The gigantic scale of the tsunami tragedy is incomprehensible and defies the somewhat light-hearted mood I like to create within even serious postings.
I would urge readers to join with MoveOn.org in urging President Bush and the Congress to utilize America’s vast resources and world dominance to provide greater assistance to the global relief effort.
As has been widely reported, there are many agencies collecting money for the relief effort and my well-read readers don’t require links from this pitiful chunk of the Internet to facilitate that avenue of direct personal assistance.

At times of personal crisis I find comfort in art pottery’s tactile beauty interspersed with feverish culinary bouts of pan slinging in the kitchen.
Christmas pottery of note included this spectacular 13 ¾” diameter plaque by northern Kentucky potter Leslie St. Clair entitled Four Saints and Time.

A beautiful 9” modernist landscape vase by George Rydings of Excelsior Springs, Missouri’s Rozart Pottery.

And, this lovely 8” 1903 Rookwood portrait vase by Grace Young inscribed After Franz Hals that exhibits the delicate brushwork for which Young is noted.
Young took a leave from Rookwood to study in Munich, Germany between 1891 and 1896.
It is likely that this portrait springs from a memory of Hals' c. 1625 Portrait of Willem van Heythuysen on exhibit at Munich's Alte Pinakothek.

On the cooking front, I’m becoming quite a fan of the Food Channel’s Paula Deen.
Paula has a great personality, a beautifully produced show and, most importantly, terrific southern-style recipes.
In my neck of the woods, different versions of Paula’s program air at 11:30 am and 4:00 pm.
Paula and pottery have been helpful diversions from the tragedy unfolding overseas.
My prayers are with the victims and their families.

Photos: stclairpottery.com, sean

- posted by Sean @ 9:48 PM