Peace Poles
The Hokkaido Pottery Society invited the Oregon Potters Association to do a collaborative youth art project. OPA was delighted to have an opportunity to share artwork and peace with Portland’s sister city, Sapporo, Japan. Many OPA members jumped at the chance to work with students ranging from K to 12th grade grade, sculpting objects that would depict their part of the world. Mr. Allen at West Union Elementary school, upon hearing about the project from OPA member/ Clay Club Teacher, Teresa Vaughan, said he would be happy to co-sponsor the project. At least fifty 5 foot tall “Peace Poles” designed and created by the youth were on display for the public during the 2018 Ceramic Showcase at the Oregon Convention Center. Eight were selected by a jury to go to Sapporo, Japan to represent the Pacific Northwest. The West Union “Peace Pole” was one of the eight selected to go to Japan! A second West Union Pole was chosen to be put on display locally.
West Union Elementary past and present students, that had been a part of Mrs. Vaughan’s Clay Club, accepted her invitation to take part in the Peace Pole Project. We started the project with research. Using cell phones, iPads and laptops we searched to see what the environment was like in Hokkaido. To our surprise the plants and animals are very much like the Pacific Northwest. We decided to share the things in the Pacific Northwest that were similar to those in Japan so that they would see our part of the world is no different than theirs. Next, each student was given Sculpty clay and a small peace pole stand to build their own small peace pole. While they started this process at school it became a homework project.
At our next meeting everyone shared their miniature peace pole and then chose their favorite piece on it. We disassembled the miniature poles and them reassembled one peace pole with everyone’s favorite piece that he/she had made. Now, we had a vision of what the 5 foot pole would look like and we were ready to start with the “real” clay. Each person went to work building their favorite piece one more time with Trail mix, cone 6 clay. There was much talk and laughter as everyone worked away.
Our third meeting we finished our original pieces and went to work on pieces that could be used as dividers for the larger pieces. Our conversation of the Pacific Northwest took us to the natural habitat but it also took us to what makes Portland unique. We decided to make a few of those pieces as well possibly to be used as dividers. At this time the student’s parents couldn’t resist jumping in and building along side of the children.
At the fourth meeting the clay had been through the kiln. We did a test stack of our bisqued pieces keeping with the all natural theme on this pole. We needed to see if we had enough to fill our 5 foot pole.We had enough larger sculptures and smaller natural dividers to fill the habitat peace pole but only had enough student work to fill half the unique Portland pole.This is when extra clay went home with parents and they helped build a few more pieces. After a fast firing at my home everything was ready to be glazed.
The next task was to glaze everything we had built.Some of the student said that this part of the project was their favorite part. The excitement was building knowing the next time we would get together we would see the final product.
Our last day we still had much to do. We stacked and re-stacked the clay pieces until everyone was satisfied with the arrangement of our Peace Pole. Next, everyone wrote down ideas for a title and we finalized the name,”A Walk Through the Pacific Northwest. When each person finished writing a personal artist statement we celebrated with Pizza and goodies.While eating the second pole was put together by the students and adults that had made the unique Portland sculptures. Afterwards the title, “The Sights and Sounds of Portland” was settled on.
Last but not least! We were surprised and delighted to have our Peace Pole “A Walk Through the Pacific Northwest” chosen to be shipped to the Japanese exhibit in Sapporo, Japan! We were elated when we were told our second Peace Pole “The Sights and Sounds of Portland” was also wanted by our Japanese Sister organization to be displayed here in Portland!
Well done West Union Students and Parents. I am so proud of all of you for your cooperative hard work, enthusiasm, and amazing work you produced! It was a joy to work with everyone!
Teresa Vaughan
