Letter to the Community from Rose Foley, CAC Board Member & Artist

August 1, 2020

I discovered Clay Art Center in 2009. I live in Stamford, Connecticut. I had just started taking pottery classes with a friend when she recommended we try Clay Art Center in Port Chester. I had never heard of CAC nor been in Port Chester. I started in Georgia Tenore’s class. The choices were endless – clay bodies, glazes, firings - I was hooked. Over the years I’ve taken a class with almost every teacher, numerous residents and lots of workshops too. In 2017, Reena Kashyap gave me the push, maybe even a shove, to apply as an artist. I now have a shelf in the Artist Shared Space. I don’t think of myself as an artist, more of a sloppy craftsman. I love that terminology and wear it with pride. I love “dirt” and getting my hands dirty.

When CAC closed due to COVID, I was devastated. I was hoping/thinking our doors would be closed for a couple of weeks. Four months in, COVID has changed our world. I’ve attended numerous Zoom calls and taken a few virtual workshops, but to be honest, it is not the same. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful that Clay Art Center stepped up and offered ways for our community to stay in touch, but I missed the physical connection – loading kilns together, sharing ideas, sharing meals.

We have opened our doors again, cautiously, for open studio glazing by appointment only. I’ve fired a bisque kiln, glazed some pieces for a cone 10 firing. I’ve seen friends, we can’t hug and we’re not yet eating meals together nor celebrating special occasions, but we are coming together. I’m a potter. I take a lump of clay, shape it, fire it, glaze it and fire again. During any part of that process, I may fail, but if so, I start over again. I am resilient. I will continue to get my hands dirty. Clay Art Center will continue to be there with me and us all.

Rose Foley
CAC Board Member and Artist

*This was originally posted in our weekly email newsletter August 1, 2020

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