Art Partners make pottery, plan fundraiser
Photo submitted David Strong demonstrates pottery building techniques for young Art Partners.Art Partners and Partners Mentoring of Delta, Montrose and Ouray sponsored a pottery building workshop on Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Creamery Arts Center in Hotchkiss. David Strong, well regarded local clay artist and clay teacher at the Creamery, spent three hours with a fascinated group of youngsters from the Partners organization and their adult mentors and staff.
Strong presented several hand-building techniques from pinch pots through coiled and hump molded slab bowls. Workshop attendees built their bowls along with him as he taught. With time running short, mentees watched Strong demonstrate centering and pulling a form on the pottery wheel and then took a turn at throwing their own bowls.
The Art Partners program pairs budding artists with local artists and craftsmen who volunteer three hours a week for 12 weeks, passing on their skills and insights to their interns. Art interns age 12 through 17 are asked to commit to a year with the program and donate a piece of work for each three months that they spend with their mentor.David Strong, who so generously taught our workshop, has volunteered over the years as both an Art Partner and a one-to-one partner. Strong also teaches pottery classes at the Creamery Arts Center in Hotchkiss for adults as well as teaching children in the after school program.
On Nov. 24, Art Partners will be the beneficiary of the fourth annual chili bowl fundraiser at the Around The Corner Gallery in Montrose. Attendees will be able to purchase one of these hand built, thrown or decorated ceramic bowls filled with chili and cornbread donated by local restaurants. Proceeds will support the Art Partners mentoring program, allowing us to provide materials and workshops throughout the year for our art interns and their mentors. Numerous local artists and artisans donate their bowls to make this after-Thanksgiving event a success. If you are interested in the Art Partners Program, or curious how you can be a part of this great fundraiser, call Julianne Johnson at Partners in Delta, 874-4661 or Lissette Riviere in Montrose at 249-1116.
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