Support the Exposures Kickstarter campaign

I am sharing this on behalf of my friend and colleague John Willis.  Exposures is an incredible program I hope you find a way to support - even if all you can do is spread the word.

click here to go to the KICKSTARTER page

 Read his words below:

"Dear friends and supporters,                                                                                                                                                            Please help us spread the word about our Kickstarter campaign to run the Exposures 2013 Summer Program on Pine Ridge Reservation, and donate what you can. We're told Kickstartercampaigns only succeed if people share them with everyone they can think of who might support the cause, in this case our youth cross cultural photography and experiential art education programming. The Exposures Summer Program can only happen if we meet the Kickstarter goal.http://kck.st/X5BqK2
        Last summer, Exposures participants met with Davidica Young Man, a young Oglala Lakota woman also known as Baby D, to discuss her work as a performer and founding member of Independence Through Music. This nonprofit organization mentors local youth in all aspects of becoming successful musicians, from recording music to promotion, setting up concerts and more. Baby D and her sister Santana, pictured here, have both been participants in the Exposures Program over the years, and I was able to quietly sit in while Baby D was interviewed. Her forthcoming and mature responses to the youth interviewers was impressive, as was the in-depth commentary she provided on Independence Through Music's community work. The nonprofit achieves extraordinary meaningful contributions for area youth despite the challenges of life on the reservation-one of the poorest places in the country even when the nation's economy is doing well. One of the last interview questions asked Baby D where the idea for Independence Through Music came from. I do not think I will ever forget her answer, as it reminded me why we do what we do. Without hesitation Baby D said that the inspiration, concept and belief they could succeed with creating their nonprofit grew out of participating in, and then witnessing over the years, the constructive, self-empowering value of theExposures Program.
        Each year as we work with new and returning youth in the Exposures Program, we are impressed by their enthusiastic appreciation for the creative outlet Exposures provides, as well as the safe place for exploration. They thrive through sharing their voice with others from diverse backgrounds. Their growing self-esteem and expressive caring for each other, and each other's culture, is a clear reminder of why we all work together to keep the program vibrant. All along our mission has been to provide programming to youth regardless of their ability to pay, and it has only been through the support, of you and others like you that we are able to continue successfully meeting this mission. Please do what you can to help us succeed with this campaign.
        Thank you for your consideration and any previous support.
John Willis  Co-founder & Executive Director"

current and upcoming shows

It's been a long time since i've written in blog world - almost a year.  It has been a busy and successful one.  Upcoming shows include the following.  If you are in the area, please take a look

Look UP! - exhibits at the BMAC

The first installation at the Brattleboro Museum goes up - thanks to Brent Johnston for his skills as a skate ramp builder!

over 300 rosettes in place - an homage to the museums humble beginnings as a railway station...

then came 'Four Eyes' - the faculty of Marlboro College show. Using some of the wallpaper I made at Haystack Mountain School of Craft this summer - I put up two installations. Its been a busy year on the installation front. I look forward to exploring pots and plates - expanding some surface treatments and thinking of new narratives.

Both shows are up until February 4...

New Work at Red Lodge

Holidays are coming on fast - check out some new work available for online sales at
Red Lodge Clay Center

back to school

For most people, back to school means back to the books. For me it means back to the photo library looking for images to inspire students. These are the gems of the night:

Hall China, Butter Dish, 1937

My Meissen - not as old as the one from 1735 below, but the same pattern; made at least 150 years later