Tree of Dreams Photo Essay

Tree of Dreams Participants in the Raku Wall Mounting Project

How the artists, Joyce Furney & Ray Freeby of The Clay Cellar Studios envisioned Tree of Dreams

People ask me all the time, why should the clients work on art projects-after all, we don't have an official art program. Why is art so important? Examples abound - art affects our mood, stimulates our mind, increases our analytical abilities, inspires creativity in children and adults of all ages, and connects us to our community.

Another thanks goes to Dick Fitzmaurice, our Director of Development and Public Information, for taking all of these fantastic photos from start to finish! Dick will be taking pictures of the completed project just as soon as we can set it up for a proper shooting (light, angles, etc.). We are hoping to hang the artwork in the front lobby of our adult day program and administrative offices, so people can view it prior to bidding on it. We will be sending out notices about the history of the project and bidding forms to clients, their families and all members. Additionally, we will be sending out emails with photos to our customers to see if they would like the honor of having it at their site. Finally, I will try to secure other art projects to keep the enthusiasm of the clients going-to have seen their faces when shown the Raku tiles and then told they would be part of this was quite amazing-and then for them to see their photos on line (Facebook and soon on this blog) plus, keeping a souvenir photo, was worth every second it took-it's been a labor of love on so many levels.

Below, please see the photographic essays of how my one piece of Raku Pottery from The Clay Cellar started this whole art endeavor!

"Tree of Dreams" Raku Pottery Project Completed!

"Tree of Dreams" an incredible Raku Pottery wall art work is now completed!



A huge thank you goes to The Clay Cellar Studio Artists/Owners, Joyce Furney and Ray Freeby of Manhattan, Kansas, for creating this art work specifically for The Arc of Alameda County.


Individuals from all programs were asked to participate in the Raku Pottery Project and for those that said yes, dates and times were scheduled so they could have as much time as needed to participate to the highest levels possible.

A photo/media release was given to those persons as their photos and names would be going on The Arc of Alameda County’s “Facebook” as well as Art At Arc’s Blogspot. Additionally, there may be other areas where the photos would be displayed, such as when the completed project goes up for sale, photos of the clients who worked on it would be displayed.

Shannon provided each group of clients scheduled an overview of the project, how it got started and how much the artists, Joyce Furman and Ray Freeby, artists/owners of The Clay Cellar, wanted individuals to feel a part of the project. Not only did participants help with the assembly of the pottery tiles, they also glued their own tiles on the wall mounting. Before hand, Shannon asked them to look at the project and to think of what it meant to them, reminding everyone all answers they gave would be “correct” as there were no wrong answers in this art project. They could let their imaginations go and for them not to worry what the person next to them said, their answers (if they chose to participate) would be great! On that note, here are the comments given by the “co-artists”-their first name and program sites are mentioned. Please remember it was their choice to speak about what the “Tree of Dreams so there are more participants in the gluing than this part of the project. Please note, all answers from the participants are quotes.

Union City Alternative Ventures Program
Stacey
The artists’ work is spectacular! It looks like animals to me-just sitting around
Jonathon
Looks like a squirrel climbing a tree. I will be getting married next year and it looks like love to me
Ted
Looks like a peacock to me
Maya
It’s a squirrel but it has different designs and lines on it. A circle of life

San Leandro Vocational Development Center
Teressa
It reminds me of a bunch of tiles
Luis
It reminds me of a beautiful mosaic
Zsa Zsa
It looks like towels
Stephen
Looks like trees and plants outside
Jessica
It looks like a house to me

Livermore Vocational Development Center
Holly
It reminds me of cats that are in the trees
Cheryl
Looks like paradise, I think. When I was down on vacation in the Bahamas, that’s what it looked like-it reminded me of that.
Ferris
It reminds me of endless possibilities and it also reminds me of changes
Jeff
It’s like freedom because everybody is the same and has different talents
Karla
It reminds me of someone in jail
Denise
It reminds me of peace-because when I see the trees flow. I see the trees flow
Linda

Tom
I see an ancient Japanese paradise and tranquility and some kind of rituals and different cultures-I see the colors of Samurai

It would be incredible if news of this got out so artists, gallery owners, and others in the art world would also donate their works of art, either specifically for fundraising for The Arc of Alameda County, or for clients to "finish" or work on. Yes, we have clients who wish to, send me their artwork for making into greeting cards and to sell at a silent art auction and display for an art gallery, but I don't want our clients to do one project and lose steam. I wish you could have seen them working on it (photos are available currently on our facebook section on our webpage www.arcalameda.org and click on facebook and arc.ives for the article on it dated June 1, 2009). Photos of the completed project and of the clients themselves will be in our next art blog.

Thank you Joyce and Ray for making so many people's dreams come true! You directly impacted over 20 individuals' creative talents on this art project and allowed my dream of providing the clients with more options and life experiences in unique and innovative ways. Show me a more innovative project than this one! Now, that's a challenge...!

The Clay Cellar Shipment Arrives At Arc!

The "Tree of Dreams" Raku Pottery Tiles Arrives At The Arc of Alameda County

Glue (mastic) and glue gun included in shipment, among many other unexpected delights

Opening up the box in San Leandro SCOPE Room 3

Tree of Dream Symbol unpacked

Last week, The Clay Cellar artists/owners, Joyce Furney & Ray Freeby sent their shipment of the uncompleted Tree of Dreams Raku Pottery art project to The Arc of Alameda County. You will have read about this generous donation in my previous blog.

Not only did the package include the tiles and wall mounting, but the wall mounting was painted and pre hung with hardware, all the tiles were numbered, there were nice notes concerning the project, and they even included the glue, glue gun and other assembly pieces. But that pales to the most exciting find-that was an extremely detailed videotape as to how to assemble it, what the concerns were, and what to do to get out of trouble. The videotape was Ray's "baby" and what an excellent job he did on that.

Individuals who sign a photo media release will be asked to come to my office to work on this project as it's just too fragile a piece to be worked on at one site, let dry, then carted off to the next site and so on. This way, participants can come to a nice quiet area with lots of light, a massive work table and few other distractions so they can assemble it teamwork style. All participants will be asked to sign their name/make their mark on a sheet of paper which will list their name, program and date they participated on the piece. Then, when all assembled, the names will be placed in a clear envelope and glued to the back of the wall mounting, so the eventual owners of the piece (highest bidders) will know exactly who worked on it! After careful thought and consideration, I feel the owners should also have some of the letters that Joyce & Ray sent, photos that we've taken on the project, my art blog notes so they will have a history of the piece from start to finish. That's called the provenance of an art piece and it is vital to have that. I also believe they should have the video which would be another delightful piece of provenance for the completed project.

We can start this project mid-May as I will be on my vacation and can then devote 100% of my day at my office, working with the individuals who have stated a desire to work on this piece. An email will go out to program managers today asking them to bring staff and clients over during my vacation time for the assembly work. Ray and Joyce will receive all of my blogs so of course, they will also see photos of all who will work on this fascinating Tree of Dreams pottery project.

The Clay Cellar Donates Raku Wall Mounting By Joyce Furney

Top two photos "Tree of Dreams" Raku Pottery in Progress by Artist, Joyce Furney

The special Raku Pottery piece that started it all! Joyce Furney, Artist

Several months ago, I happened to purchase the most beautiful piece of Raku Pottery and by looking at the bottom of the bowl, found out the artist's name was Joyce Furney and she owned her own pottery studio called The Clay Cellar.

I have a small collection of 11 pieces, but this one had the most amazing and brilliant iridescent reds I had ever seen so I emailed her after finding The Clay Cellar on a search engine.

Was I ever surprised to find out, she looked up The Arc of Alameda County(I always write down our agency's web address when I finish writing an email to someone) and told me she wanted to donate a piece of raku pottery to our agency for a special fundraising project, because of what she read on our web page!

After a number of emails, it was decided she would design a special raku pottery wall mounting, and have it partially completed, but she wanted some clients to help finish off the piece under my guidance. Clients from different programs will be able to help me on this project and we will take photos of clients working on this beautiful art piece. You can see the "Tree of Dreams" wall mounting work in progress Joyce created just for us at the top of this blog. The third photo down is the beautiful bowl I purchased that started it all.

The art work will arrive in a week's time. By that time, I will know which clients will be working on it, as I am sending a message to all program manager's who will invite two clients from each site to help on this project. Once completed, the wall mounting will be kept in the SCOPE adult day program/Administrative Offices lobby wall, until we have our awards dinner (date, time location to be discussed in the near future). At that time, it will go to the highest bidder in a special auction and the money will be given to The Arc of Alameda County. Some of the money donated will go toward resources for Art At Arc clients, such as purchasing special blank greeting cards and envelopes to display client's original art work, to purchase mats and frames to showcase client art work, etc.

Now, let's hear about Joyce Furney, the artist/owner of The Clay Cellar and Ray Freeby.

At the age of nine, I knew that one day I would be an artist. I was awarded B.F.A. in sculpture from Kansas State University in 1975. After thirteen years in the commercial art world and 31 hours of post graduate work in clay, I made the full time commitment to pottery and in 1983 started the Clay Cellar in rural Kansas. Ray Freeby, my life partner and maker of the dish and small/medium bowl forms joined the studio in 1990 and in 1992 we entered the wholesale marketplace. A studio staff helps make, glaze, fire and ship our raku pottery to our many wholesale and consignment accounts. Today's studio activities are concentrated in two major areas: the PRODUCTION DIVISION which consists of our GIFT LINE (slip cast ring boxes, candle holders, decorative eggs, etc.) and our DESIGNER LINE (raku slab built bowls, dishes platters and wall domes) and the CUSTOM DIVISION which consists of limited editions and one-of-a- kind hand built or wheel thrown CUSTOM ART VESSELS, and mixed media CONTEMPORARY TILE WALL INSTALLATIONS.
New for 1998 & 1999 is COMMISSION WORK for site specific corporate and residential settings. I have received commissions for mobiles, and am currently making corporate design presentations for large outdoor fountains and sculptures and continues to receive commissions for her mixed media Contemporary Tile Wall Installations. My design proposal starts with a site survey and analysis where I integrate all spatial relationships of the environment and architectural element of the site to create a dynamic custom design solution. I am very adamant about making these artworks part of a total sculptural environment, to create a focus of spatial/form relationships to the environment and the buildings that contain or are adjacent to the artwork.

What Is Raku?

The Art of Raku is attributed to Zen Buddhist Monks of 16th Century Japan and was favored for the tea bowls of the great tea masters. In that culture and time Raku was much more than a method of making and firing pottery, it was a philosophy. The Japanese symbol for Raku can be translated as "enjoyment of freedom." However, as is often the case with adapting the philosophies of other cultures, we in the west have distilled Raku to a technical process. Raku is now generally accepted to mean a method of rapid firing and cooling of ceramic ware, and names the finished product.
Raku is the firing method used at The CLAY CELLAR. The process as we employ it involves the following: forms are either wheel- thrown or hand built, using a white raku clay body formulated to withstand great thermal shock. Metallic stains and engobes (colored clays) are often brushed on the greenware forms for decoration. When trimmed and dried, the vessels are bisque fired to cone 04. The forms are then glazed with either crackle white glaze or a variety of metallic luster glazes. When thoroughly dry the forms are gas-fired to 1660-1800 degrees.
Once glaze-mature temperature is reached, the kiln is shut off and opened. The forms are removed with raku tongs and placed in a reduction sand pit lined with paper. The hot form ignites the combustibles, and a lid is lowered over the ware, smothering the fire and starving it of oxygen. The forms remain in this smoky environment for 5 to 20 minutes. Three important reactions occur: First, the glazes are reduced. Since a fire needs a sufficient amount of oxygen to burn properly, the oxygen molecules contained in the clay and glazes are being removed from the glaze mix, thus reducing the glaze.
This produces the rich metallic luster colors ranging from oxidized copper greens through reduced copper blues, purples, plums, reds, and copper penny which are the hallmark of metallic luster raku glazes. Secondly, carbon from the smoke is being trapped in the white clay body, turning it gray to black wherever the glaze cracked or the body was left unglazed.
This reaction creates the traditional Raku crackle effect. The third important reaction is the additional cooling of the form. This helps prevent massive thermal shock cracks from occurring when the form is removed from the reduction barrel and quenched in water. The quenching is more important with metallic luster glazes than crackle white, because the water freezes the color and prevents re-oxidation from occurring. The form is then thoroughly washed, exposing the rich colors that lie beneath the carbon black. The Raku experience is serendipitous and more often than not yields spectacularly brilliant results.
There are three very important WARN!NG DISCLAIMERS we want to state very plainly. Due to the glaze chemistry and low firing process used:
1. RAKU IS NOT FOOD SAFE!
2. RAKU IS NOT WATER TIGHT!
3. RAKU IS FRAGILE! The metallic luster glazes we use contain carbonates, oxides, and nitrates that will leach out if in contact with food acids. Therefore NEVER USE A RAKU METALIC LUSTER VESSEL WITH FOOD. Consider them as vessels for visual pleasure and enjoy them in the love with which we make them. It should also be stated that even though their form may imply a function, that function is limited by the fragile nature of the non-vitrified clay body. Specifically in the case of vases, if used as a fresh cut flower vase, water would eventually leach through the porous clay and leave a stain on a wood table. Therefore if used with water use a plastic liner or place the vase on a glass plate to protect your furniture.
Raku should always be handled with care as it does not have the strength of stoneware. Whenever possible, use both hands to pick it up and never pick a piece up by its lip. Raku may be cleaned with a mild soap and water or lightly buffed with very fine (0000) steel wool.

Original Art Work Wanted

Do you want to see your beautiful original art work in the form of a greeting card?

Several clients have seen their original art work scanned into the computer to make greeting cards. We would like to do that again. Here's all you have to do:
1. color, draw, or paint your original art work onto 8.5" x 11" white paper
2. do not print or write your name on the front or back of the artwork. Write you name, program your attend, and a little bit about yourself on a separate sheet of paper.
3. Get a photo/media release form and ask for assistance to fill it out that will allow your name and artwork to be used for greeting cards
4. Do not limit artwork to special holidays...think of all the different types of greeting cards you see in a store...don't limit yourself!
5. Send all three (3) items to Shannon at the Administrative Offices, in Interoffice Mail or if you wish by US Postal Mail to 2700A Merced Street, San Leandro California 94577.
6. Shannon will give the artwork to Judy who will scan it into her computer and you will receive one greeting card per original art work you submit.
7. If you are willing to donate your original art work, it will be posted in the Administrative Offices until an art sale will occur. All proceeds will go back into The Arc of Alameda County's Art Fund for supplies
8. Greeting cards will be available for sale (numbers and prices to be determined). Again, all proceeds will go back into The Arc of Alameda County's Art Fund for supplies.

The more original art work we receive, the more types of greeting cards we can make and that way, we can highlight all the wonderful artists we have at all the sites, and make some money for needed art supplies.

Let's get started!