Clay Times Back Issues Vol. 3 Issue 12 • Sep/Oct 1997 | Page 21
memories of those evening classes
linger. Vally holding court, sitting in her
chair at the end of the studio, directing.
“Ahhhhh . . .” it was the sound of
someone going down a roller coaster
and wanting it to stop, equally sure
that it would not. Someone was making a shape she didn’t like. At “snack
time” Vally would bring forth some
delectable treat with students contributing a creation of their own.
I will always remember Vally, head
tilted quizzically to the side, eyes
closed, holding a pot to examine it and
learn it from her fingertips first. When
she made pots, she did it first from feel,
not sight. Her pots, following the circular
pull of the wheel, embedding her finger
marks, seem to pass to the holder that
tactile awareness and her gift of touch.
prepared and where it came from.
While eating, Vally would show
me things: a particularly beautiful
green pepper full of shadings and
curves, or some fresh mache lettuce
from her garden (“It’s the best. They
don’t have it here.”), or a spoon, expertly
carved from a gnarled piece of wood
brought to her by a student “with
taste.” Another time she had four different types of pears so that I could
taste the difference and know for
myself which to buy.
BRUCE BUGBEE PHOTO
Because she enjoyed all living
things so much, I went on the lookout
for unusual, interesting, or beautiful
BRUCE BUGBEE PHOTO
things. I started to notice rocks and
“Platter” by Vally Possony.
wildflowers and insects. I went to
farmers’ markets where the produce
warmth and sensibility flooded the
would be more interesting, less antiseproom, making my finger tips