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Lucky’s Sculpture Story

October 16, 2019 by Jim Potter 8 Comments

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https://jimpotterauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Luckys-Sculpture-Story.mp3

· Lucky’s Sculpture Story: Lucky, the Daydreamer ·

The Clayworks at Disability Supports of the Great Plains, 1125 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS
Lucky, the Daydreamer, sculpture by J. Alex Potter

“Oh, Alex, she’s beautiful!” squealed Jenna as she approached from the hallway. “Does she have a story?”

“Thanks,” replied Alex. “Yes, let me read it to you,” Alex said as she turned Lucky so the sculpture’s back was spotlighted from the ceiling’s targeted lighting.

Alex kept each of her hands resting on a porcelain shoulder. Meanwhile, Jenna studied the woman’s faux Mohawk red hair and smiled.

Adjusting her glasses, Alex started reading: “Lucky, the Daydreamer. ‘Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who only dream at night,’ Edgar Allan Poe.”

“Very nice,” Jenna said. “I’d like to take her home with me. Are you sure you want to give her away?”

“Enter the free drawing,” encouraged Alex. “At this stage of my career, creating art without the pressure of sales is rewarding. I’m sure the right person will come along and find her. Or, I should say, they’ll find each other.”

“Teresa said you just finished her this morning,” Jenna commented.

“I knew something wasn’t quite right,” replied Alex, “but then this morning I realized I needed to paint the highlights in her eyes iridescent pearl. That was the finishing touch.” Alex turned Lucky to her original position on the shelf, so Lucky looked eye-to-eye with Jenna.

“I see,” said Jenna, leaning forward, an index finger approaching Lucky’s eyes.

***

Elizabeth Morningcloud, sculpture by J. Alex Potter. On loan from the Ann Self Lowen Collection.

As Jenna and Alex left the Clayworks gallery, walking towards the studio to find Teresa, the sculpture on the shelf next to Lucky said: “Welcome to the family, Lucky. I’m Elizabeth Morningcloud.”

“And I’m Rock,” added the white dove resting on Elizabeth’s head.

“Nice to meet both of you,” Lucky responded.

“This is the largest Alex gathering I’ve ever been to,” said Elizabeth. “There are twenty-nine of us, wait, thirty, including you. If you have any big questions, that’s Rabbit Chief Joe, down front, center pedestal. Otherwise, ask me anything. I’ve been around a bit.”

Chief Rabbit Joe, sculpture by J. Alex Potter

“As soon as Jim carried me in the door,” said Lucky, “Chief Rabbit Joe welcomed me. His presence is amazing.”

“‘No worries, be happy,’ could be his mantra,” Elizabeth commented. “I feel at peace and content just seeing his Mona Lisa smile.”

“Look at everyone!” exclaimed Lucky, gazing across the room from her high vantage point. “This is wonderful. I’m happy to be alive.”

“Yes,” agreed Elizabeth, “fortunately we found Alex to be accommodating, listening to us when we needed her most.”

“It’s a team effort, that’s for sure,” said Lucky. “After we break through and our ideas surface, some people think they don’t need us anymore. They minimize creative energy. This room is filled with joy; I’m so lucky.”

“And it sounds like you’ll soon get an opportunity to go home with a like-minded person,” said Elizabeth. “Even though you just got here, I heard Alex say you were going to be traveling to a new home.”

“Yes, we agreed on that from the start. Call it outreach. I’m looking forward to meeting more of us and entertaining people. I’ll find the right human through this free drawing on Third Thursday.”

***

Georgina, Squirt and Squeaky, sculpture by J. Alex Potter

“There are other parts of the animal kingdom represented here,” Rock told Lucky. “You can’t see everyone because of the wall in the middle of the room, but Georgina, Squirt, and Squeaky are a grouping. Georgina and Squirt are owls and Squeaky is a mouse.

Tanya, sculpture by J. Alex Potter

“My favorite,” continued Rock, “is Sweet Yellow Bird. She’s across the room to our right. She’s perched on Tanya’s shoulder. Tanya tells us in her story, “Ah, sweet yellow bird, you make my heart sing!”

“I see her,” said Lucky, “lovely.”

Sid, Rhonda, and the Boys, sculpture by J. Alex Potter

“You can tell I’m partial to birds,” said Rock. “If you haven’t heard them yet, there’s a nest of baby catbirds that make a racket. Their mother, Rhonda, seems to be coping well. It’s funny but their grouping includes a wonderful cat by the name of Sid. He’s a Japanese Bobtail.

***

Jenna walked into the gallery carrying a jar to be used for collecting names of people entering the drawing. Teresa and Alex followed.

“I just love the way you organized the show,” Alex said to Teresa.

Tom Jennings, sculpture by J. Alex Potter, photo by Gina Laiso

“Thanks,” replied Teresa. “I put the largest pieces on single pedestals. Rabbit Chief Joe had to be centrally located, then Tom. Is he a police officer?

Book cover design and photo by Gina Laiso

“Yes, Tom’s the main character in Jim’s novel, Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. He responds to a bank robbery in Prairie Grove, Kansas. I sculpted several of the characters. Their photos are in the book.”

“Then,” said Teresa, “I had to put the snake, Snakey-Ray . . .”

“Good memory!” encouraged Alex.

“For fun,” said Teresa, “I put Snakey-Ray on the pedestal closest to the door so people could be surprised.”

Snakey-Ray Longfellow, sculpture by J. Alex Potter

“We put Snakey-Ray Longfellow outside the house by our front door but the snake had an immediate effect on our UPS deliveries,” said Alex.

“How’s that?” asked Teresa.

“Before we put him outside, the parcel deliveries would be left on our front porch, but after we put him outside, the deliveries were left farther away, on the driveway,” explained Alex.

“My! You think the driver has a fear of snakes?”

“We’re not sure,” said Alex. “Maybe’s it’s a coincidence but ever since we moved Snakey-Ray back in the house, our deliveries are left on the porch again.”

“How’s this?” asked Jenna, stepping aside to show a sign taped to a jar, pieces of paper, and a pen for interested guests to sign up for the drawing.

Suddenly, a loud noise shocked everyone.

“What was that? Did something hit the building?” shouted Jenna.

“My sculptures moved!” declared Alex.

Teresa looked at Jenna and Alex, rolled her eyes, and said, “It’s another Kansas earthquake.”

***

Until next time, happy writing and reading!

The Kansas Authors Club www.kansasauthors.org is a statewide organization that encourages and supports great writing. It’s divided into seven districts. In Hutchinson, Reno County (part of District 6), we have monthly meetings at Hutchinson Community College. http://www.hutchcc.edu You’re invited. Questions? Contact Jim Potter, jim@copintheclassroom.com

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Filed Under: Blog posts Tagged With: Alex Potter, Ann Self Lowen, Deputy Tom Jennings, Elizabeth Morningcloud, Georgina Squirt and Squeaky, J. Alex Potter, Jenna Parli, Jim Potter, Lucky the Daydreamer, Rabbit Chief Joe, Sid Rhonda and the Boys, Snakey-Ray Longfellow, Taking Back the Bullet, Tanya and Sweet Yellow Bird, Teresa Preston, The Clayworks Gallery

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex says

    October 16, 2019 at 8:03 am

    MAGIC!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      October 16, 2019 at 8:23 am

      Art is magic.

      Reply
  2. Letty says

    October 16, 2019 at 10:28 am

    Where is the gallery showing of Alex’s work?
    Her art makes me smile, thanks for sharing the photos and story.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      October 16, 2019 at 1:57 pm

      Hutchinson has an amazing new gallery called the Clayworks, 1125 N. Main (across the street for the Hutch Clinic). It’s part of Disability Supports of the Great Plains. Adults with disabilities have supports to give them the opportunity to create art and sell it. Individuals earn 100% from their sales.

      Reply
  3. Jerry J Fanning. says

    October 16, 2019 at 11:04 am

    Just read your blog. That’s some deep thinking in my estimation ! Is Alex your wife,. Maybe sister ? See, I’m not from these parts so I don’t know the connection. But the sculptures are very good from what I can see. I enjoy the names you gave them. I also am a lover of birds. I came from the hospital just days old to my little woven basket in our house in the canyons to hear the chickadees just outside the window. Still almost my favorite bird. Keep up the great writing !

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      October 16, 2019 at 1:59 pm

      Jerry, Alex and I are married. She’s the sculptor. I’m the writer, although I Would certainly argue that the stories on many of her pieces are written by a writer.

      Reply
  4. Tom says

    October 16, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    Thanks, I really enjoyed this one. Tom

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      October 16, 2019 at 3:50 pm

      Thanks, Tom.

      Reply

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