The first day started early with a meeting with Beth Lipman and two other Arts/Industry artists, Robert Karimi and Denise Pelletier. (Denise and Robert will be working in the Pottery while I’m in the Foundry… so I don’t think we’ll be running into each other all that often.)
We all watched a Kohler presentation video that gave a brief history of the company, followed by a second video that highlighted the importance of safety equipment and procedures. We then had a few papers to sign before it was off to the Design Center for permits to take photos and the Human Resources building for photo I.D. cards. Then we picked out our complimentary steel-toed boots and watch a video about correct hearing protection strategies. There is a lot to do before you start your work in earnest -- all kinds of little tasks are necessary to enter you into the system of this company.
Beth escorted us over to the Foundry building where Robin and I were introduced to the Foundry technician Gregory Brulla. Gregory, Robin, and I talked about different aspects of the workspace -- where I’ll be working, the tool crib, etc. There are more power tools in the studio space than I remembered seeing during the summer tour, so I should be able to make my patterns in our studio without having to work in other parts of the factory. Gregory and I have plans to mold a few of my test pieces as soon as possible tomorrow after we take the orientation factory tour Friday morning. We’ll try to have something in a flask with pep-set sand by 1pm Friday before they clean the sand machine. I’ve moved a few boxes into my workspace and I should be up and running soon enough after more orientation in the next few days.
I anticipated that I would feel a little overwhelmed with the details of being in a new environment and I’d have to say that I feel a little scatterbrained taking it all in and keeping everything straight. I hope I don’t make any mistakes because I feel distracted. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of being here soon enough.
The next two days are spent getting used to my new work and home environments -- and developing new routines. I’ve become more familiar with the Kohler factory and I’ve been able to have more detailed conversations with Gregory, the foundry technician, as well as with Robert and Denise. It just so happened that we all ran into each other at lunch and had a nice time talking about all sorts of things. I learn so much from talking to the other artists, picking up tid-bits during conversation on professional issues, as well as learning how people have come to be where they are now. These are some of the benefits of a “residency” in that there’s time to develop relationships with a community of peers who are in different stages of their careers. I feel like I’m back in grad school, but on a different level.
On Sunday I spent a few hours getting ready for next week by preparing some type samples for my first bonded sand mold and metal pour. By creating “draft” around some samples of carved type, I can get an idea of what will work when I incorporate type into some of my pieces. In the afternoon, I got a chance to talk a little more with Mary Jo Bole, aka MJ, and I think we’ll make great studio mates. She has a lot more experience than me in art making and she’s doing some very interesting work at Kohler
