[Clayart] inventive potters

[mel jacobson]

When the clay program got started at the U of Minn., I was in the first group. I invented the
empty bucket near the sink with a sign. "used clay here">  I would gather it up and wedge it
and bag it for myself.  I never paid for clay. There was always used clay in the garbage cans and I
hated that. So, I helped myself.  The pail in the sink kept the sink from plugging.  I invented the
spring loaded wedging wire. it never breaks. I think every venue i worked at over the years had a
wire dangling, broken.

At the high school about every three months we would make a giant snake using the pug mill.
It went out into the hallway. Every kid got involved and held up the snake as it moved. They went
through lockers etc and got all the old clay. After about an hour we had dozens of bags of good clay
stacked under the pug mill.

We did radio shows, interviews using a hammer handle with holes drilled in it. A fish pole for a boom mike, and
garbage can covers for sound reflectors. We would go down the hall and interview people....and the kids would
get red faced and nervous..Never been on the radio....

I loved roaming the U of M campus, med school, chem labs, the back stage of the theatre was wonderful.
People would say...."Can I help you">  I would say...I am a reporter for the Star/Tribune....It worked every time.
I had a name tag that was just MEL/ it was from my work at the trib.

I still keep a hard hat in my car, a big tape and a clip board. Old guy, with hard hat, must be an inspector.
I have been on many job sites. They leave me alone....don't stimulate that inspector.
mel
I make myself smile thinking of all the things I loved to do. When staying in a huge hotel for a month in Dubai i roamed every floor, and opened every door. The staff learned to say..."hi mel". The huge kitchen was a circus.
My best pal in Japan was a /director/doctor at the national hospital. he did the autopsies. I helped him three times.
I watched two open heart surgeries. Life is a treat if you only live it.



website: www.melpots.com
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