Visual Expressions

Do not take ceramics from Kellie Howie. She is a micro-manager with the teaching and intercommunication skills of a 5th grade teacher. She is uninspired and uninspiring. Her work is evident in the gallery, and it is primarily slump pieces with glass melted inside, or tilework. Most of the students, including myself, are of retirement age. She is condescending and patronizing toward everyone. She is also a great fan of talking of her "advanced" students. "Advanced" meaning that they have taken more than several classes from her. She is uninterested in techniques that she, herself, knows nothing about. I am self-taught and I have taught her some things. Although the fee you pay is for use of the equipment, Kellie neither advances, nor encourages their use. There is a seemingly brand new extruder that she made me read the instructions for if I planned on using it - I presumed that is because she herself has not. She will not use the wheel due to a hand injury. The price is reasonable, but you cannot avoid Kellie's "teaching." She never laughs, smiles or uses humor. She has told us not to talk to each other. She is a weight around the neck of anyone who wants to become a better ceramicist. In fact, the business, itself, is frigid. The owners are equally unwelcoming. I don't know each of their names, but Robin, in particular, is her own worst enemy. I would definitely quit going, but I have already invested heavily in ceramics and I don't have a kiln or wheel and they do.