This website is intended to showcase my writing, pottery, artwork and other creative endeavors.
NEWS AND UPDATES FOR APRIL 2009
Hello and welcome:
It’s been many months since I’ve updated this site, because I’ve been busy doing a lot of things. Since my last update in June of 2008 I’ve sold my work at 4 art fairs, one of which made over $1,000, while a second made a whopping $4. I’ve also made three new bookcases and a new set of display stands for my booth. And I’ve continued to write a few stories and send them out, and have amassed even more rejection letters this year.
Oh, and over the past ten months I’ve also gotten married and gone on a honeymoon to Ireland, which took up a good bit of my time and energy (and money).
During the summer of 2009 I’m planning to have a booth at two Art Fairs; the Custer's Last Stand Festival of the Arts in Evanston on June 20th and 21st (for the fourth year in a row) and the Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival in Rogers Park on August 22nd and 23rd (for the third year in a row)
I should warn everyone that, depending on how much stuff I sell and how much I have to pack up and bring back home,
these will probably be my last art fairs for a while
(if I still have a lot of pottery to sell I may return for the Glenwood Fair—the cheaper one—in 2010).
I’m planning to drop the ceramics for a while, for 3 reasons:
- First, it’s consuming too much of my time and energy, to the detriment of my writing, drawing, and other crafts and endeavors.
- Second, I feel I’ve reached a “plateau” and my work isn’t improving very much, and:
- Thirdly, I’m hoping to go back to grad school in the fall of 2009 and will have much less time to play with clay.
So be warned—this summer may be your last chance (at least, for a while) to possess your very own face mug or funky bowl made by yours truly!
Scott helps arrange some of my bowls
He's a very big help!
This just in:
My booth at the Custer Fair will be Booth #C-42, which is on the west side of Custer Avenue just 2 or 3 spaces south of Main Street. It sounds like an excellent spot, and hopefully the sale will go well, with no hail or thunderstorms....
(Now, if only the Native American dancers can work on their NON-rain dances….)
Here’s where my booth will be:
And if you need directions on how to get there, or want to check the entertainment lineup, go to The Official Custer Fair Website here.
Hope to see you there!
I’ve taught writing at Oakton Community College and Columbia College for 17 years, and my biggest creative endeavor is writing short stories. Unfortunately, there’s a huge difference between writing and marketing, and although I’ve collected a slew of rejection letters I’ve only had one story published (though I keep trying). I’ve resolved not to post stories I haven’t published elsewhere; since most magazines and story markets want first rights posting them here means I couldn’t publish them elsewhere. But if you click on the
"Writings" link here
or on the left you can read the story (hopefully, soon to be "stories") which I have published.
Of course, teaching and writing are both cerebral activities, and I’ve found that even the smartest and most intelligent people often have “hands on” hobbies and other activities—there’s no feeling quite as satisfying as looking at something and telling yourself, “I made that!” This is why accomplished lawyers and doctors can often be found puttering in the garden or taking art classes at the local studio—they have a hunger to work with their hands and create something solid. My main creative outlets, in the sense of making “real” things rather than just playing with words, have been ceramics and woodworking.
One of the benefits of working at a college is cheap tuition, so I’ve taken a number of
ceramics classes at Northwestern University and Oakton Community College. Initially, all of
my work came out lopsided or off-center, but after making a lot of “ugly cups” I’ve managed to develop some skill. I find working with clay immensely satisfying, despite the occasional aggravation of seeing carefully shaped, carved or decorated pieces crack or distort during the firing. In particular, I’ve enjoyed decorating my pieces with whimsical or humorous themes; nothing sparks a conversation quite like handing a dinner guest a mug shaped like a butt, or with a face that’s sticking out its tongue.
I’ve also been an amateur woodworker since I was in high school; you can see photos and comments about some of
my woodworking, woodcarving and woodburning projects here.
Other artistic endeavors of mine include drawing, cooking (yes, it’s an art), sewing (I’ve made my own Scottish kilt, for wearing to the Renaissance Festival, and now have a much greater appreciation for tailors and sewing Moms), photography, and other things that don’t come to mind at the moment.
I am deeply endebted to two very talented ladies, Li Raven and Diane Wittig, who’ve encouraged me and taught me a great deal. Also to my parents, who've put up with a lot of sawdust in the basement, clay scrapings in the dining room, and midnight inspirational writing sessions over the years.
E-mail me; I welcome your comments and suggestions. Or you can take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions to see what other people have asked, and my answers.
Thanks for stopping by to see my Art!
One Final note:
When I took my first ceramics class five years ago I had an interesting conversation with another teacher, a neurotic psychology professor. Her suggestions amounted to, “Take a computer class! Take a Spanish class! Take something useful, for goodness’ sake! You can’t put ceramics on your resume!”
While it’s true that working with clay won’t get me a better job, or more money, I think she missed the point completely. I enjoy it…and that’s the main goal in life, isn’t it?
This is Robert Serb's Personal Homepage. "The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the author. The contents of this page and the links therein have not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by Oakton Community College."
This page was last updated on June 2nd, 2009.