In This Issue – The Quiet Strength of Presence
How does one even begin to process a month like this in such a turbulent socio-political climate? Between world politics, the relentless natural disasters from North Carolina to Los Angeles County, and the usual challenges of daily life, I feel like I’m holding back the tide with a spoon. How can we reclaim our capacity to achieve outcomes and have a purpose when faced with systemic challenges?
There is no shortage of wisdom in the world, yet despite the vast amount of content I consume - whether through reading or watching - it often slips through my mind, never truly seeding itself as a source of empowerment. I have observed a pattern in myself: in moments of feeling adrift within the ceramics world, two beacons appear in my mind's eye. These beacons are my mentors, Julia Galloway and Hayne Bayless. Their guidance, however, is found not in words but in actions – tangible, deliberate steps forward.
I’m fortunate to have had Julia as an academic mentor during my grad school years, though I must admit I didn’t fully appreciate her value to my growth at the time. In hindsight, however, she often comes to mind when I’m seeking progress. She said at the 2023 NCECA conference, “Start where you are.” Her conversation tackled the demoralizing environmental statistics that can paralyze our ability to create meaningful change, yet she demonstrated how to channel the vastness and complexity of global crises into actionable, achievable steps. Her philosophy of efficacy – focusing on what can be done, one small action at a time – remains a guiding principle for moving forward as a ceramist in the face of overwhelming socio-political challenges. This is the ethos of her practice; day to day, she works, making one small action in the varying facets of her life.
Hayne serves on the board of directors for Studio Potter, yet he and I have never met in person. Despite this, his presence – rooted in his actions – has become a steady and consistent lifeline that I find myself reaching for time and again. He shows up as a thinker, a maker, a philanthropist, and a representative of integrity - often being our strongest leader yet being the first to take on tasks with no need for praise or self-aggrandizing. In each of these roles, he embodies the philosophy of truly being present, not just in body but in spirit, showing up fully, consistently, and without hesitation. His steadfast presence is an anchor amidst the tumult of distractions and despair. In the face of these existential challenges, I find solace in knowing that Hayne will be there – his calm, thoughtful presence serving as a beacon in the storm. This assurance allows me, too, to persist, showing up day after day, ready to welcome whatever may arise within our community. His example teaches me that resilience is not the absence of chaos but the commitment to being present in the face of it.
From North Carolina’s storm-torn valleys to the scorched hills of Los Angeles County, from political upheavals to relentless uncertainties - each one a tide pressing against us. In this month's articles, our authors do not recoil before what is vast and unknowable, nor do they surrender to the paralysis of scale. Instead, they act. In small but deliberate ways, they move forward. If there is any wisdom worth grasping, it is not that which is merely read or observed but that which is embodied. And so, let us return to these two principles: Start where you are. Show up. These are not mere phrases but the essence of a life well-lived. Do not be deceived into thinking that great change requires great spectacle. It requires only steadfastness – a commitment to the moment before you. The work before you. The people before you.
February's articles will be free and open to the public. Thank you for showing up.
Randi O'Brien, editor and executive director