DENTISTRY
07 /
May 2012
Thursday night on Oregon Art Beat there was a feature on a young ceramic artist, Corrine Vetger. At the end of the feature it was announced that she would be one of the participating artists at the Oregon Potters Association’s 30th Annual Ceramic Showcase, May 4,5 & 6, 2012 ath the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, the nations largest show of pottery, sculpture and other works of clay featuring over 150 artists. I was intrigued and had always wanted to attend this event, so I took the time to make this the year that I followed up on that interest and went. Following are some of the highlights from my day.
Since it started with the feature on Corrine Vegter on Oregon Art Beat, I took the time to visit her booth first. The biggest benefit of this type of show is to meet the artists and get to discuss with them their creative processes. Corrine, Dusty Dog Studio.com, was a very pleasant person who truly loves her creative work, which is inspiring to see and makes me want to bring that same enjoyment and enthusiasm into my work.
Raven pasta bowls (or cereal, or soup or ice cream??), handcrafted by Holly Gonnella were a great find. Holly works out of her studio near Ashland and was very enjoyable to talk with about her art work and I especially appreciated her comment that food tastes better in handmade pottery. A clam linguine may be the ultimate test for these bowls and Holly’s statement.
A live demonstration by Alissa Clark, Whimsical Footed Creations, gave an opportunity to hear about and watch art being created.
Samples of some of the art
A very whimsical piece, titled “Farmony”
In conjunction with the Ceramic Showcase were exhibits featuring beading, fabric art, woodworking and fine art jewelry. Shannon Miranda was one of the featured jewelers whose work resonated with me. As her card said, “jewelry that inspires and reminds us of the beauty in the world and in ourselves”, we live in an amazing place and are surrounded by beauty. Sometimes we just don’t take the time to witness or appreciate it. The Ceramic Showcase was one such opportunity for me this weekend. Hopefully you will have a chance to attend the show in 2013.
Grace Milagro Pendant by Shannon Miranda has a back story, each piece has a meaning in its creation and then a transfer of that energy to the buyer or recipient of it.
I hope that you enjoyed some of what I shared about the Showcase and that you can attend in the future and continue to support our local artists.
08 /
March 2012
Children’s tooth decay is not a thing of the past according to a recent article in The New York Times.
The number of preschoolers requiring extensive dental work suggests that many parents are making the mistake of not knowing the risks of tooth decay or how to prevent it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted an increase, the first in 40 years, in the number of preschoolers with cavities in a study five years ago. But dentists nationwide say they are seeing more preschoolers at all income levels with 6 to 10 cavities or more. The level of decay, they added, is so severe that they often recommend using general anesthesia because young children are unlikely to sit through such extensive procedures while they are awake.
Dentists’ Tips for Healthy Baby Teeth
Dentists suggest a number of tips for parents to prevent the decay of baby teeth:
Take an infant to a dentist before the first birthday for an assessment of cavity risk, even if the child has only a few teeth.
In general, brush the teeth of children 2 or younger with a bit of fluoride toothpaste twice a day. At 2, start to use a pea-size dollop.
Reduce snacking. Eating any starchy or sugary food causes the pH level in the mouth to drop sharply, leaving teeth awash in an acid bath — murder on enamel — for 20 minutes until saliva normalizes the pH. The frequency of exposure to acid is more important than the sugar content of food.
Do not share utensils with a child or “clean” a pacifier in your mouth, then give it to your infant.
Research has shown that parents or caregivers with active tooth decay can pass cavity-causing bacteria via saliva.
Brush preschoolers’ teeth for them. “They are not in a position to effectively brush their teeth until they are 7 or 9,” said Dr. John Hanna, the director at the pediatric dental surgery clinic at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.
CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS
07 /
March 2012
SMILING EYES, HONESTY, TRUTH, FRIENDLINESS … CHARMING!!
CHARM comes from the Greek notion of charisma, that compelling attractiveness certain people have that inspires devotion, or as Albert Camus believed gets you to the position of “yes” without having actually asked the question.
“Charm is being written out of modern life at a time when we have never needed it more. It’s being destroyed by an increasingly risk-averse generation of managers with an agenda to do the impossible: turn maximum profit while pleasing as many people as possible.”
Charm is effortless but it’s also a responsibility, it requires a degree of honesty and integrity and it’s something that can’t be faked. Charm is entirely human-it’s about character and individuality. Charm is about conviction-having an opinion,following an instinct, feeding a passion. The internet does not have charm, even though this is a charming statement.
Charm is unquantifiable, which is why many overlook it, yet it’s arguably the most important factor in securing repeat business. It’s fragile too, not something you can buy,takes time to nurture and requires safeguarding because, once lost, it’s near impossible to reinstate.
Charm is a special quality, a set of attributes fed by doing things based on human feelings. Honesty, integrity, simplicity, durability, tactility and charm are words that help businesses to thrive but can’t be taught because you have to genuinely possess those qualities. My staff possesses charm … And that is the difference.
1. Smile … A small gesture transforms transactions and makes them matter.
2. Be Honest … Be proud of qualities that can’t be faked.
3. Be True … Have an opinion. Don’t workshop your vision and values.
4. Be Friendly … We all want a bit more warmth.
5. And … Charm is not measurable but can definitely be powerful.
16 /
January 2012
I would be curious to hear the different stories about the tooth fairy from parents, what was their experiences and traditions and what are they doing for their children. This recent story in the New York Times is an interesting point to start the discussion.
03 /
November 2011
I had an opportunity to shoot the shooter on Sunday, a moment to capture the photographer before he captured the moment.
I saw Bruce Berg on Sunday to have him shoot some new photos for updating my website. It was a real pleasure to work with him, a true professional in his craft. I’m always amazed to watch a professional work because they make the difficult appear so easy, and I have to say that that was my experience in working with Bruce. He made it seem effortless and I was very pleased with the experience and the results.
Based on my experience I would strongly refer him to anyone wanting a truly professional and great photographic experience. When my website is updated you can see the results and judge for yourself. I may be biased, but he really was able to put lipstick on a pig and make it look nice. (Me of course!)
