Community
Inspirations, Affiliations, and Relations
I’ve enjoyed showing my work, along with other local artists, at the annual Newton Open Studios weekend in May. For more information please visit www.newtonopenstudios.com.
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When I moved to Boston, the first thing I did was look for studio space. I had visited Mudflat Studio (www.mudflat.org) and decided this was the place for me. I shared a studio with another potter and had a fruitful 6-year run, making pottery and serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors during a period of financial stress and budget cuts. It was difficult leaving Mudflat, but I had a chance to start Wienerware Pottery in a place called home. If you get the chance, visit Mudflat in Somerville, or visit them online at http://www.mudflat.org/index.htm.
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My uncle, Ed Wiener, was a well-known art jeweler of the 50’s-80’s. I grew up surrounded by his beautiful, asymmetrical metalwork, and my mother wore his early silver hand-wrought jewelry. He’s prominently featured in the beautiful book “Modernist Jewelry” by Marbeth Schön. Scroll down her Web page to see some of Uncle Ed’s pieces at http://www.mschon.com/msj.html.
http://www.mschon.com/Juneupdate/dancer.htm
http://www.mschon.com/Juneupdate/edwienerpin.htm
http://www.mschon.com/january%20update/wienerhls.htm
http://www.mschon.com/februaryupdate/edwienercuffs.htm
My first cousin, Michele Wiener Caplan is Ed Wiener’s daughter; she also makes lovely jewelry. We’re very close and frequently discuss art, creativity, and how best to market our work. View Michele’s work at www.michelewienerdesign.com.
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I’m inspired by the work and mission of VSA Arts Massachusetts (formerly Very Special Arts Massachusetts). They are an energetic and visionary group. Many years ago, I participated as the VSA festival coordinator where I brought together thousands of kids with disabilities, dozens of artists, and hundreds of teen volunteers in museums and schools around the state for a day of performances, visual arts workshops, dance classes, creative dramatics, and a dragon parade. I try to stay in touch, especially with Charlie Washburn, their director, and I’m especially indebted to their founder, Maida Abrams.
http://www.vsamass.org/
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I’ve exhibited in the past with my good friend Jeanne Williamson who uses found objects in her art quilts. We did a show together called “Abstract Landscapes in Clay and Fiber.” She applies abstract geometric designs to cloth using many of the same materials that I do. You can see the similarities in our work by visiting her site http://www.jeannewilliamson.com/index.html.
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Wienerware Pottery Studio donates a piece every year to CAN-DO, a small, non-profit, affordable housing agency. To view a list of other donors to their annual benefit auction visit
http://www.newtoncando.org/silentauctiondonors2007.html.
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I’ve published several educational research papers on academic assessments (testing) for students with disabilities. It’s a complex and fairly new idea, but if done right, inclusive assessments can fundamentally improve the way students with disabilities learn and are treated in schools. My articles address raised expectations for the performance of these students, and the logic of holding schools accountable for their teaching and learning, even for students with the most significant disabilities. In Massachusetts, this has yielded many unexpected gains. It’s controversial, but read my side of the story at:
http://education.umn.edu/nceo/OnlinePubs/Synthesis59.html
http://education.umn.edu/nceo/OnlinePubs/Synthesis57.html
http://education.umn.edu/nceo/OnlinePubs/Synthesis48.html