2020-764-E-Arts Commission-Jo Leslie Eimers

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Community Impact Passmore pottery student rev iews consistently show their appreciation for an affordable opportunity to learn and practice pottery and for the opportunity to socialize with peers. Ceramic sculpture, a new class, will challenge the 12 students and build confidence in their ability to conceiv e and execute small to medium representational or abstract sculpture. This is a significant contribution to seniors’ mental and physical health, as it combats the isolation and loneliness known to be a common problem for the elderly and contributes to maintaining mental acuity. But many more seniors will be impacted by the purchase of a new kiln. Replacing the broken kiln will ensure that Passmore is able to offer pottery and ceramic sculpture classes for many more years, filling a need for Orange County seniors to express themselv es though art and to dev elop lasting friendships. In the absence of a pandemic, pottery classes are offered year-round. Typically 25 to 30 students participate at any giv en time, with approximately three to fiv e new students each month; thus, in the long term this project is likely to impact about 75 seniors a year for sev eral years. Artist Experience Eimers: I discov ered ceramic sculpture while taking a pottery class at the Passmore Senior Center. Soon I was working with clay at Passmore 6 days a week and making glazes and operating the kiln. My familiarity with mineralogy, chemistry, microbiology, and hydrology informs my experimentation with clay and glaze. I sculpt animals, plants, and rocks, tactile expressions of my connection to the natural world. Ev en though I now work in my own studio, I continue to participate in pottery at Passmore to socialize with friends. As a classmate and studio assistant I’v e helped many Passmore students sculpt animals and regularly answer their questions about clay, sculpture, and glazes. Knop: I’v e taught pottery classes at Passmore since 2015. I’v e inv olv ed art in my professional employment and personal life as a tool or process to focus or center on problem solv ing and wellness. Clay is an effectiv e media for mindfulness exercise. I’v e found that if I start the day in my studio or in designing a project the other parts of life in each day find more successful resolution. In teaching, I focus on helping students to stay present in class and the clay process. Centering focus on one problem at a time helps with solv ing related issues and finding successful resolutions to ev eryday life ev ents. Teaching the pottery process and art has always left me with the feeling of making a difference in the liv es of my students and self. PROJECT/PROGRAM BUDGET Please fill out the charts below with your project's expenses and income. Use the "Explanation" box to offer details for each category. NOTE: The Total Cash Expense must equal the Total Cash Income. Budgeted Expense 82c30018-994b-4735-9872-41e87f2f2494.xlsx Budgeted Income DocuSign Envelope ID: 48E09958-2136-42C3-B8A2-43048EFE0CCD