New Ideas.

This weekend I was busy at the Baltimore Clayworks taking a great workshop from Shoko Teruyama and Matt Kelleher. They did demos of building over a bisque mold and Shoko showed us all how she gets her lovely imagery on her pots. They were both really interesting to listen to and I'm glad I finally got some hand building lessons! I have been working more and more with hand building but I never really learned since I was so focused on the potters wheel in school. I pretty much feel like I've been making it up as I go but this weekend I learned that I wasn't that far off! Now I just need to find some time to get into the studio and try some of these new ideas out! Good thing spring break is only 2 days away:)

Help The Baltimore Clayworks!

Maryland Citizens for the Arts has asked us to ask YOU to send an Email to Legislators .
The House Appropriations and Senate Budget & Taxation Subcommittees held budget hearings on February 19 and 20, 2009, and a large group of representatives were in Annapolis to testify and support the MCA advocacy goals. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Today, we are launching the next step in our Advocacy Plan - an Action Email Blast.
For this, WE WILL NEED EVERYONE'S HELP!

The process is very simple. As soon as you have read this alert, click on this "Take Action" icon. That hyperlink will take you directly to the Maryland Citizens for the Arts website. There, using a prepared letter which insures that the issues are properly identified and our advocacy goals are clearly defined, you will be able to contact your legislator directly. Enter your zipcode, which will identify the senator and/or delegate from your district who serves on one of these subcommittees. After you have provided your home address, you will be able to read the letter, edit it, and provide your e-signature. Please take a few minutes to do this right away!

NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT! Encourage your friends and associates to join in sending this message. Pass this message on to the local arts advocates in your region, and urge them to send this email. *Please note that CapWiz will ONLY allow you to send this message to the legislators from your district. That is why we need participation from every part of Maryland !

One person CAN make a difference! Hundreds of people can make a HUGE difference!

If this cut is sustained, Baltimore Clayworks will lose approximately $40,000 in funding, and murals like this one made by residents in our urban community, classes for children in city schools, exhibitions like Tour de Clay and much, much more will be in jeopardy. Please act NOW!!

Thank you for caring and transforming your care into Action!

PS:
MCA WILL HOLD AN ADVOCACY CONFERENCE CALL TO THE FIELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009 AT 3:00 P.M. TO UPDATE YOU ON OUR ADVOCACY PLAN AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. THE CALL-IN NUMBER IS 1-800-935-3856 PASSCODE: 465287