October 2020 Clay Squared Newsletter
Like most Americans, Covid-19 has really upended our daily lives. Layl was not able to do any of her arts festivals since the beginning of 2020. She has, however, been able to do her classes via Zoom and has been working on her social media. TikTok has been very good to her. She has quite a following already! Josh and crew have been lucky that so many people have decided to work on their homes during the pandemic. We clearly recognize that this is a gift and we are very grateful for everyone supporting our creative world.
We use our extra time to donate our energy and money to organizations that are trying to make a difference. Josh is on the board of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District and Tile Heritage Foundation. Layl is on the board of Art to Change the World. We both see the value of the arts to help people in their quest to be the best they can be and document the history of artist endeavors. Even when times are challenging we feel we have to give back in the best ways possible. As the Give to the Max fundraising event is just around the corner, we hope if you are in a position to help others and we encourage you to give to your most valued non-profit. Stay safe and enjoy the time you have with your family and friends.
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July 2020 Clay Squared Newsletter
Resilience during this surreal moment is a priority for us at Clay Squared. Stresses like the pandemic, social unrest, and uncertainty in daily life have affected all of us. On top of these stresses, we must figure out how to adjust our daily lives. Layl has had to basically start a new way of doing business after all her art festivals were canceled this year. All the classes she used to teach in her studio are no longer possible, although she has taken up the challenge to learn how to teach over Zoom. She sends packets of clay and tools to students all over the country. She also has been doing a semi-regular “Layl Cam” on Facebook Live and YouTube of her making her polymer canes and sculptures. Both have done well and are growing.
Josh and the staff have continued to get projects to keep them busy making tiles. We feel incredibly lucky every day that we get sample requests and orders from homeowners for kitchens, bathrooms, and fireplace projects.
Keeping ourselves busy and focused has been key for us to stay mentally healthy. We also exercise daily to get a little break from all the challenges and to keep our minds fresh. We hope you are finding small things that make you happy and enjoy life in these challenging times too. Thank you for all your support. Click here to read the entire newsletter.
April 2020 Clay Squared Newsletter
A lot has changed in a month has changed in a month. Click here to read more.
The tile maker’s art
We were featured in the Southwest Journal on MARCH 21, 2020
An ancient craft with a modern touch
by SUSAN SCHAEFER / EDITOR@SWJOURNAL.COM
Have you ever heard cat paws prancing upon your roof? No? Well, back in Victorian Britain, when most roofs were created from that iconic fired red clay, the nightly frolicking of rooftop cats gave rise to the word tile. Seems the ruckus evoked the French word, “tuile,” which itself is originally from the Latin word “tegula,” meaning a roof tile. Read the whole article click here.
March 2020 Clay Squared Newsletter
Josh Talks Tile At Restore Nebraska Conference
At the end of February Josh returned to Omaha, Nebraska to give two presentations to the Restore Nebraska Conference. The first: “Restoring tiles in your turn-of-the-century home”, and the other: “The invention of America’s first tile style: Mid-century Tiles.” The conference has doubled since Josh was there last and has merged with the Nebraska Historical Society. Click here to read the newsletter.
Art A Whirl
The Flux Arts Building will host its first ever Art A Whirl. We will have 12 artists showcasing their work.
Starts on Friday May 17th 5 – 9pm
Saturday 12 – 8pm
Sunday 12 – 5pm
