Ceramics—Ann Economou
Ann Economou
Susan Eastman
If you see a whirlwind when you enter the Ceramics Studio, it’s most likely our Ceramics Club of PebbleCreek (CCPC) President, Ann Economou! Ann is always on the move these days organizing one thing or another. She organizes the shelves of Greenware and bisque, and is digitizing catalogs for our instructor, Linda Galowitch. She set up the club’s website on Facebook, does many of the major repairs when a piece has been broken, loads and unloads the kilns, painted tiles on the wall to demonstrate the Jungle Gem glazes available, and now even orders the Greenware pieces for inventory. As club president, she conducts CCPC board meetings, and general meetings. Oh, and she teaches the beginner ceramics classes. When she has time she paints amazing works of art!
Growing up on Long Island, Ann did crafts with her grandmother and aunt, who had a kiln. They introduced her to pottery and ceramics on weekends joyfully spent with them. She moved to Orange County, Calif., where she later met and married husband, Greg Economou. Ann was a dental assistant for 22 years, but then chose to be a stay-at-home mom with their two daughters becoming active in their sports, cheer, and school events. When Greg was transferred to Ahwatukee, his parents decided to move nearby to PebbleCreek. After meeting the resident age of 55 there was little doubt that the younger Economous would also move to PebbleCreek. Ann was adamant about living where there was an abundance of art offerings, and wanted to be close to her in-laws. It was only PebbleCreek for them!
That was 2019 when many things were closing due to COVID-19. In the Art Center, the ceramics studio was open on a limited basis. Ann joined and that membership became the foundation for the expression of her outstanding artistic talents.
Ann has a tremendous love of learning. That intrinsic curiosity has resulted in exploration of various media, including glass art, fiber clay, and of course, ceramics. There are a number of techniques she uses on projects to experiment with under and over glazes with differing results. Examples include alcohol drip, bubbles, shave cream, Jade effect, pearlization, patinas, silk screen, and pattern transfer. She received first place in the PC Art Show for her life-like rendition of a chicken. She arduously made each feather—different sizes for different body areas—then dry brushed the bird to add realism. It was an amazing testament to her perseverance!
Beyond the artistic accomplishments, Ann loves the heartwarming camaraderie found with ceramic cohorts. The laughter, and sharing of stories or struggles, fill her life with meaningful friendships. She invites all to drop by and maybe even try her introductory class.
You won’t be disappointed!
Pottery and Sculpture—Lew Polizzi
Lew Polizzi with some of his pottery creations
Since coming to PebbleCreek as a snowbird in 2019, Lew Polizzi has been a frequent presence in the Pottery and Sculpture Club studio. Lew uses his considerable pottery skills to turn out unusual, creative, whimsical, and fun works of art.
Lew started working in clay when he lived in a small town in Nevada that didn’t offer a lot of other free time outlets. His work there was primarily done on a wheel. It was not until he came to PebbleCreek that Lew began doing slab work and sculpting. Many of the pieces he sculpts now are lighthearted, often unrecognizable (think part pig and part triceratops), and Alice in Wonderland-worthy tea pots.
While working in Nevada, he was asked to give a presentation to the local school on wildlife management. It didn’t take him long to realize he would much rather work with kids, teaching science and English. Lew’s professional life has been beyond varied. In addition to teaching, Lew was a school principal, worked in wildlife management, predator control, and law enforcement. He also worked as a cosmetic chemist.
Lew spent much of his life in Alaska and Washington state. He and his wife, Nora, return to Sequim, Wash., in the summers where he puts aside pottery making and spends time crabbing, clamming, and running an oyster farm on the beach. Lew has one biological son, one adopted daughter, and 23(!) foster children.