It is much harder than I thought originally to keep up with a blog. It is a great joy for me to take the selfish time to write and to share information with anyone willing to read but I need to learn to balance my time.

Balance is key for me to get the most out this experience. I am going to really start imposing a no work Sunday schedule. 6 days a week is good right, unless I have to get something done but I am going to push myself to only work 6 days a week.

Things are good though. Just had a midterm review of my work to date and things seemed to go well. If you put in the work all you can ask for in return is reactions and information. I am not worried about having enough work or having information back that is going to push me. No one is going to push me harder than myself.

Here are a few images of recent works in progress. Share your thoughts as well.

Tom Petty played on the stereo for a while today at the studio. Loud and familiar but totally refreshing. Laura and Ashley working in front of me, watching creativity and activity and laughing was a good way to end the day. A long week of crits, studying and trying to finish work, make work, finish work, start work...

Atlanta continues to be an enjoyable experience though missing Allan gets deeper. We have not been apart as much as we have been this year, the coming years fair worse. We have a great ability to keep each other there with us. To feel as though the conversation continues. He is a true part of the experience here for me. 

Thinking about Seth and Jaime, new parents on the way. Those that have had children the last few years, Jenn and Kyle and Cory and Emily. It is a wonderful feeling to realize that people I love will carry on in another form, for a long time. 

The work I am making is based in nesting, creating environments and foundations while trying to maintain balance and identity. I will share them as they start to evolve into show able pieces. 

Stay in touch all.

Mark

Settled

Good morning to all. Things are finally in the groove in Atlanta. School is all settled, which if you have read any of the earlier postings was quite the fiasco. I have clay in my studio, pots being made, music being played and the formation of friendships is underway. 

Yesterday I had two new classes. History of Interior Design, which will be a survey of architecture and interior from prehistory to the 18th century. An exciting class for me as it should directly relate to my own ceramic work and influence other areas of growth within my time at GSU. We are required to do four field sketches of buildings or interiors from around the city of Atlanta. To say I was skipping down the hall way after class was an understatement though it did add to the " who is the weird old guy " mantra floating around campus. The second class was a painting class  that really seems to be up my alley. A brand new painting teacher, one with tremendous passion, interest and dedication and will surely spark creativity and openness in my work. Little does she know but she was just assigned to be on my committee for graduate thesis...Shhhhh don't tell her. The class will focus on water based media only, acrylics, water colors, gauches and other forms of water based applications. Super excited about both as they are things that I have long wanted, long needed and will benefit me for the time I am here.

Money wise, for two days solid I was owing the school in the area of 16000 dollars but thank god for waivers and opportunities, I only had to pay about a tenth of that. If I did the math I am sure I am close but you all know I am a potter without math skills. So yeah a great deal for a in-depth passionate time to explore my joys in life. 

Atlanta continues to be wonderful. My roommate Danny is super easy and sweet. The place is beautiful, too beautiful for someone like me. The commute is easy though I have become reliant on my car which I do not like. Parking each day is 4.00 but that is for all day in a safe place. I would like to ride my bike but by the time I leave here at night I am exhausted and it is mainly UPHILL all the way home...I once again am going to be looking to purchase a scooter. a much cheaper gas and parking alternative to my old age and weak dedication to travel.

Ok I am off. I am ready to get this ball rolling. I would like to just one last time thank my man Allan for being the most wonderful, supportive and loving human ever. 

Today

Today should be the end of the craziness that is getting into Grad school. Though accepted, funded and set up in the studio, I am yet to be registered due to the Passport fiasco. It has been a week I wish to forget come 5 o'clock today. By then I should be registered, paid up and ready to start my classes on Monday without issue.

For those interested in going to grad school, it is a wonderful joyous opportunity to delve selfishly into your passion but that part comes secondary to the hoops, loops and gut punches you endure to get there. GSU is a great place so far and in general I am really happy to be here. Atlanta as well. Friendly, willing to help and rather respectful, but the paperwork nightmare that one goes through sometimes leaving you questioning your motives. I am a fighter. I love a challenge and the reward of a struggle but man can it kick you in the teeth at times.

Today I will be going with my fellow grads to the HIGH Museum here in town to get an introduction to the museum and faculty of the school and such, should be fantastic but then I have to RUN home, grab the passport and get it in so I do not have more penalties and such.

Much excitement and much progress but all due to my wonderful man Allan helping, remaining calm in my shit storm and always always always making me feel like I am doing the right thing.

I am lucky. I am.

Atlanta bound

Left Lauderhill yesterday.
I did not prepare myself for the sadness I feel and felt so drastically yesterday. I think I was hiding it from myself to make it possible to actually go. In the past I have left for long stretches, this summer for about five weeks but this felt different. Though I will be home often I am still doing a long trip of three years to study ceramics in Atlanta. It is mentally a three year trip to Penland. More intense, deeply personal, deeply selfish but yet the most important thing I can do for my future as well as my life with Allan.  As I cried I had to keep telling myself this. Allan really has made this possible. Strength and smarts and love. Giving me keys to things I did not know I wanted to drive till I was given one key, then another and another. He is amazing and I love him.

I drove north on the Fl Turnpike, hit 75 north and stopped for the night in Gainesville, 5 1/2 hours later. Spent the night sleeping. Had a headache from crying that only intensified as I hit a horrendous storm, tensing my shoulders to see and be strong. Arrived in my room, showered and fell asleep in my attack on the headache.

This morning awake and headache free I am now more than ever scared and eager at the same time. For those that have or are going to attempt to go to grad school, move to a new place and leave the world of love and comfort behind, I beg of you to know the depth of its hardness. It is brutal but in three years as I type my final Grad school positing, I will look back and laugh at what I thought was once intense and painful as I start the next chapter of life and see that it was all worth it, ten fold. On to the adventure.