Loose Leaf Notes

We’re Stronger Together came from a sign that I read at the Mobile Community Brick Factory that my Asheville Potter Son Josh Copus and Marian Glebes are running in Baltimore.

When Joe and I visited they were on the lawn at the Baltimore Museum of Art, where Marian has an exhibit in the Imagining Home exhibit, but the project has been moving around to neighborhood locations in the city.

A brick is a brick is a brick but when they are used together they create buildings, homes and more.  The Brick Factory is an interactive public art project where people are invited to decorate or stamp bricks with something they want to say.  The bricks being made will be used in a future public art installation.  Since it’s a project for building community, everyone that makes a brick takes home a limited edition fired brick with the word “Community” stamped on it.

We started the day watching Josh and some volunteer friends prepare clay that was dug in Baltimore for brick making.

This involved drying the clay, banging it apart, adding water, screening, mixing it with a drill and adding salt.  But those are words from a novice.  The above video clip explains it better.

At the Brick Factory museum set-up, a group of home schoolers made bricks with Josh.  Their mom said they’re studying ancient history and learning about how civilization was built with clay, in the form of vessels, shelter and even the pipes that carried water.

Josh showed them all the various types and colors of clay and helped them to make bricks.  “It looks like peanut butter,” one girl said.

I liked reading the messages stamped on the bricks and stamping lines from poems I’ve written on mine.

We got a kick out of this small handmade brick.

And, hey Floyd, here’s Joe and Josh representing!

Tomorrow is the last day to catch The Brick Factory at the BMA.  After that it will be at the Loading Dock, 12 – 5 pm.  Brick Burn is at Baltimore Clayworks on June 25th.  Check out their Facebook page. Read more about our visit to the Brick Factory HERE.