FIRST WEEK WITH BRAD AND TARA ENDS

Yesterday ended our first week with Brad and Tara. It like all the other classes was a great one. To begin with we completed the carving that we started the day before. Yes, poor Raheem got back into his kneeling pose so that we were able to finish up. We were generous enough though to give him a break or two! I uploaded a few pictures of some of my students working on this last sculpture. After we all finished Brad gathered us around the table where they were all displayed. He and the students critiqued certain pieces and talked about the enitre process especially working on the edge. Brad said that if the students learned nothing else but this process it would be all worth it. And I'll have to agree working on the edge helps to give your figure form as well as helps carve a much more realistic piece. Then Tara brought us back together where we once again discussed the piece the large piece that Brad is going to work on at his studio. Days before, we brainstormed certain ideas and emotions that we wanted this piece to possess. We reviewed all the words and then were asked which two of them we wanted to work on independently. Each student will create a tile approximately one foot square on which visual images of these words will be created. These tiles will eventually be included into the large finished piece. Wow, what a wonderful experience for these students and me! Our tiles will be part of the WCHS public art forever. Years from now we will be able to come back and see the tiles that we created during this workshop. They are all very excited about this! Well we are are anxious to see what Tara and Brad have for us next week. I'll be sure to keep you all informed.

Larry Hewett