Molding Interest
Senora Alexander, a local artist who creates African clay masks, will be sharing some of the secrets of her craft Saturday when she appears at the Oxnard Library, where her works are on display. “Whatever I’m making during my demonstration,” she said, “the kids can make at home. All they’ll need is a rolling pin, clay and a butter knife.”
Alexander, a graduate of Hueneme High School and mother of two, began studying ceramics at Ventura College recently, but her college projects have been well-received, even winning a prize at a local competition. Her work was put on display after a friend who works at the Oxnard library saw some of her pieces and suggested they be exhibited. That led to an invitation by the library for Alexander to give a demonstration of her methods.
Saturday at 1:30 p.m., Alexander and fellow ceramist Eunsil Kim will explain the mysteries of “leather-hard” clay, “underglaze” and “bisque.” Kim will also “throw” cups and bowls on a potter’s wheel, which will be set up for the occasion.
Alexander’s work involves carving on clay that has dried to a consistency resembling leather. It is then baked to its final hardness.
Kim will be working with much wetter clay, first forming it into a hollow cylinder after “throwing,” or centering it, on the revolving wheel. “In my work I have to keep adding water to the clay to make it work,” she says.
A student at Ventura College, Kim will be relocating to Pullman, Wash., this fall to enter the advanced ceramics program at Washington State University.
During the library demonstration, Kim anticipates that kids, who are always fascinated when they watch the near magical transformation of a mudlike lump into a lovely bowl, will want to try their hands at ceramics right then and there. “If they want to take away what I’ve done there, it’s too soft to be transported, but I’ll give them some clay to work on at home,” she says.
This is because the event at the library is a demonstration, rather than a class or studio situation. But, Alexander says, “If there’s a washable cutting board in a home, kids can roll out some slabs of clay and begin making masks.”
She and Kim plan to suggest to children who really get excited about ceramics that they check out the after-school program at Westpark Recreation Center in Ventura. There are Friday and Monday crafts programs there from 3 to 5 p.m. with four potter’s wheels and an instructor, Sally Spire, available. The phone number is (805) 643-1857.
For kids who decide to get some clay to make something at home, there’s the problem of getting their handiwork “fired,” which means baked in an intensely hot kiln. Alexander suggests they go to “Fired Up” at 1317 Ventura Ave. in Ventura. There, owner Carl Perkins fires pieces brought in by local ceramists young or old. For information, call (805) 643-1857.
Visitors to the Oxnard Library’s display of Alexander’s work, which runs until Saturday, will likely have the same reaction the judges had during the Ventura County Fair. They gave her the blue ribbon.
“Putting the masks in the competition at the fair was my husband’s and kids’ idea. Now, people are asking to buy them. But I don’t want to sell anything yet,” she frets modestly. But this weekend, the pressure from would-be buyers could get even greater.
BE THERE
Clay Craft, demonstration by local artists Senora Alexander and Eunsil Kim making African masks from clay and bowls on a potter’s wheel, Saturday at 1:30 p.m., Oxnard Public Library, 251 South A St. Free. Information (805) 385-7522.