OH, What a Night!

The opening reception for my solo show at the Princeton Charter School was more fun than I expected. Of course it was, because all my friends came! I'm grateful to the support and enthusiasm of these lovely people, some of whom are new in my life, who found the mysterious gallery of the obscure school in the northern reaches of the city limits - really, no one seemed to know where it was.





Amanda Castner is the art teacher at the school. She is in charge of the gallery, and this is only the second show they have had. She has the job I used to have, plus some. I know it's all consuming just to teach, and then there is even more asked of you, like this gallery. Amanda was so brilliant. She was organized and responsive. No one was faster responding to email than Amanda, and there was a lot of those flying back and forth during the past month.

pinch pots by 8th graders in the show

With Head of School, Larry Patton and
retired administer, Norma Byers

The jack-of-all-trades at the school, Chris Tocco, put up the shelves especially for this show. I think they looked wonderful. I chose the height, but I don't know who thought of the corner placement. I think because the walls are all slightly curved in the gallery, it was one of the only options.

The black draped tables are actually very heavy, plywood old chorus risers that were stacked by Jannick and Amanda (they wouldn't let me help) and re-stacked until the best arrangement was found.

Me with Marie and Jannick

Jannick Wildberg, the volunteer who helps run the gallery at the Princeton Charter School was as particular as I am about placement and design of the exhibit. We worked well together - no hurt feelings even though she expressed definite preferences for some pieces and indifference to others. That's certainly reasonable. She has bought several pots and says she will buy more.







Lots of pots were sold to friends, and everyone was again, so kind and supportive... actually there was one rather cool customer, but one is acceptable, certainly.

For myself, I am critical of all of it. Was there anything perfect? No! There is much, much work to be done. But I still love what I have made despite the flaws.

Maybe all the kind words from everyone are really expressing the potential that they see, because I do feel like there is potential.

 And I can't wait to get back into the studio to show it!