Tree of Dreams Photo Essay

Tree of Dreams Participants in the Raku Wall Mounting Project

How the artists, Joyce Furney & Ray Freeby of The Clay Cellar Studios envisioned Tree of Dreams

People ask me all the time, why should the clients work on art projects-after all, we don't have an official art program. Why is art so important? Examples abound - art affects our mood, stimulates our mind, increases our analytical abilities, inspires creativity in children and adults of all ages, and connects us to our community.

Another thanks goes to Dick Fitzmaurice, our Director of Development and Public Information, for taking all of these fantastic photos from start to finish! Dick will be taking pictures of the completed project just as soon as we can set it up for a proper shooting (light, angles, etc.). We are hoping to hang the artwork in the front lobby of our adult day program and administrative offices, so people can view it prior to bidding on it. We will be sending out notices about the history of the project and bidding forms to clients, their families and all members. Additionally, we will be sending out emails with photos to our customers to see if they would like the honor of having it at their site. Finally, I will try to secure other art projects to keep the enthusiasm of the clients going-to have seen their faces when shown the Raku tiles and then told they would be part of this was quite amazing-and then for them to see their photos on line (Facebook and soon on this blog) plus, keeping a souvenir photo, was worth every second it took-it's been a labor of love on so many levels.

Below, please see the photographic essays of how my one piece of Raku Pottery from The Clay Cellar started this whole art endeavor!

"Tree of Dreams" Raku Pottery Project Completed!

"Tree of Dreams" an incredible Raku Pottery wall art work is now completed!



A huge thank you goes to The Clay Cellar Studio Artists/Owners, Joyce Furney and Ray Freeby of Manhattan, Kansas, for creating this art work specifically for The Arc of Alameda County.


Individuals from all programs were asked to participate in the Raku Pottery Project and for those that said yes, dates and times were scheduled so they could have as much time as needed to participate to the highest levels possible.

A photo/media release was given to those persons as their photos and names would be going on The Arc of Alameda County’s “Facebook” as well as Art At Arc’s Blogspot. Additionally, there may be other areas where the photos would be displayed, such as when the completed project goes up for sale, photos of the clients who worked on it would be displayed.

Shannon provided each group of clients scheduled an overview of the project, how it got started and how much the artists, Joyce Furman and Ray Freeby, artists/owners of The Clay Cellar, wanted individuals to feel a part of the project. Not only did participants help with the assembly of the pottery tiles, they also glued their own tiles on the wall mounting. Before hand, Shannon asked them to look at the project and to think of what it meant to them, reminding everyone all answers they gave would be “correct” as there were no wrong answers in this art project. They could let their imaginations go and for them not to worry what the person next to them said, their answers (if they chose to participate) would be great! On that note, here are the comments given by the “co-artists”-their first name and program sites are mentioned. Please remember it was their choice to speak about what the “Tree of Dreams so there are more participants in the gluing than this part of the project. Please note, all answers from the participants are quotes.

Union City Alternative Ventures Program
Stacey
The artists’ work is spectacular! It looks like animals to me-just sitting around
Jonathon
Looks like a squirrel climbing a tree. I will be getting married next year and it looks like love to me
Ted
Looks like a peacock to me
Maya
It’s a squirrel but it has different designs and lines on it. A circle of life

San Leandro Vocational Development Center
Teressa
It reminds me of a bunch of tiles
Luis
It reminds me of a beautiful mosaic
Zsa Zsa
It looks like towels
Stephen
Looks like trees and plants outside
Jessica
It looks like a house to me

Livermore Vocational Development Center
Holly
It reminds me of cats that are in the trees
Cheryl
Looks like paradise, I think. When I was down on vacation in the Bahamas, that’s what it looked like-it reminded me of that.
Ferris
It reminds me of endless possibilities and it also reminds me of changes
Jeff
It’s like freedom because everybody is the same and has different talents
Karla
It reminds me of someone in jail
Denise
It reminds me of peace-because when I see the trees flow. I see the trees flow
Linda

Tom
I see an ancient Japanese paradise and tranquility and some kind of rituals and different cultures-I see the colors of Samurai

It would be incredible if news of this got out so artists, gallery owners, and others in the art world would also donate their works of art, either specifically for fundraising for The Arc of Alameda County, or for clients to "finish" or work on. Yes, we have clients who wish to, send me their artwork for making into greeting cards and to sell at a silent art auction and display for an art gallery, but I don't want our clients to do one project and lose steam. I wish you could have seen them working on it (photos are available currently on our facebook section on our webpage www.arcalameda.org and click on facebook and arc.ives for the article on it dated June 1, 2009). Photos of the completed project and of the clients themselves will be in our next art blog.

Thank you Joyce and Ray for making so many people's dreams come true! You directly impacted over 20 individuals' creative talents on this art project and allowed my dream of providing the clients with more options and life experiences in unique and innovative ways. Show me a more innovative project than this one! Now, that's a challenge...!