A troop of boys came over to my studio recently to learn a little about pottery-making. The Cub Scouts have pins to earn in various fields, one being in the Arts. After a explanation of the craft and a quick demonstration, each took a turn on my kick wheel. They learned above all, I think, that some things are harder than they initially may appear. Knowing the first time on the wheel does not a good pot make, I also had them build a small sculpture they would be able to keep. Their hands have been shaping various materials, like play-dough and sand, for years already, so the skills needed for this task have developed to a higher degree. They pinched, scored, molded and fine-tuned such beautiful pieces, that they were gleaming with satisfaction by the end of the afternoon. I let their sculptures dry and later loaded them into the kiln to be fired. These boys will be able to display their pieces with pride. They ardently earned their Cub Scout Art Pin. It was a successful day.
