How Did You Get Involved in Teaching Your Craft? compiled by Kimberly Geib

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

Each month, The Crafts Report invites readers to respond to the Public Opinion question. Responses are published in the magazine. Go to our Public Opinion Question page to answer the current and/or future questions.

Three years ago a new owner took over at my local stained glass supply retail shop, and my being at the shop almost every day gave us the chance to discuss and share our views and styles of stained glass work. Eighteen months ago she asked me to take over her beginner classes.

Robert Burrell
via e-mail

As a chair caner, I am more in a service category than a creative one, but when I do craft shows, I am demonstrating continuously. This naturally leads to teaching.

We even got into selling supplies this way. When folks want to cane their own chairs, we sell the supplies they'll need. Others tell me that they've done "two" chairs -- their first and their last. ... Then we become their caner from that point on ... either way, we win.

We don't have "sit down classes" (yet), but all customers are welcome to bring their chairs to my shop to work on so that I may help them.

I taught myself from a book, and so can most folks, but I am always available to my customers to help.

Betty J. Newman
Newman Valley Studio
Chair Caning and Wicker Repair
Kodak, Tennessee
via e-mail

Though I am a teacher by profession, I had never taught beadwork until I had an article published in a beadwork magazine. Shortly thereafter, I was contacted by a bead society in a neighboring state to speak on the subject of the article. I developed a seminar, which I now teach at a local bead store. Although it was my first article, the visibility I gained obviously opened a few doors for me. Teaching and writing are very profitable ways to support my involvement in the craft. Developing the seminar took many hours of my time, but I can present it again and again. I hope to develop more beadwork classes to teach in my local area, and eventually, other places as well.

Mary Tafoya
Aunt Molly's Bead Street
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Being involved as a student in a community studio was extremely rewarding. As I progressed within my own work, I found I still desired the "give and take" of teaching in a large studio.

Kathy King
King Ceramic Art
Boston, Massachusetts

The summer after I graduated from college I was employed at a youth summer camp teaching ceramics to underprivileged teenage youth. I enjoyed very much being able to share my knowledge and some of the "tricks" that I have developed as well as sharing my insight into the creative process. The kids were very receptive to my instruction, and I knew after my experience there that I wanted to make teaching part of my life as an artist.

I kept teaching at various youth camps over my summers and then eventually began holding small-scale workshops on throwing and hand-building pottery in my home studio. As an artist, the learning process never ends, and it is very rewarding being able to share one's love of ceramics.

Tom Manlo
via e-mail

Kimberly Geib is editorial assistant of The Crafts Report.

APRIL 2000: TABLE OF CONTENTS