Mark Fissler (Access Video, Listen To Exclusive Interview) rubs his hands together as he walks into the room at Chimacum Middle School where small slabs of clay topped with ridges like dorsal fins are spread over the countertops.
“I keep it cold in here,” Fissler said. “Cooler air makes you work a little bit. You just don’t get so lethargic.”
With a pottery wheel in the corner and pieces of partially finished sculptures throughout the room, the place looks as though it’s seen quite a bit of use. But it was only two months ago that Fissler started the class he teaches here: an after-school sculpture program open to both special needs students and mainstream students.?
Though he recently decided to give full-time sculpting a try for the second time, he said the idea for the after-school program was fueled less by the need to pursue his art and more by his desire to find a healthy, productive activity for his special-needs son, Sage.
“I just know clay is conducive to expression,” Fissler said.
Fissler said support poured in from around the county after he first suggested the class to the 4-H organization of Jefferson County, which agreed to sponsor him. He then looked for a location and first tried Centrum, but it was booked solid for the year, he said. However, Centrum did give him another form of support – a kiln.
(Read More in The Leader)
Mark explains what happened when he followed a giant frog to the The Art Mine.