It's clay time! and... a kiln!

Here we are, two weeks into the new school year! It's been a little hectic to start - we are short on teachers so the counselors are overloading other classes to place the students. The students (most of them anyway) have finished their line and shape and rhythm drawing exercises, to get those design ideas started.



















































Yesterday I gave them each 2 lbs of clay and started them wedging. They thought that was cool - until they found out they are wedging for two class days! By the end of the class they were definitely worn out.











it appears I've found a way to expedite a kiln. Next week I will be taking one day to "walk the PO through" and get all the signatures in a day. The new superintendent said to let him know what day and he will ensure there are no obstacles in the process. If this goes smoothly, I could have a new kiln in place by the end of October! Yay!! Now to get busy. If I turn 5 pieces each school day, I should have a total of almost 400 (personal) pieces to fire. I'm already about halfway there now.
By the way, some of you should be receiving emails from students about their research papers. I must thank you all again for taking time from your busy schedules to answer their questions. Well, must go grade more drawings.
Happy Mudding!

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Location:Southern High School, Guam

Flu.... Ungh...

Saturday morning I feel a soreness at the back of my throat. By six pm it's a full blown flu, fever, aches, cough, head feels like a bowling ball, the whole shebang. Trying to stay in bed with a sweat suit, hooded jacket, and four blankets. Feel a little better after NyQuilling the heck out of it, and sweating it out. Just hope I feel much better for the first day of classes tomorrow morning. Stay healthy, and
Happy Mudding!


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Location:Home

Four days left...

Finally finished painting the classroom, at least the part I want painted. Let's see the students fall asleep with all the light coming of these white walls!


I did manage to get the lockers up off the floor and fastened to the wall so they won't move. All I have left is to adjust a couple of table legs, and all the cleaning. This will include scrubbing the remaining black walls with a scrub brush to get them clean, sweep, mop, clean all the rags and tools, and put up all the posters, rules, and various artwork examples.
Had a great find today. In one of the wings that has been used as storage for years, I came across these aluminum racks!


Now to get some plywood shelves cut to slide in these free ware racks. The only problem is that there is one wheel missing on each rack! Good thing there are a couple more to pull wheels off of!
Tomorrow I'll get the wheels and finish everything else so I can concentrate on my lesson plans. Have a great week, and...
Happy Mudding!

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10 days... and counting

Spent the day moving things around the campus, and my rooms. I went through a building they are getting ready to renovate, and found two units of lockers that took me two hours to move - but it was worth it!


Now to build something to get them off the floor. I also was able to save this nice wooden desk


It looks so much nicer than the metal one I had, and the drawers actually work on this one.
I did manage to get my last summer school class to help me recycle and weigh out scrap clay from the last two school years


I ended up with 15 bags of 2 lb lumps, and 6 bags of 4 lb lumps.
Now all I have to do is finish straightening out my classroom and storage room -








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Almost time!

The countdown has started! 11 days till school starts!
Meh... No rest for the weary, as the saying goes.
I have been busy since summer school ended, trying to overhaul my classroom. I have found some small lockers, enough for two classes, I just have to haul them across campus myself (about 200 yds). I did find about 2.5 gals. of off-white paint to try and cover the flat black walls. So far it's taken about 1.5 gal to do this much:


The bookshelf only took one light coat, but those walls! I think there are 4 or 5 THICK coats and as it dries I see grey areas here and there.
This year I have a couple of different lesson plans in the works. The one I think will be the biggest hit is making a 6" square tile. I have already cleared it with the principal to start cementing their tiles to the school walls when they are finished.
Oh! Before I forget, I wanted to know how many of you would be interested in the research paper project this year. I will be giving out the assignment in August - due in September, and again in January - due in February. I will be sending out an email to every artist on my blog reading list (145 at last count) as well. Just drop me an email at mryoungsart@gmail.com if you would be interested. Thanks (in advance)!
Happy Mudding!
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Taking a break ...

With most of my summer gone to summer school, I decided the wife and I needed a weekend away from it all. Checked in Friday night, and out at noon today. It was relaxing to be sure.


Tomorrow ... back to getting ready for school on the 20th.
Happy Mudding!
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Location:Westin Hotel, Guam