Face Choir

A couple of years ago, I explored making face jugs.

My wife called them ogre jugs. "Think of Shrek and Jack Prelutsky's Ogre's Awful Day," she said. Jack Who? In any case, they made me laugh -- still do. But they were primitive, raw.

Still, there was something about creating a human-like face. Shaping the skeletal structure -- the cheekbones, the brow bones, the noses, the ears -- was amazing. Watching the face jugs come to life and acquire personality? More than amazing.

These past few months, I've been playing with a different kind of face, a face that emerges from the clay more than is the clay.

The result? My Face Choir.

A friend calls them my Pot Heads.

In any case, they are planters; so think of them with plants growing from the tops of their heads.

An ensemble group will be appearing with me this weekend at the Art Arbor Festival at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve (1101 Country Club Way S., 33705) in St. Petersburg. Stop by and say 'hi' to the guys.

See You This Weekend at the Art Arbor Festival

Look for our booth at St. Petersburg's Boyd Hill Nature Preserve this Saturday and Sunday. We'll be part of the Art Arbor Festival, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of this 245-acre preserve.

Enjoy live music and other entertainment, take a tram tour of the park, and view the wildlife exhibits -- in between wandering from artist's booth to artist's booth and doing a little holiday shopping, of course.

There are always food vendors at these events, and the park is lovely with lots of trees and thoughtful plantings. Come make a day of it. Two days, if you like! Kids can get their faces painted, play games, or create art of their own to take home.



We'll be near our good friend Pam Beyersdorf, a stained glass artist from Largo. Pam creates one-of-a-kind kaleidoscopes and free-form glass art hangings, boxes, and candle holders.

We'll have works in various stages of completion so you can see how my pottery goes from a lump of clay to one of my Pegasus series pieces. I'll also have some of my naked resist work and some fired with other types of glazes, as well.

Plus, it's for a good cause. The suggested donation of $2 per person goes to the non-profit organization that supports the park. No pets, except service dogs.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is located at 1101 Country Club Way S. in St. Petersburg, at the south end of Lake Maggiore. Take I-275 south to 54th Ave. S. (exit 17), go east on 54th Ave. S. to 9th St. S./Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. S., and turn left. Go four blocks to Country Club Way S. and turn left again.

Stop by and say 'hi!'