Clay Center thanks
I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to the incredible community who made the Carbondale Clay Center’s two-day Cup Auction event a tremendous success.
Thanks to the generosity of 246 donated cups from talented artists all over the world, the dedication of our volunteers and the hard work of our staff, we raised vital funds to support our mission — and, just as importantly, we brought people together around creativity, shared experience and clay.
Events like this remind us that art thrives when community members show up for one another. Every helping hand, every donated cup, helped fuel not just our programs, but the sense of connection that makes the Carbondale Clay Center so special.
To the artists who gave their work to support our cause, the volunteers who made set-up and clean-up a breeze and to the staff whose commitment made the event seamless — thank you. Your time, talent and passion made all the difference. A very special thanks to Will Sardinsky and The Sopris Sun for the beautiful cover last week!
We are honored to be part of such a generous community, and we look forward to continuing to build a vibrant future for the ceramic arts together.
With gratitude,
Angela Bruno
Executive Director
Carbondale Clay Center
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
I was delighted when the Crystal Theatre Alliance announced their intention to show the Frank Capra film “It’s a Wonderful Life” a week before the holidays. It’s my favorite Christmas movie, just ahead of “A Christmas Carol,” “A Christmas Story,” “The Polar Express” and other Yuletide classics.
At this year’s viewing, I was struck by the film’s current relevance. The antagonist, Henry Potter played by Lionel Barrymore, is the early 20th century’s version of a MAGA Republican. Discussing a bank loan to a needy borrower, Potter says if you give him the money, “What does that get us? A discontented, lazy rabble instead of a thrifty working class.”
That’s right out of the MAGA playbook. Those not entitled should work hard all their lives for less than the bare essentials, so those who have way more than they could ever need can get more.
In another exchange, Potter is telling the protagonist, George Bailey played by James Stewart, how he took advantage of the Great Depression to take control of most of the town’s (Bedford Falls) viable assets.
“Most people would say you stole the rest,” Bailey charges.
“The envious ones would say that,” is Potter’s reply.
If I’d been George, I would’ve countered with, “Do you really believe anyone envies you? You have no family, no friends. You couldn’t possibly spend all your money. Who would want that?”
Which brings us to the true message of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” At the end, George looks at the inscription in the copy of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” given to him by his guardian angel, Clarence. It reads, “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.”
That rings true for me during this holiday season. My life has hardly been a string of stunning successes and there have been times when I thought my name starts with F and F is for failure. However, since I’ve moved to Carbondale, I’ve made so many good friends I can’t help but feel blessed.
Fred Malo Jr.
Carbondale
Treason
The blogger, Robert Reich wrote, “Trump’s cruelty is almost unbearable — the destruction of USAID, the pursuit of undocumented immigrants, the breakup of families, the arrests and detentions without due process, the bombing of small boats in the Caribbean and killing of more than 100 people, and so on.”
I find it stunning that there is not a world-wide outcry against Trump’s manipulations, enabled by the John Roberts court since 2005. How can we, in our Town of Carbondale, not demand the resignation of the demented president. How can the Roaring Fork Valley, with the City of Aspen, home of the most influential folks in the world, stand back and allow this attack on democracy by a treasonous president.
We will not be able to indict, arraign, try and convict him of his crimes documented daily in the media, until he is arrested and charged for those crimes, but now, when much truth is coming to light, we must attend to the country’s needs at hand.
Arrest Trump for treason, for enriching himself by working against the interests of Americans and plotting against the U.S. in collusion with Putin to weaken American standing in the world, to separate us from our allies, while breaking treaties 80 years old. All without any input from his entranced and castrated Congress.
John Hoffmann
Carbondale
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