Alice Ballard will be teaching a ceramics class at Cullowhee Mountain Arts on the campus of Western Carolina University. "Finding Your Form Through Nature" runs from June 28-July3, 2015. It is for all levels and is a hand-building class inspired by nature. The class has a few spots left. If you are interested look at the flyer above for details.
You may also check it out on her site/blog alice-ballard.squarespace.com/blog or call her at (864)414-0478 or email aliceballard64@yahoo.com.
As I looked upward, it was like looking up in awe when seeing for the first time the brilliance of the colors in the stained glass windows of Saint Chapelle in Paris. While standing in the corridor of shadow created by tall red tips I gazed with a smile at the leaves of greenish gold serving as a backdrop for the wisteria's many shades of purple, lavender and deep violet. What a sight to behold!
Perhaps less fragrant but no less beautiful, I took note as Carolina jasmine danced on its vine in yellow splendor at the far end of the tunnel of shade by my house.
The venue where my work is being shown is 104 East Main Street, Lake City, SC.
Sculpture is everywhere in the historic and charming town of Lake City.
104 East Main Street from the inside looking toward the railroad track.
Roger and his assistant Jaz.
Half-Pods unpacked and ready for installation.
One Half-Pod up and nine to go....
10 minutes later...
20 minutes later...
30 minutes later we are packed and ready to go!
The job is done and we are about to head home. Thanks Roger, your expertise made the installation "a piece of cake". Having Jaz and Rosie along offered a party atmosphere and moral support. After all, they are parti poodles and see this as their job in our family.
The drive home through fields of brilliant green winter hay and saffron yellow canola plants was breathtaking! There was also a purple haze that topped some of the brilliant yellow canola fields. The complementary nature of these two colors together still lives on as a vivid memory or our trip to Lake City.
Our very best wishes to Lake City and the ArtFields Committee for their hard work launching ArtFields 2015! May it be the best event yet!
Even as they begin to wilt and reach downward toward the earth from which they came, they continue to be elegant and graceful...
My Mother's favorite flower....Always think of her and my Dad this time of year. When we lived in Paris from from 1955-1958, my Dad would bring my mother tulips from the flower market. Tulips will always remind me of the romance in their relationship until the end. I was 10 years old when we arrived in Paris, a place I adore to this day...
A favorite meditation bowl....
Look for this image of my work on the list of instructors if you are interested in checking out my workshop.
Alice Ballard - Finding Your Form Through Nature. June 28 — July 3, 2015. Medium: Ceramics Level: Open - All LevelsTuition: $525 | Lab Fee: $45.
Our newly planted weeping pussy willow. It is the new "Star" in our garden!
Further affirmation that spring is here. Sunlight through daffodils in Falls Park.
Lily and Charlie had their faces painted at the Celtic Festival in Charlotte yesterday. I am still smiling...
Passing through Beaufort County
First, I want to thank the Spring Island Trust for making this opportunity available to artists. It is a refuge where ideas can grow and creativity can flourish. In addition I want to give special thanks to my many old friends and to new friends whose hospitality, interest and moral support made my time on Spring Island a joy. All hugs, comments, great questions and smiles of encouragement were welcomed and appreciated along with snacks, visits and gifts of nature. Special thanks goes to a young woman who is a Spring Island security person who came to my rescue Friday morning when I discovered my phone was dead! At the golf house I could always count on a fabulous lunch, smiles from everyone and lots of laughter!
Accommodations were superb! The studio could not have been more perfect with its location, its lighting, sparse beauty and ambiance. The cottage was charming, comfortable and I loved seeing the moon most evenings through the oak tree outside my window festooned with Spanish moss. Of course marvelous dinner parties were scrumptious, the conversations inspiring and the warmth and kindness of the Spring Islanders who picked me up so I wouldn't get lost, just made my experience on Spring Island that much sweeter...
Now it is my turn to say - come see Roger, me, Jaz and Rosie and visit my studio and our home! Greenville is a fabulous city and It would be wonderful to see you all again.
Alice
A final wistful look at the studio and some of the smaller meditation pieces I started as demos for the two mini workshops...
last but not least - ideas for small projects for visiting grandchildren and a mini example of how I make my hosta leaf plates
One last look at the moon over Spring Island from my Cottage before calling it a night...
