I want to thank you for the clay workshop that was so enjoyable for all of us.

I have had a couple pottery phases in my life. The first one was self-taught 50 years ago-that lasted about a year until home, studio and kiln were all lost in a fire.

The second time was many years later when, after a very challenging time, I took pottery classes in Montpelier. The classes reignited my interest in making pottery and turned into a business with my own studio. That phase lasted 9 years until I was physically inhibited by tendinitis, a divorce and another big move.

Since then I have done some classes here and there and here I am, once again enjoying the many benefits of creating from clay!

For me, the deep inner connection that is accessed through creative focus is healing on so many levels-Mental/ emotional, physical and Spiritual.

Creating objects that will then continue to be changed by the processes of firing and finishing until one holds the end result of an object that may be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing to the eye and hand.

In that process there can be satisfaction, excitement, relaxation and enjoyment; frustration and disappointments; pleasant surprises and failures; and gifts that will give joy and memories that may last longer than we do.

Creating from clay is so like the process of working with, and healing, our own lives including the alchemical fires that are necessary to bring the changes that are longer lasting and beneficial. We can re-create ourselves and learn to trust our Spirit and the gifts we bring to our lives and others. 

Thank you, for the beautiful gift of enthusiasm for creating with clay and Life and sharing both with us!

I was delighted to be a support and witness to youth workers and campers-- many with personal histories of traumas exacerbated by a year of pandemic related social isolation-- connect, share and thrive. From ages 8 to 21, youth in our program modeled teamwork ( the peanut butter episode), compassion (J--- buying 2 50 cent gaming dice, for R--) and blossoming self care tools (mandala work in M-----/ Daisy's collage, based on images of women from the 1960's). I feel inspired by what I saw; and so much hope for Vermont's next generation of activists and citizens. 

-Opeyemi Parham