S2ART

2017, I began a new adventure. I had always made art of some kind, but that year I started making ceramic trees to sell.

I am a Retired High School Art teacher trained mainly in painting but had a love for ceramics and pottery. For 30 years I have taught not only High school students, but worked with middle school aged students, elementary, adults, and senior adults.

Quite a few years ago at the passing of my grandmother, I got her ceramic Christmas tree. It was made by my mom when I was 1, in those kitchy 70’s where ceramic classes in basements and garages flourished. It was a “Bottle Green” Atlantic A64 tree with a music box.

I LOVED that tree growing up and looked forward to seeing it on display every year. When I inherited the tree I got to thinking how I would love for my 3 boys to have one for their family when they were old enough to appreciate it, but by this time, ceramic classes were few and far between. Happenstance being what it is, I lucked upon someone on Facebook MarketPlace selling a Christmas tree mold for $10! I snatched it up, and as any ceramicist will tell you, that’s where it all begins…with one, then hundreds of molds!

By 2017, I had met several masters who tutored me along the journey,

so I started making them on my own, and found lots of like-minded

people out there like me who yearned for a glimpse of those simpler days of

3 tv channels, Tin foil on the rabbit ears, the colorful glow from the tree,

and hours of looking at the Sears & Roebuck Catalog dreaming of what

Santa may bring on Christmas morning! A time when we didn’t worry

about the bills, bad news and stress that adulthood brings. Simple times,

simpler pleasures.

I hope that this look back at our childhood in my work brings as

much joy to you as making it for you brings to me.

A little bit of nostalgia can go a long way to showing us

where we came from, and reminding us what is really important.