some different pieces that

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I've been working on for the show and

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these are some this is some of my newer

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work wow and I've actually brought a

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couple of pieces with me too yeah and

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we're like for the same show so these

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are some some close-ups of some of this

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work that I'll be showing

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so the pieces that you brought can you

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tell us about them yes

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um so let's see this is a gazing ball I

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just

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um realized that

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I've been making a lot of functional

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wear and I'm starting to get into more

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sculptural work and that it's okay to

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just have an object to meditate on the

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object and so

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um that's made out of this is made out

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of clay okay and this is a metallic

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glaze

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um Jim Haggerty I don't know if you've

play25:36

ever had him on the show he's an

play25:37

incredible

play25:39

ceramicist Master Potter but also he's

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been working on these glaze recipes for

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40 40 years and they're very very

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beautiful and I wonder

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that other one is a little bit difficult

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to pick up like um no I can get it okay

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I'm probably going to take the lid off

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I'll take that for you okay

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this is um in my trippy apothecary jar

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series and

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um this is a lattice apothecary jar so

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it's obviously can't really hold too

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much apothecaries no you can't hold

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anything liquid or solid

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um and I love to make things with lids

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and then this is a also plastic print so

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I do work in other mediums this involves

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resin beads plastic and Ceramics oh

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that's beautiful yeah thank you well

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we're down to our last literally our

play26:34

last minute Linda so I kind of have a

play26:36

30-second question for you if you can in

play26:40

just the shortest time what advice would

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you give to someone who is just out

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there watching the show and they're just

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I want to do something like this uh boy

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it's it you know you I would start with

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the software because I think that's a

play26:54

big learning group if you already know

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and then from there on out it's just

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it's kind of this great kind of trial

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and error and it's a big fight you know

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I say I say all the time I'm fighting my

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machines but I'm gonna win yeah you know

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like anybody who works on the computer

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you're constantly having problems every

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direction right well that's kind of an

play27:14

interesting note

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thank you so much

play27:17

thank you for having me

play27:19

creative Community is a co-production of

play27:21

tvsb in Santa Barbara and caps media and

play27:25

Ventura it's made possible by a generous

play27:27

Grant from Diana and Simon Robb I'm your

play27:29

host David Starkey and we'll see you

play27:31

next time

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[Music]

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thank you

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instead

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[Music]

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Ceramics Art3D PrintingCreative ProcessArtistic JourneyDigital FabricationClay ModelingArt CollaborationInnovation in ArtTech IntegrationArtist Interview