Is the object you are now holding in your hands (or reading online) about to disappear?I refer to the newspaper, and I ask because I care deeply about the answer.My entire career was spent in newspapers — as a reporter, an editor and a publisher — when the industry was still thriving as the dominant force in public information and advertising. Now, looking back from a retirement perch, I see this institution declining day by day and wonder what this foretells.The evidence is everywhere: newspapers cutting back on size and number of pages, layoffs in the newsroom, and newspapers being sold at fire-sale prices or just shutting down. It is not just the “object” itself but journalism as a public service that concerns me, although I do confess to relishing a paper in my hands, the smell of the ink on that porous newsprint, and the systematic ordering of articles and photos as opposed to the undifferentiated deluge of data we call IT.We all know many of the reasons why newspapers are no longer as relevant and influential as they once were — and that means all the way back to before the founding of our country until about 25 years ago. That’s when newspaper readership, circulation and advertising revenue began its downward slide and the world of electronic communications, PCs and the Internet started to dominate our lives. I don’t blame the new technology, and I do use it myself. It is fast, encompassing, economical and interactive, much more so than a daily newspaper could ever be. But there are things that a newspaper still does better than anything or anyone else. I speak about serving the community.When a new school budget is proposed that could better educate my grandchildren or raise my taxes; when an old friend has died; when a new movie theater is planned in town; when the latest response times of the volunteer fire department are reported; what the state legislature is up to; and how the high school football team is doing: All that news still comes primarily from newspapers. Why? Because they are the ones with boots on the ground. Newspapers still employ the bulk of professional reporters, editors and photographers dedicated to finding out and telling us what is happening in our own backyard. No one else has been able to effectively do that. That doesn’t mean it can’t change in the future, and it doesn’t mean that newspapers have ignored the new technologies. On the contrary, their survival seems to depend upon it. The main problem is that there are fewer news professionals to do the necessary work.The Pew Research Center recently reported that U.S. newspapers have cut their news staffs by 30 percent since 2000 and employ the fewest journalists since 1978 — when our country had 97 million fewer residents (222 million to 320 million today). The electronic media have not filled that gap.For those unfamiliar with media economics, it is important to know that a successful newspaper — or any news provider, for that matter — must make money in order to fulfill its mission as a public servant. Most of the revenue — as much as 70 percent — traditionally came from advertising. Newspapers made their money mostly from display ads, such as a department store’s listing of the latest bargains, and classified ads, such as help-wanted notices and apartment rentals — neither of which radio or television could adequately provide. Today, the Internet gets much of that business, except for local retail advertising, where local newspapers still enjoy an edge. I believe one reason for that is that local businesses know that local newspapers are very much still a key part of the community. As an editor and publisher, I always felt that a newspaper’s most important function was to serve as the public’s “watchdog” of government. But I couldn’t afford the staff to cover all the board meetings, courts, fire and police in our area without making enough money to pay those bills while continuing to make a profit for owners. That is no longer a given.I think the public bears some of the responsibility for the demise of newspapers. It is clear that the need for two incomes in a family and the growing call on people’s time have made newspaper reading more of a luxury than a necessity. But willingness, or the lack of it, plays a role, too. Even back in the 1980s, when I was a publisher, reader surveys consistently showed that “watchdog” news was being read less than stories about celebrities, the entertainment industry, human interest, sports and the comics. We see this pattern continuing today in low voter turnout for town budget meetings, despite their direct impact on our pocketbooks and the good functioning of town government.The strength of newspapers in our society cannot be separated from the democratic process. I hope readers will remember that when their subscription bills come due.Forrest C. Palmer, a resident of Heritage Village in Southbury, began his career at the Waterbury Republican in 1951, joined the Danbury News Times as editor in 1968 and retired as its publisher in 1990. He has remained active in Freedom of Information advocacy and is a past president of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government.
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Textile designer Justine Valla sits in her father’s chair, which she painted, alongside her husband, illustrator and muralist Victor Valla, in their Atelier Valla studio.
L. Tomaino
“I was always drawing as a child,” Justine recalled. Victor dreamed of illustrating magazine covers like those of the “Saturday Evening Post.”
Victor studied design and illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology, then received a fellowship to study painting and printmaking at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaigne. He graduated in 1967. The following year, he received a grant from the Tiffany Foundation to study printmaking in Paris at Atelier 17, an experimental graphic arts workshop founded in 1927.
“What a great experience that was!” he recalled.
Returning home after the Paris uprisings of 1968, he discovered that the magazine covers he’d hoped to paint had largely given way to photography. His agent suggested trying record covers, which he pursued along with illustration and graphic design.
He also began teaching at Kean University in New Jersey.
“Kean had a wonderful graphic design and illustration department. I loved teaching Graphic Design, even though I never thought I would.”
He later taught at Syracuse University and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
In the late 1980s, he decided to stop teaching and concentrate on his own art. He moved to Falls Village, to a house on the corner of Minor and Prospect Streets.
“I used to call the studio ‘Minor Prospects Atelier,’” he said.
He continued working in illustration and graphic design, creating book covers for stories by H.P. Lovecraft and other authors, along with magazine covers, logos, advertising and murals.
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback
His local commissions include the green and gold Noble Horizons signage and wall murals for the Stockbridge Inn, the Spa at Norwich Inn, Orchards Hotel in Williamstown and the David M. Hunt Library’s children’s section.
Justine grew up in the Bronx and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After graduating, she took on whatever work she could find, including designing toys and novelty items for Russ Berrie. But her true calling was textile design.
She moved to Los Angeles to pursue that calling, where she learned silkscreen printing from 1960s design icon Corita Kent.
“I was in her program at Immaculate Heart College. All fabric design at that time was silk screen. My first job in textile design was in L.A., creating wallpaper for Bob Mitchell Design.”
Justine returned to New York City, where the advent of computers required her to learn new design techniques. She enrolled at Parsons School of Design, studying Photoshop, Illustrator, Lectra U4ia and Kaledo.
Around this time, she met Victor online and moved to Falls Village.
A recruiter found her a job in Arkansas at Dillard’s, a department store chain operating in 30 states and known for its exclusive designer collections.
“They had the best equipment I’d ever seen,” she said.
She became a senior computer-aided design designer there, designing fabric and preparing purchased designs for production.
The Vallas left Falls Village for Little Rock.
“It was a big move,” she said. “It was a different culture, but Little Rock was very progressive.”
The originally planned to stay in Arkansas for five years but ended up remaining for nearly 10.
Then Justine was hit by a car. She suffered injuries to her leg and head and required four years of rehabilitation.
“I lost the ability to paint after the accident. I struggled to paint again.”
The Vallas returned to Connecticut, this time settling in Salisbury, where they’ve lived since 2013.
After leaving Dillard’s, Justine had planned to sell her work through Printsource in New York City, an international showcase for surface and textile design. But after the accident, she no longer had the mobility or energy to travel back and forth to the city.
Instead, she began selling her work locally at craft shows, including clothing, hand-printed tea towels and floorcloths.
She is currently working on selling her collection of textile designs.
In December, Justine will have a show of her tea-themed watercolors at the NorthEast-Millerton Library.
Victor recently exhibited “The American West: A Pictural History” at the NorthEast-Millerton Library. The series, created in the early 1990s, was part of a commission from the Postal Commemorative Society for which he completed 100 paintings in two years.
He hopes to place the series in a museum and has created books from its images, complete with text. Over the years, he has designed many other books that are ready for publication, including “Looking In, Looking Out,” a cosmic view of the universe.
Reflecting on his career, Victor said, “It’s about doing what you love”.
Justine agreed.
To see, purchase or commission work, contact Justine at justinevalla@gmail.com or Victor at victorvalla@comcast.net, or call 860-596-4282.
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Jane Herold’s beautifully simple dinnerware.
Provided
Cornwall ceramicist Jane Herold explained that there’s quite a lot of enthusiasm for Clay Way among the region’s ceramic artists.
“We all need work space, which is hard to find or afford in urban areas. The wood-fire crowd needs lots of wood and outdoor space. This area is great because it’s rural enough for us, but has a wonderfully enthusiastic and supportive population of pottery [patrons].”
While many of the artists are returning from previous years, the loose collection of unofficial organizers likes to keep the event manageable for the public, limiting the number of artists and studios each year. A direct drive from the southernmost point at Ann Heywood’s studio in Wingdale to Herold’s big barn in Cornwall is under 40 minutes. But if you want to catch it all, plan for a full day’s worth of art exploration along some of the most beautiful roads in New England.
Starting at its northernmost point, Herold’s studio will host Matin Malikzada of Afghanistan, whose polished, modern interpretations of traditional forms are instantly recognizable. They’ll be joined by wood-fired ceramicists Steve Johnson, with his raw, organic forms, and Harry Levenstein, whose works relate closely to Johnson’s while making even more direct references to nature.
Herold herself creates work that is both beautiful and utilitarian. Her prolific output of objects is intended to be used by everyday people as part of their daily lives.
Moving south is Todd Piker of Cornwall Bridge Pottery. Piker has been making pots in his giant wood-fired kiln since 1971. The kiln looks more like an ancient blast furnace than something designed to transform clay into ceramics, but over the years, he’s mastered its intricacies and produces an impressive amount of fine work.
A ceramic vase by Kathleen Heidemann.Provided
Piker will host Sanah Peterson, who works at Cornwall Bridge Pottery and draws inspiration from both her time with Piker and her time traveling the globe as a child. They’ll be joined by Stephanie Haines, whose vibrant, eye-catching work features underglaze illustrations of birds, fruit and the bounty of nature.
Further along in Warren, Jessica Dubin’s pieces will be on display at the studio of Christine Owen. Both artists seem to appreciate the chaos and unpredictable nature of clay but find ways to refine it all using their own unique methods.
Heading east to Washington, Conn., Will Talbot’s creates intricate work while allowing for the unpredictable nature of clay to play a role. His studio will house Tom Knox and his wide variety of textures and forms, as well as New York City-based Alex Lebedev, who lets music and the nature of improvisation guide his work.
There will be two studios participating in South Kent. Alison Palmner, whose page on the Clay Way website states she “strives to achieve a lighthearted meld of human forms, animals and the vessel.” Her studio will host Ben Eberle, who trained under the guidance of legendary potter Toshiko Takaezu; James Guggina, whose intricate work can appear both deliberate and whimsical; and Paula Shalan, who blends rough, unrefined surfaces with polished precision in individual pieces.
Joy Brown’s delightful ceramic sculptures.Provided
Nearby is Joy Brown, whose work have become a staple of the area, with her figurative sculptures dotting the Northwest Corner. Brown’s studio will also feature Bonnie Levine, who taps into the beauty of chaos and destruction in her work, and Brendan Moore, whose more utilitarian forms are perfect for everyday use.
Finally, the tour crosses the border into Wingdale, New York, where the studios of Drew Montgomery, Ann Heywood and Amy Brenner will host Jackie Sedlock, Lynn Behrendt,and Kathleen Heidemann.
Brenner creates some of the most colorful and vibrant pieces on the tour, while Behrendt’s work is among the most studied and precise. Heywood creates carefully considered, intuitive forms, while Heidemann moves from simple minimalism to intricate textures. Montgomery and Sedlock both find new ways of playing with traditional forms, producing delightfully distinctive pieces.
To learn more about the artists and download a map of participating studios, visit clayway.net
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