Kathei Seidl
John Bryan Community Pottery Tile Mural
The John Bryan Community Pottery Tile Mural was created in 2006-07. The project was conceived to raise awareness for JBCP, to get the community involved, and to create a “partner” for the Penguin Mural that has adorned the right side of the building since the 1970s. The theme for the mural project was: “What we love about Yellow Springs”.
The mural project was coordinated by Kaethi Seidl, with a lot of help from JBCP and manager Shannon Crothers. Jo Wilson, treasurer of the Yellow Springs Arts Council, was instrumental in getting the project off the ground by securing a $2500 grant from the Ohio Arts Council. Local artist, Beth Holyoke, who was highly active in both the Yellow Springs Arts Council and JBCP, was a huge help in every aspect of the project. Many community members pitched in to help.
On March 31, 2006, the project was kicked off with a soup dinner served in all hand made, donated ceramic bowls made by members of JBCP. This event raised additional funds and brought new faces and long-time supporters into the Pot Shop. The event also served as the first “open studio” to start making tiles for the mural.
Over the next months, JBCP held eight more open studio sessions, inviting the public to create their own tiles. Each individual tile served as a small part of a big whole. All art materials were donated by JBCP. Magpei, Inc. donated thin set, grout and other installation supplies. Recycled clay was used and the pieces were completed in single firings (bisque and glaze firing in one) to reduce costs. Kaethi Seidel and Beth Holyoke also went out into the community to work with different groups, including Mills Lawn, Antioch School, Yellow Springs Senior Center, Friends Care, Boy Scouts and others. McKinney Middle School students came to the studio one Saturday, and a small group of High School students created the large penguin by the door.
Susan Byrnes, of University of Dayton’s Art Street, invited Shannon Crothers and Kaethi Seidl to do a presentation and workshop for students at UD. The students made tiles and later came out to Yellow Springs to help with the installation, which began in May of 2007. The project was completed that summer.
The John Bryan Community Pottery Ceramic Mural stands as a testament to community artistic collaboration in Yellow Springs. It is noted on the YS Chamber of Commerce Public Art Map. Kaethi Seidl has been a partnering artist on numerous public sculpture projects in Yellow Springs including: Mary Chapman’s Memorial Bench, Library Bench in honor of Harold Fishbain, Dough Scott Bench on the Bike Path, and Lucy, an earthwork installed in front of the Yellow Springs Arts Council from 2012-13.
