
1,000 Flowers Could Bloom
February 26 @ 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

All plants will flower if provided the right conditions – soil with nutrients, sunlight, water, pollination. Human beings realize their fullest potential – much like the blooming of flowers – when certain conditions are met. One of these is a strong sense of self, an awareness and acceptance of who we are, where we are from. We have a better understanding of the broader human condition when we have a strong sense of self. This leads to acceptance of others and an appreciation of our differences.
Cultural awareness begins with an understanding of our place in the world, how we are influenced by the cultural groups we belong to. Culture influences how we think and how we act. If we look at our cultural identity as we would an iceberg – 10% of it is visible, 90% is under the waterline – which parts of us are visible above ‘the waterline’ and which parts below? To understand our own cultural identity, we need to look below the surface. And we need to understand our own cultural identity before we can understand others’.
Together with the residents of St. Louis Center and the wider community of interested individuals, educator and clay artist Eli Zemper will engage folks with and without disabilities to create ceramic flowers with metal stems.
Each flower will have a center – called the ‘pistil’ – that will be stamped, using stencils, with words and images that describe the artist’s cultural identity. During this evening clay workshop held in the SLC gym, Eli will engage all participants in discussions that help them explore their cultures. She will then lead them through the process of creating their unique ceramic flower.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Chelsea Community Foundation, the residents of St. Louis Center have been on a year-long journey of cultural discovery. This event will be the capstone of the cultural awareness program.
St. Louis Center is pleased to invite you to the campus Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 6:00pm to participate in this exclusive opportunity.
Please register on Eli Zemper’s website – Curiouser Clay – she will be providing all supplies necessary.