I have been keeping myself very busy since my last posts. The usual class and work plus a few extras have been making my days jam packed. But that's the way I like it. I guess the best way to fill you all in with what I've been doing is to go in chronological order.
Through my ceramics class I found out about an opening for a exhibit of carved ceramic vases held on June 4th. It was a display of vases submitted to the Carved Vase Contest. This contest was juried competition in honor of the 100th anniversary of the completion of Adelaide Alsop Robineau's Scarab Vase, an elaborately carved vase at the Everson Museum. The exhibit was held at Clayscapes Pottery Inc. in their gallery space. There were many amazing vases, some for sale and other not, and with my new found understanding of thrown pottery I was able to better understand the process of making the vases and enjoy them more thoroughly. Also, while I was at Clayscapes, I popped into their store and bought myself a new rubber rib for my class. (I love buying new tools and Clayscapes gives a student discount!)
This past Wednesday I moved into a new apartment. Its a bit farther away from campus but the apartment has plenty of space my new street is full of life (with a mix of student apartments and family homes) making the extra bit of walk fully worth it. And right now everybody's gardens are in bloom so the walk is a pleasant one.
On Friday as I was walking to work through the Quad, I found myself amidst a festival. There was a farmers market with vendors of food, jewelry, plants (I bought some herbs for my kitchen), and more. There was also a strawberry festival going on that sold various strawberry goodies. I also gave a tour of the Shaffer Art building to a prospective student. So if any of you visit Syracuse this summer I might be your tour guide-who knows?
On Saturday my mom drove from PA to visit my new apartment. After an inspection of the place her approval was earned. Then we grabbed a bite to eat from Tully's, a restaurant on Erie Boulevard, and then we did some grocery shopping at Wegmans.
Coming up this week, I have a meeting with a woman whom I met in December at a crafts fair in which I participated. She liked my jewelry and was interested in custom ordering some as bridesmaids gifts for her July wedding. I'm so happy that we managed to stay in touch while I was abroad and that she's still interested because having my jewelry in a wedding would be a great opportunity. I'm a bit nervous for this meeting so wish me luck!
Both of my classes are going really well. In my ceramics class we are learning about glazing, working on making larger objects and planning for our final projects. (I can't believe how quickly the session is progressing.) I finally fired my first glass project and it came out beautifully and I couldn't be happier.
In the move to the new apartment I have lost my memory card reader so I can't post any photos yet. But as soon as I find it I will upload photos to accompany this post.
Until next time,
Gitta
Monday, June 14, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Cornell graduation and other things
This weekend my sister graduated from Cornell University with a graduate degree in Biomedical Engineering- Go Kirsten!! (Although we're similar in many ways, our areas of study are as different as night and day, but that's part of what makes us such great friends I guess.) So Friday my mom drove to Syracuse to pick me up, after putting in a few hours in the ceramics studio of course, to spend the weekend with Kirsten. It was a beautiful weekend in Ithaca (although extra busy with graduates and their families.) The ceremony on Sunday was lovely (although I wish I would have put on a little more sunscreen-ouch!) and it was great to finally meet all of my sister's friends and classmates whom I have heard so much about. On Monday, driving away from Cornell, I felt really sad to be leaving the campus knowing that I'll never go back to visit Kirsten there again. The drive from Syracuse to Ithaca is just under an hour and it has been so fantastic to have my sister so close (she also earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell) and was actually one of the reasons why I choose SU. Although shes no longer at CU shes not moving far. She landed a job in NYC which will also be a really fun place to visit her.
So far this summer the most time consuming thing has been my ceramics class. I've put in time at the studio almost every day and although its a bit tiring (clay can be tough to move around sometimes) the hard work is beginning to pay off. My cups are becoming more even, thinner, taller, and I'm beginning to be able to control the shape that I'm making a bit. This week we've advanced from straight cylindrical cups to mugs with handles-I'm learning that there are a lot of elements (both aesthetic and functional) that need to be taken into consideration when adding a handle to a mug. For Thursday's class we have to have eight mugs completed which is somewhat of an overwhelming amount of work for a beginner to produce in one day. Despite being a lot of work, its also a really fun and laid-back class. After Tuesday's class my professor-a graduate student- fired up a grill outside of the studio and we had a little cookout (eating and drinking off of hand made plates and cups of course). It's little events like this that make VPA a strong community and such a fun place to be.
Some other things that have been weighing on my mind:
It's funny but talking to the prospective students who come into the admissions office makes me realize how full circle I've come. Not only can I imagine 3 years ago when I was in their shoes-thinking about the future, applying to universities, nervously awaiting their responses-I'm in that same situation again. As my senior year rapidly approaches I'm trying to map out the future which is incredibly difficult and tremendously scary. As of right now I am unsure of what life after graduation holds-not because options are scarce, rather because there are too many directions that I could go. Should I continue my education (where), should I work (where and for whom), should I try and contact an artist in the field for some sort of apprenticeship (again where, for whom and how?). In order to figure this all out I need to develop more pieces for my portfolio, shoot photographs for a portfolio, write a resume and artists statement, work on applications, search the web for job opportunities, and so many other things that I'm sure I'm forgetting at this point. It's an overwhelming list of things to do but I'm sure with hard work and guidance from the professors whom I'm closest to I'll be able to complete it all and make the decisions that are right for my future.
Until next time
Gitta
So far this summer the most time consuming thing has been my ceramics class. I've put in time at the studio almost every day and although its a bit tiring (clay can be tough to move around sometimes) the hard work is beginning to pay off. My cups are becoming more even, thinner, taller, and I'm beginning to be able to control the shape that I'm making a bit. This week we've advanced from straight cylindrical cups to mugs with handles-I'm learning that there are a lot of elements (both aesthetic and functional) that need to be taken into consideration when adding a handle to a mug. For Thursday's class we have to have eight mugs completed which is somewhat of an overwhelming amount of work for a beginner to produce in one day. Despite being a lot of work, its also a really fun and laid-back class. After Tuesday's class my professor-a graduate student- fired up a grill outside of the studio and we had a little cookout (eating and drinking off of hand made plates and cups of course). It's little events like this that make VPA a strong community and such a fun place to be.
Some other things that have been weighing on my mind:
It's funny but talking to the prospective students who come into the admissions office makes me realize how full circle I've come. Not only can I imagine 3 years ago when I was in their shoes-thinking about the future, applying to universities, nervously awaiting their responses-I'm in that same situation again. As my senior year rapidly approaches I'm trying to map out the future which is incredibly difficult and tremendously scary. As of right now I am unsure of what life after graduation holds-not because options are scarce, rather because there are too many directions that I could go. Should I continue my education (where), should I work (where and for whom), should I try and contact an artist in the field for some sort of apprenticeship (again where, for whom and how?). In order to figure this all out I need to develop more pieces for my portfolio, shoot photographs for a portfolio, write a resume and artists statement, work on applications, search the web for job opportunities, and so many other things that I'm sure I'm forgetting at this point. It's an overwhelming list of things to do but I'm sure with hard work and guidance from the professors whom I'm closest to I'll be able to complete it all and make the decisions that are right for my future.
Until next time
Gitta
Back at the 'Cuse
Ciao a tutti!
After a semester-long hiatus from my blog I'm back in Syracuse and ready to blog my little heart out. I have so much to catch up on because... about a week and a half ago I returned from a four month long study abroad adventure in Florence, Italy! My semester abroad was really a life-changing time and I can't wait to share my experience with everyone.
Although my heart is breaking because I'm no longer in Firenze, all hope is not lost. For the first time I am spending the summer at Syracuse.
My plan for this blog in the next few months is to report the weekly happenings of Syracuse in the summer and supplement it with tales from abroad.
To begin: My First Week of Summer in Syracuse
I moved in on Sunday and will be staying here until next May. While its strange to be in Syracuse without my usual group of friends, the first few days here have been great so far. I'm temporarily subletting a room from a friend until the lease begins on my apartment begins in the beginning of June. Where I'm currently staying is a really big house which is great because I have a lot of roommates and consequently a lot of new friends. (Whats not so great is my attic bedroom which, despite the cold, cold Syracuse winters, is blistering hot in the heat and humidity of Syracuse's late May weather.)
I'm taking classes in the first 6- week Summer Session. Syracuse offers a glass fusing class that I have been trying to take since my first semester freshman year when I had a foundations class with the professor who teaches it Carmel Nicoletti. However, whenever I had time to fit it into my schedule, the class was either not offered that semester or it had been filled by the time I got to register for classes. Not this summer however. University College is offering it this summer and I am so happy to finally be able to attend. The class meets twice a week (Mo&W) from 6-9 pm at the Comart building. It is a class of mixed age and skill level which offers a lot of different opinions and point of views. (This is always the type of class I like best because you can learn so much from your classmates). This week we learned about the different types of glass for fusing and the forms it comes in, how to cut the glass, prepare it for firing (including cleaning the glass and layering it to the proper thickness for the best firing possible), and how to load the kiln.
I am also taking a ceramics course in wheel throwing. It is a very small class and it is also of mixed sill level and age. There are only two other true beginners in the class in addition to myself. There is also a very sweet Scottish woman at an advanced level and a ceramics major who just transferred to SU. The class meets Tu&Th afternoons. Our professor, a ceramics graduate student, taught we beginners the basics of throwing vessels on the wheel including wedging the clay, centering, and raising a form. It's really amazing how much improvement can be made in just two days. On Tuesday my forms were short and wobbly but by the end of yesterday's class I was able to make some taller, more even shapes. Our homework for next Tuesday is to have 8 quality cups made, which may not seem like a lot but is actually quite a bit of work.
In addition to taking classes I am also have a work study position at the Admissions Office for VPA. I love talking to and helping prospective students and incoming freshman so the job is a perfect fit!
The second order of the day: Orientation Weekend in Florence
My flight to Florence left from New Ark Airport on the afternoon of January 11. (I took a group flight arranged by SU which was really a stress free experience and I am so happy that they offer that.) After a short layover in Rome, we arrived in Florence at Jan 12, 7:10 am. I have to admit the first few days in Florence were pretty rough, not from homesickness or anything like that, but from real sickness. I must have eaten something funny on the plane ride over because for the first 2 or 3 days there I felt so sick. Fortunately, I met a really, really sweet girl from the University of Vermont who was so understanding and so helpful. And this is one of the really cool things about studying abroad-you meet people from all over. Of course there were many SU students there (which is also cool because now I have a lot of new friends from all over SU beyond VPA) but there were also people from all over the country as far away as Alaska, and even all over the world (one of my good friends in the program was Ecuadorian).
The first days were filled with lots of orientation meetings preparing us with what to expect from the school, the city, our host families and things like that(students in studio arts also have the option of staying in an apartment but I chose to stay with a family which was the best choice I made for this trip). Many important forms had to be filled out, including those for our permesso di soggiorno-the residence permit. Classes had to be enrolled in (and although the enrollment system there is seemingly a bit haphazard-enrollment is not on line but rather you sign your name on a piece of paper for each class you want to take-somehow it all worked out smoothly). And of course there was sight seeing to be done. Florence has so much history to offer and on our first few days there it was always such an excitement to stumble on one of the major sights of the city (such as Santa Croce) while trying to find our way from here to there. And even to the last day these sights never failed to kindle excitement and wonder in me.
That first weekend we also met our host families which was scary and exciting. But my host family deserves a blog entry of their own so I'll wait until another date to write more about them.
Views from the cupola of the Duomo: Orientation Weekend
After a semester-long hiatus from my blog I'm back in Syracuse and ready to blog my little heart out. I have so much to catch up on because... about a week and a half ago I returned from a four month long study abroad adventure in Florence, Italy! My semester abroad was really a life-changing time and I can't wait to share my experience with everyone.
Although my heart is breaking because I'm no longer in Firenze, all hope is not lost. For the first time I am spending the summer at Syracuse.
My plan for this blog in the next few months is to report the weekly happenings of Syracuse in the summer and supplement it with tales from abroad.
To begin: My First Week of Summer in Syracuse
I moved in on Sunday and will be staying here until next May. While its strange to be in Syracuse without my usual group of friends, the first few days here have been great so far. I'm temporarily subletting a room from a friend until the lease begins on my apartment begins in the beginning of June. Where I'm currently staying is a really big house which is great because I have a lot of roommates and consequently a lot of new friends. (Whats not so great is my attic bedroom which, despite the cold, cold Syracuse winters, is blistering hot in the heat and humidity of Syracuse's late May weather.)
I'm taking classes in the first 6- week Summer Session. Syracuse offers a glass fusing class that I have been trying to take since my first semester freshman year when I had a foundations class with the professor who teaches it Carmel Nicoletti. However, whenever I had time to fit it into my schedule, the class was either not offered that semester or it had been filled by the time I got to register for classes. Not this summer however. University College is offering it this summer and I am so happy to finally be able to attend. The class meets twice a week (Mo&W) from 6-9 pm at the Comart building. It is a class of mixed age and skill level which offers a lot of different opinions and point of views. (This is always the type of class I like best because you can learn so much from your classmates). This week we learned about the different types of glass for fusing and the forms it comes in, how to cut the glass, prepare it for firing (including cleaning the glass and layering it to the proper thickness for the best firing possible), and how to load the kiln.
I am also taking a ceramics course in wheel throwing. It is a very small class and it is also of mixed sill level and age. There are only two other true beginners in the class in addition to myself. There is also a very sweet Scottish woman at an advanced level and a ceramics major who just transferred to SU. The class meets Tu&Th afternoons. Our professor, a ceramics graduate student, taught we beginners the basics of throwing vessels on the wheel including wedging the clay, centering, and raising a form. It's really amazing how much improvement can be made in just two days. On Tuesday my forms were short and wobbly but by the end of yesterday's class I was able to make some taller, more even shapes. Our homework for next Tuesday is to have 8 quality cups made, which may not seem like a lot but is actually quite a bit of work.
In addition to taking classes I am also have a work study position at the Admissions Office for VPA. I love talking to and helping prospective students and incoming freshman so the job is a perfect fit!
The second order of the day: Orientation Weekend in Florence
My flight to Florence left from New Ark Airport on the afternoon of January 11. (I took a group flight arranged by SU which was really a stress free experience and I am so happy that they offer that.) After a short layover in Rome, we arrived in Florence at Jan 12, 7:10 am. I have to admit the first few days in Florence were pretty rough, not from homesickness or anything like that, but from real sickness. I must have eaten something funny on the plane ride over because for the first 2 or 3 days there I felt so sick. Fortunately, I met a really, really sweet girl from the University of Vermont who was so understanding and so helpful. And this is one of the really cool things about studying abroad-you meet people from all over. Of course there were many SU students there (which is also cool because now I have a lot of new friends from all over SU beyond VPA) but there were also people from all over the country as far away as Alaska, and even all over the world (one of my good friends in the program was Ecuadorian).
The first days were filled with lots of orientation meetings preparing us with what to expect from the school, the city, our host families and things like that(students in studio arts also have the option of staying in an apartment but I chose to stay with a family which was the best choice I made for this trip). Many important forms had to be filled out, including those for our permesso di soggiorno-the residence permit. Classes had to be enrolled in (and although the enrollment system there is seemingly a bit haphazard-enrollment is not on line but rather you sign your name on a piece of paper for each class you want to take-somehow it all worked out smoothly). And of course there was sight seeing to be done. Florence has so much history to offer and on our first few days there it was always such an excitement to stumble on one of the major sights of the city (such as Santa Croce) while trying to find our way from here to there. And even to the last day these sights never failed to kindle excitement and wonder in me.
That first weekend we also met our host families which was scary and exciting. But my host family deserves a blog entry of their own so I'll wait until another date to write more about them.
Views from the cupola of the Duomo: Orientation Weekend
Me on the right with my friend Sam
Santa Croce
Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone!
Until next time,
Gitta
Thursday, November 12, 2009
40 under 40
Hello everyone,
As I mentioned before, I am involved in the SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) club through the Whitman School of Management. I am a part of the Team Guatemala (Team G) section of the club. Team G imports free trade merchandise that is handmade by woman artisans in Guatemala. We give them an opportunity to make a living through their artwork and 100% of the profits is sent right back to the women. This club is very important to me because as a female artist and entrepreneur I have a desire to support and encourage other women in the arts to pursue a career based on their craft. Today, through this club, I got to experience a pretty unique event, the 12th annual 40 under 40 conference. 4o Under 40 is a ceremony honoring the 40 top people under 40 years of age in Greater Syracuse who have excelled and made in impact in the workplace and the community. Team G was given the opportunity to set up a table to sell merchandise and to mingle a bit with the honorees and other guests. It was a great opportunity not only to broaden our market and spread the word about SIFE and Team G but also to meet very successful and influential business men and women. The event is still taking place until 2 pm today so I hope that we are very successful in our sales!
Until next time,
Gitta
As I mentioned before, I am involved in the SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) club through the Whitman School of Management. I am a part of the Team Guatemala (Team G) section of the club. Team G imports free trade merchandise that is handmade by woman artisans in Guatemala. We give them an opportunity to make a living through their artwork and 100% of the profits is sent right back to the women. This club is very important to me because as a female artist and entrepreneur I have a desire to support and encourage other women in the arts to pursue a career based on their craft. Today, through this club, I got to experience a pretty unique event, the 12th annual 40 under 40 conference. 4o Under 40 is a ceremony honoring the 40 top people under 40 years of age in Greater Syracuse who have excelled and made in impact in the workplace and the community. Team G was given the opportunity to set up a table to sell merchandise and to mingle a bit with the honorees and other guests. It was a great opportunity not only to broaden our market and spread the word about SIFE and Team G but also to meet very successful and influential business men and women. The event is still taking place until 2 pm today so I hope that we are very successful in our sales!
Until next time,
Gitta
Monday, November 2, 2009
Iron Pour
Hello All!
Today I would like to take some time to write about a very exciting event that happened a few weeks ago--the Iron Pour. The jewelry and metalsmithing studio has a centrifugal casting machine to cast small scale bronze, silver and gold but casting iron is a horse of a different color!
Last semester sculpture hosted a visiting artist Casey Westbrook and a team of his students from The University of West Georgia who traveled to SU to help us build a furnace for melting iron and carry out our first iron casting. It was the most incredible experience that I have had at SU and so I was eager to participate again. Casey came back for a second time and a few of the West Georgia Crew returned as well. The pour was scheduled for Friday October 2 and the week proceeding was spent making sand molds of the objects were were casting, cracking iron, preparing the charge bags, retouching the furnace, and other various jobs. Due to quantities of rain, most of the pour was held inside the sculpture department; usually iron casting is held outdoors because of the high temperatures. On that night almost 2000 pounds of iron were melted to around 2800 degrees F. (The average casting that happens in the metalsmithing studio is about 1763 degrees F for silver and about 1 oz.)
The second pour around was no less exciting than the first and I am excited to participate again.
Pictures from Nick Arnold!!
Until next time,
Gitta
Today I would like to take some time to write about a very exciting event that happened a few weeks ago--the Iron Pour. The jewelry and metalsmithing studio has a centrifugal casting machine to cast small scale bronze, silver and gold but casting iron is a horse of a different color!
Last semester sculpture hosted a visiting artist Casey Westbrook and a team of his students from The University of West Georgia who traveled to SU to help us build a furnace for melting iron and carry out our first iron casting. It was the most incredible experience that I have had at SU and so I was eager to participate again. Casey came back for a second time and a few of the West Georgia Crew returned as well. The pour was scheduled for Friday October 2 and the week proceeding was spent making sand molds of the objects were were casting, cracking iron, preparing the charge bags, retouching the furnace, and other various jobs. Due to quantities of rain, most of the pour was held inside the sculpture department; usually iron casting is held outdoors because of the high temperatures. On that night almost 2000 pounds of iron were melted to around 2800 degrees F. (The average casting that happens in the metalsmithing studio is about 1763 degrees F for silver and about 1 oz.)
The second pour around was no less exciting than the first and I am excited to participate again.
Pictures from Nick Arnold!!
Until next time,
Gitta
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
