What’s Happening at the Library: New pottery exhibit on display
Published 10:25 am Monday, August 6, 2018
It will take you a bit longer than usual to get into the library during August.
Clark County potter Marshia Hawkins is displaying her work in the lobby cases and you will want to stop there for a while to admire and be charmed by her work.
Marshia is from eastern Kentucky. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art from Berea College and spent a number of years after graduation teaching and making pottery while operating a retail gallery called “Elegant Earth” in Boulder Creek, California.
She became a multiple-subject classroom teacher in 2006 after returning to Kentucky. She earned a master’s in elementary education from Eastern Kentucky University in 2008), her National Board Certification in 2010, became a middle childhood generalist and recently retired as art teacher serving the fifth and sixth graders at Montgomery County Intermediate School in Mount Sterling.
Now she devotes her time to sculpting and creating personalized gifts from nature — flowers and animals sculpted upon hand-thrown forms.
Her stoneware pottery is made from clays native to the southeast. The glazes she uses are lead free and dishwasher, oven and microwave safe. Each piece is high-fired to 2,280 degrees for durability.
The uniformity of size and symmetry of her hand-thrown pieces are remarkable.
Even more astonishing, for her “Critter Cups” she applies realistically-fashioned animal heads and glazes them with exactly the right colors.
She’s got a real talent for mixing glazes and firing at exactly the right temperature.
Her abstract Landscape Series: Earth and Sky includes a large plate, small plate, cylinder vase, stein and mug.
They are overglazed in earth tones and use the skyline to beautifully evoke a sunny day in the Gateway region.
Every potter centers their clay on a wheel, Marshia also centers her work on this region. Stop in the lobby to see her display. Great work by a very talented potter.
Other programs this week:
— At 2 p.m.Wednesday, Kentucky Picture Show presents a 2018 film about the inspiring and unknown true story behind MercyMe’s beloved, chart topping song that brings ultimate hope to so many and is a gripping reminder of the power of true forgiveness. Rated PG.
— At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Trivia Night at the Engine House Pizza Pub. Don’t smear gease on your answer form and make it illegible.
— From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Coloring Outside the Lines, Adult Coloring.
August is here. Come to the library and stock up on great end-of-summer reading material.
John Maruskin is director of adult services at the Clark County Public Library. He can be reached at john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.