Family Focus
The Artist's Life
'Working' Kids
At 84, Adelman's work joins
the Potters Market lineup.
There should be expectations for
responsibilities, allowance and grades.
uestion: I am
the parent of
two children,
grades 3 and 5. I feel they
are now at an age where
they should be doing
household chores. What is
realistic, and should they
get an allowance for this?
Jack Adelman with his work at the OCC Pottery Lab in Royal Oak.
ack Adelman of Farmington
Hills becomes one of the
new artists at the annual
OCC Potters Market next weekend in
Madison Heights. Now 84, Adelman took
up pottery for the first time at the ripe
young age of 72.
A dozen years ago, this owner of
Adelman's Department Store in Windsor
developed an interest in sculpture and
checked the Birmingham Bloomfield Art
Center for a class. None were open, so he
decided to give pottery a try. He learned
to throw pots on the wheel, and soon
enough he was hooked.
Once a week he left work early to
practice his pottery at the BBAC in
Birmingham, and he's been at the pot-
tery wheel ever since. About five years
ago, he came over to the Oakland
Community College Pottery Lab in Royal
Oak when he heard about their excellent
program and facilities. OCC sponsors
the annual Potters Market.
Adelman's work has progressed signifi-
cantly with all the time he's in at the lab.
He's earned the respect of his fellow pot-
ters for his unusual glazes and forms.
"I individually formulate the glazes
so that they blend into each other:' he
explains, "and then I keep experiment-
ing with forms. Sometime I just use a
pencil to create a series of indentations
that look like fluting or scallops."
He also works in the high-fired raku
and newer horsehair techniques.
Adelman's daughter-in-law, Annette
Adelman in West Bloomfield, serves
as his critic. "I like to bring new pieces
home and get her opinion," he says.
j
B24
November 27 • 2008
"That feedback really helps me gauge
the work and what people might
respond to. She likes to help and, of
course, quite often when she likes it, she
just takes it home for her collection:' he
says with obvious delight.
"Who would think I'd become an art-
ist at my age he wonders aloud.
He starts everyday with a walk —
rain, snow or shine — and then it's off
to the potters' lab. "I guess I'm living the
artist's life this retiree says.
Adelman's works will be on sale Dec.
5-7 at the 33rd Annual Potters Market,
the largest pottery sale of its kind in the
country. Look for work by 135 potters
— advanced students from OCC's Royal
Oak lab — offering nearly 40,000 pieces
of pottery, all made in Michigan, ranging
from pots, vases, platters, tiles and mugs,
to bird baths, jewelry, ceramic-framed
mirrors, sculpture, lamps, tile-topped
tables and just about every product pos-
sible in clay.
Known as the source for high-quality,
handmade pottery at reasonable prices
($5-$400), the Potters Market attracts
more than 9,000 customers.
Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Dec.
5; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; 10
a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the OF &
CW Union Hall at 876 Horace Brown
Drive, 1 block south of Thirteen Mile,
between 1-75 and John R. Admission
and parking are free. No strollers per-
mitted because of the crowds. A special
preview sale, with $10 admission, is
from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4. For
information, call (248) 246-2686 or visit
thepottersmarket.com . ❑
A: First, let's change the
words, and therefore the
premise of the question,
using the word "responsibili-
ties" instead of "chores!' It is
definitely appropriate for your
children to assume some household
responsibilities. Talk to your children,
explaining that we are a family unit
that works together for the good of the
whole. Therefore, we each do our part
to make our family the best it can be.
That may include having the children
be responsible for their rooms, their
toys and their personal belongings.
Each family should decide what
these responsibilities might be, accord-
ing to the family needs. Payment does
not necessarily need to be associated
with family responsibilities.
Allowance is a separate issue.
Allowance works best with children
who are able to understand the concept
and value of money, and the mean-
ing of spending vs. saving. Third- and
fifth-grade children are usually able to
make that connection. In that case, the
parent can determine a fair allowance.
It is a good idea to set parameters for a
spending/saving plan.
Sit down with your children and
discuss the idea of allowance, deciding
how it will work best for your family.
Remember, these are merely sugges-
Academy Open House
The Frankel Jewish Academy will wel-
come prospective high school students
and parents at an open house for the
2009-2010 academic year on Wednesday,
Dec. 10; registration is at 6:45 p.m. and
the presentation at 7 p.m.
Tour the school, meet the teachers,
learn about the college preparatory
academic and extracurricular programs,
meet current students and learn how
FJA students are prepared to succeed
tions and guidelines. As a
parent, you should deter-
mine what is right for your
own family.
Q: I am receiving let-
ter grades in school this
year, and I am very wor-
ried that if I don't get
an "A," my parents will
be disappointed, even if
I've tried my best. What
should I do if I can't
always get an "A"?
A: It is very important
to realize that nobody is perfect, and
that's really a good thing ... otherwise,
we'd never have an opportunity to grow
or learn to do things differently. Giving
your best effort is what matters most.
For each student, that might mean
something different. Depending on
your teacher, the subject or your
assignment, your best work may earn
you different letter grades. Taking pride
in doing your personal best is what is
important.
Talk to your parents about your
feelings and concerns. Let them know
that you will always do your best, but
that may not always earn an A. If you
are doing your best and still strug-
gling with your grades, it is a good
idea for you or your parents to talk to
the teacher or counselor about getting
some additional help.
Suzi Epstein of West Bloomfield is a
longtime elementary counselor in the
Birmingham Public Schools. She earned a
master's in guidance and counseling and
also has a private practice. Direct questions
to SuziEpstein@igmail.com
in the 21st century. The Frankel Jewish
Academy is located on the upper level of
the Jewish Community Center, at 6600
W. Maple in West Bloomfield. Tuition
assistance is available.
If unable to attend the open house,
those interested are invited to take a tour
of the school and meet the admissions
staff at a more convenient time. Contact
Anne Van Prooyen or Silvia Marcus,
(248) 592-5263, ext. 222 or ext. 221, or
visit Web site at www.frankelja.org .