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Ceramics Hobby Solidifies Into Major Artistic Venture |
| By
Kimyette Finley |
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Jul 25, 2003 |
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| Mary Weiss posed for a photo with some of her ceramic creations. |
What started out as a pleasurable hobby has led to Mary Weiss being an in-demand artist at local and national art shows, including The University of Toledo’s annual Art on the Mall.
“There were two things I’ve always wanted to do — yoga and pottery,” said Weiss, who earned both her bachelor’s degree in history and her master’s degree in education from UT.
A former elementary school teacher in the Toledo Public Schools, Weiss began taking adult ceramics classes, and followed up with more classes at UT beginning around 1990. Her ties to UT run deep — she still takes ceramics courses on occasion, her son is a graduate of UT, and her husband, Dr. Steve Weiss, is a professor emeritus of economics who retired from the University in 1999.
Weiss specializes in Ikebana vases — Japanese vases that enhance floral decorations. Weiss makes them in different sizes and colors. In addition, ceramic clocks also are a favorite of hers. “Some of them are thrown on the [potter’s] wheel, and some are hand built,” she explained about her techniques. “You start out and you make the form. You have to trim it, let it dry. You can decorate it before the first firing. I bisque [the first firing] and then glaze and then fire again.”
This will be the 10th year Weiss will be at Art on the Mall, which will take place on Sunday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Centennial Mall.
Weiss has been a featured artist in local and national shows, and she has displayed her works at Art on the Mall for a decade. At this year’s event, she will have several of her creations, and she also will include her famous bargain basket, which includes items she does not make anymore or the last few of a particular piece.
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