The balance is the work

Part of my work is navigating how to hold myself in different roles as a working artist, mother, and teacher. August marked the end of a productive summer in-studio and the return to school for both my children and myself. It was time to face new schools, classrooms, new classmates for my littles, and new schedules all-around. This transition period had me itching to get my hands back into clay and return to my Human Knots series.

The balance is the work.

As normalcy returns, I can feel my cortisol drop and I find my clarity in purpose. I know that teaching art has been an integral part of my practice and growth as an artist. In the secondary classroom, I have the opportunity to share and reinforce my own understanding of artistic processes and media. It’s here that I remember to make space for play, as I help guide young minds as they enter adulthood in a world so different than it was when I was that age. I remember that art is not just for decoration. It is essential for these kids to help them navigate what it means to be human and give them the tools to turn the inside-outwards. To make space for reflection and innovation beyond structure.

The classroom is not a classroom - it’s a studio. To effectively teach artistic behavior, I want students to have access to a variety of materials and have true ownership over the space. Supplies are organized and labeled for easy access and the studio is student-managed, which means that everyone takes their turn in sharing larger responsibility like cleaning. I love building this cooperative community and modeling something that can be-hopefully will be-remembered as these young adults enter adulthood and make choices that shape our community values. We laugh a lot - celebrate our failures - and remember that struggle is integral for meaningful growth.

I need this community building to remind me of my purpose in my studio. To make work that is authentic and playful - that serves joy and does not turn too deep unto itself that it disengages from what is Real and Important.