One of our most recent artists to join America Creates is Crystal Bowers, a wonderfully original potter from Virginia Beach. We immediately dug her work, simple, profound and each a unique stand alone. I spoke with Crystal earlier today and asked her about her process and experience.
Crystal hails from Troy in upstate New York, but found her way to Virginia through Hofstra, Hunter College, a six year stay in the Big Apple and a career that wandered merrily through music journalism, radio services for the disabled and blind, the United Way and serendipitously to a computer - an AOL chat Room - and her mate. Yes, Virginia, it can happen. Crystal met her husband in a chat room. Bless the Internet!
So how did she become a potter? Crystal says, "Everyone in my family is an artist. It came from my father and everyone could draw, but me. But when I was very young I was given an electric potter's wheel and that got me started. But it wasn't until I moved to Alexandria, Virginia with my husband and he encouraged me to take classes, that it happened. From the first class at the Art League - I knew. This was it."
"I am in love with the forms," Crystal continued. "Oh, I enjoy working with the glazes and of course, I spend a great deal of time choosing the right stones, beads and crystals that I use to adorn and embellish - but it is the form that comes up from the wheel that I take real pleasure in."
You should check out the forms and find one for you or a friend on Crystal's AC pages: http://www.americacreates.com/stonesoul/galleries
EXCITING NEWS FROM AMERICA CREATES
Promotion is everything, especially in this economy. We've been pursuing many avenues to get the amazing work of our artists in front of a larger audience. As many of you know we are working on an Internet radio show called "The Creative Road," which we plan to debut in September. The show will be interviewing AC artists and craftsmen and other creative folks around the country in many fields. We want to tell your stories.
We are in serious talks with a (yet-to-be-named) arts cable network about creating a program around our artists and the creative process. We are making progress on other fronts, which we will soon be able to reveal. America Creates has been revamping our search engine visibility and much more. But the best promotion is word of mouth. Please tell your friends and family about America Creates and BUY from a local artisan when you need that gift or certain something. Support the fantastic talent that inspires you.
-Larry & Sharon
