Saturday, March 8, 2014
Teaching the Girls Scouts of America
This was one FUN class I taught at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts. The Girls Scouts were such amazing students - curious with lots of questions, great listeners throughout the demonstrations, eager, excited and ready to jump in for creative time with clay! I taught them both hand-building & how to throw a pot on the potter's wheel. Their work came out fantastic! What a pleasure they were to teach.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Works in Exhibit at LBI Foundation of Arts & Sciences
A few of my works appeared in this nice newspaper article about the LBI Foundation of Arts & Sciences during one of the exhibits.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
New Works October 2013
This past weekend I took a workshop with Ramon Camarillo. Ramon is an extremely talented potter with huge amounts of experience in Raku firing in addition to throwing large beautiful forms that are as light as a feather. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend a workshop with him. Not only is he a wealth of knowledge, he is a great fun personality. Ask him to play his ukelele in between firings - another talent of his.
The following images are works I fired in saggar firings. The platter has appropriately been named The Phoenix - as when I looked as this wonderful surprise after being fired for a mere 10 minutes - I saw the Phoenix rising from the ashes....
The following images are works I fired in saggar firings. The platter has appropriately been named The Phoenix - as when I looked as this wonderful surprise after being fired for a mere 10 minutes - I saw the Phoenix rising from the ashes....
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Summer Workshops 2013
This summer I have continued my teaching at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences. The workshops have been filling up with delightful students and I have been thoroughly enjoying sharing the passion I have for clay. As always, teaching others how to work with clay remains a rich and rewarding experience particularly when positive feedback such as below is shared.
I enjoy teaching all ages however, I do confess that I love teaching teenage girls as having gone through the pains of maturity myself I understand and know how absolutely important it becomes to build self-confidence through accomplishment in the arts or sports etc. Being able to enjoy and express ourselves creatively through the arts as opposed to seeking outside approval for "how one looks or what clothes we wear", in my humble opinion, is the key to a successful and balanced life. Teaching young women that they can feel accomplished and satisfied by developing passions of their own is a complete joy for me.
"Meeting Kerith and going to one of her workshops was the highlight of our vacation. We attended a pottery making class using the potters wheel and loved it so much we asked her to provide us with extended private lessons. She is a dynamic teacher with a grounded energy that makes everyone feel comfortable even when facing the trials and tribulations of "centering" a pot. As an art teacher myself, I understand the emotional component of empowering others even when they might fail at something. Centering a pot isn't easy or simple. Kerith teaches in a breezy, easy way that makes you feel free and unafraid.
She combines teaching art and teaching life. I highly recommend her for the middle school ages (I brought 3 thirteen year old girls) and they were motivated and engaged the entire time. They even took ownership of clean-up at Kerith's direction!
For a positive life experience, that goes well beyond making pottery, I highly recommend Kerith's workshop. Her teaching style is unparalleled. I can't wait until she opens her own studio so we can come back for more!"
Irene Mitta, art teacher and visual artist
I enjoy teaching all ages however, I do confess that I love teaching teenage girls as having gone through the pains of maturity myself I understand and know how absolutely important it becomes to build self-confidence through accomplishment in the arts or sports etc. Being able to enjoy and express ourselves creatively through the arts as opposed to seeking outside approval for "how one looks or what clothes we wear", in my humble opinion, is the key to a successful and balanced life. Teaching young women that they can feel accomplished and satisfied by developing passions of their own is a complete joy for me.
"Meeting Kerith and going to one of her workshops was the highlight of our vacation. We attended a pottery making class using the potters wheel and loved it so much we asked her to provide us with extended private lessons. She is a dynamic teacher with a grounded energy that makes everyone feel comfortable even when facing the trials and tribulations of "centering" a pot. As an art teacher myself, I understand the emotional component of empowering others even when they might fail at something. Centering a pot isn't easy or simple. Kerith teaches in a breezy, easy way that makes you feel free and unafraid.
She combines teaching art and teaching life. I highly recommend her for the middle school ages (I brought 3 thirteen year old girls) and they were motivated and engaged the entire time. They even took ownership of clean-up at Kerith's direction!
For a positive life experience, that goes well beyond making pottery, I highly recommend Kerith's workshop. Her teaching style is unparalleled. I can't wait until she opens her own studio so we can come back for more!"
Irene Mitta, art teacher and visual artist
Monday, July 1, 2013
Supporting the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences
The LBIF is off to great start this season! This is the first summer following the devastating affects of Hurricane Sandy. The community on the island have rallied and supported one another and as the current saying goes in NJ, we are "Stronger than the Storm".
On several occasions I volunteered for the LBIF of Arts & Sciences to "throw pots" at a few community events - Founders Day & the LBI Thank you Festival which was a huge celebration with food vendors, arts & crafts and over 25 talented bands - all to say "thank you" to the rescue workers of Long Beach Island for doing a great job through Hurricane Sandy and the following weeks. They were both great days and we had many children and parents stop over to try their hand at "throwing a pot" or to handbuild a pinch pot or coffee mug. Hopefully we made some new friends and will see their faces at the foundation this summer. 
Friday, June 14, 2013
"Earth" Displays Nature's Beauty
My mother is a wonderful and talented gardener. She has toiled countless hours in her garden and from a very young age, she fostered in in me a love of nature and animals. My own history with clay and making things out of "earth" began over 15 years ago. I have been spinning & hand-building vases of varying shapes and sizes since I learned to "center".
The images below were a nod to my mother and all she has done for me. I thought it was a perfect collaboration of our efforts - her beautifully grown flowers displayed in my handmade vessels - my humble attempt to showcase Mother Nature and it's glory.
The images below were a nod to my mother and all she has done for me. I thought it was a perfect collaboration of our efforts - her beautifully grown flowers displayed in my handmade vessels - my humble attempt to showcase Mother Nature and it's glory.
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