a unique understanding
Our dog Waco (after the Texas town) is a rescued Australian Shepherd. She is blind in one eye; the result of a murky recessive gene pool, provoked by the desire of some breeders and consumers to own a dog with a beautiful merle coat. Unfortunately a considerable percentage of those litters are not as intended. Instead, they are some variation of mostly white, smooth coat, blind and deaf.
Though visually disadvantaged, Waco hears well (its her superpower) and carries a glimpse of her recessive merle coloring on her hindquarters. Waco’s sight deficiency limits her peripheral vision and depth perception. She approaches people/things/environments differently and so understands them uniquely. For instance, she never ventures upstairs because the stairs flatten into stripes; making that first step a doozy! Fetch is out of the question (disastrous) Paper is just confusing. But, television. Television is an exciting reality.
I share that to say: this year will be the first time I won’t be juggling teaching and studio work. I’ve stepped away from the classroom after thirty years, taking the opportunity to just make. I’m not sure what that will look like. It will certainly be a shift in approach (and less talking…except to myself) I confess that all those years in the classroom have left my heart pocked from the shrapnel of cynics (to be sure, some were self-inflicted)
Nonetheless, I want to intentionally approach the world with a different attitude; a unique understanding. My desire is to communicate God’s love where faith and art intersect, where talent and purpose overlap, where skill and intent connect. Perhaps a lofty aspiration. Perhaps. I understand that first step is a doozy.
What’s in a name?
We’ve named each of our dogs after towns in Texas (its a thing) Our first dog, Odessa is the namesake of dessadog studio. She was (unbeknownst to us) a very sick rescue. Odessa was a mix of Australian Shepherd and something that came along in the desert (yep) The. Smartest. Dog.
Then came Fabens, named after a sleepy little farming community outside of El Paso. She was a quirky Border Collie we adopted from a no-kill shelter. That dog was clever. She had a remarkable talent for opening doors (though closing doors seemed to escape her)
Waco keeps us on our toes these days. I affectionately refer to her as wiggle-butt. She just loves her people. Waco spends her time chasing birds and feral cats that she’ll never catch because, spatially she’s at a loss.
Mark your Calendars!
17th Annual Ceramic Studio Tour
February 24 & 25, 2018
Saturday & Sunday from 10am-5pm
My studio will be on the tour again. Sam Hodges, Sarah Brodie and Genie Swanstrom will be returning with me this year. We look forward to seeing everyone.
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Congrats! and welcome to the retired-from-reality, otherwise known as the easily distracted crowd. Hopefully, you won’t take on our bad habits of sleeping late and watching too much TV and direct you new found freedom to the aspirations noted.
You will come to wonder how you ever fit that “job” stuff in everyday.
Thank you. Since I only ‘retired’ from the classroom, the studio will be demanding my time. As I understand artists never retire 😉
All the best to you Beth as you step away from, and on to a new journey. I enjoyed reading about your Waco. We have an Aussie as well…Tilly (Matilda).
Thank you, Theresa. Looking forward to time in my studio.