Middle School Art Teachers Alice Ballard and Brent Roberts Share The Process of "Making Art" Through Greenville Open Studios

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Photos from Alice Ballard's Studio
Photos from Brent Roberts' Studio
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During Open Studios Brent Roberts showed a video entitled "A Pot's Journey"
documenting the many steps involving in the making of this vessel.



They are CCES teachers, and they are practicing artists.

In November Middle School art teachers Brent Roberts and Alice (Munn) Ballard, who also teaches at the Governor's School for Fine Arts, were among the 80 artists within a 15-mile radius of downtown Greenville who participated in Open Studios 2006. Both are ceramicists and displayed both functional and sculptural pieces in their studios, along with some of the tools and objects they use in the creation of their work.


At the upper right a dried lily pad leaf is displayed with Ballard's ceramic
interpretations.

For both, it was an opportunity to educate the public about the process and the origins of their artwork.

"Making ceramic pieces takes physical strength, an intricate knowledge of processes and materials, and the willingness to experiment and take risks," commented Roberts during a visit to his studio, located in the garage of his home. An educational video he displayed documenting the making of a pottery vessel, from building with clay through glazing and firing in two different types of kilns, highlighted the unpredictability of materials and the many variables that could interplay to create serendipitous effects--or damage and destroy a piece representing many hours of work.



A massive sculpture by Brent Roberts,
entitled "Self-Portrait." The piece is an
exploration of internal and external forms.

Alice Ballard described the Open Studios experience as a "dialogue between the artist and the community about the artist's work and the process of creating it. Open Studios gives both art lovers and art collectors an opportunity to see the actual place where the artist works and to talk with the artists about what inspires their work. For me, it is a great chance for my students to see me in a different role, the role of artist and creator. I hope this will broaden their vision of who I am as an artist and help them see that I love the process of creating art, and that I want to share this love with them as their teacher and mentor."


Alice Ballard in her light-drenched
studio with Middle School math teacher
Ginny Tate, who volunteered to assist
Ballard during Open Studios

Both Ballard and Roberts welcomed visits by several CCES parents and students during Open Studios. According to the Metropolitan Arts Council, which sponsors the event, now in its fifth year, this year's Open Studios generated record-breaking attendance and sales: 32,017 visits and $216,342 in sales of art.

A sculpture by Brent Roberts on
display in his studio

For more photos from Brent Roberts' and Alice Ballard's studios, click on the additional links above.