Kristen Larson, a seventh grade English Language Arts teacher at Blendon Middle School, was chosen to participate in this year’s RAW Columbus event. RAW showcases indie talent in visual art, film, fashion, music, performance art, and photography in more than 70 cities around the world. This year’s exhibition, which included several live music performances, a runway fashion show, and dozens of artists, was held at the historic Bluestone in downtown Columbus on Monday, November 26.
Larson fell in love with clay 15 years ago. She was initially drawn to the inherently functional nature of pottery, but over the years, she has been altering functional forms, such as bowls thrown on the wheel, into decorative pieces. “While the pragmatist in me strives to fill my world with useful objects, the artist in me believes that ‘everyday objects’ can also be beautiful or thought-provoking.” Using both porcelain and stoneware, she especially enjoys piercing clay to invite candle and electric lights to cast geometric shadows.
RAW is a fun and alternative way for creatives to showcase both to their local community and the world-at-large. They are self-described as “loud, colorful, creative, and all about our artists.”