Hey, I’m Julia Claire Weber, most know me as Jules! About 2 years ago I had an opportunity to be a short term resident artist at Odyssey Clayworks. It was then that I realized life had so much more to offer. I quit all my part-time jobs, packed up my apartment and my boyfriend and our 2 cats moved from PA to Asheville, NC. I am now a long-term resident artist, gallery manager and teacher! My full-time job is ceramics, and I couldn’t be more grateful!
Heres my story…
I grew up in a tight-knit family in Erie, Pennsylvania. My mother always wondered what I would be when I grew up. I carried around a pair of scissors, tape, paper and any found objects I could find. I was always turning ordinary objects into works of art! I drove my grandfather CrAzY because he could never find the tape!
It came as no surprise when I developed a skill for drawing and painting in high-school! After graduating I pursued a degree in health and nutrition, because “there’s no money in art”. I heard that a lot. Something was missing though and I felt disconnected. I was missing a huge part of me. So, I transferred to an art school to pursue art education and took my first college painting class! YEAH!
As part of the art-ed curriculum I had to take ceramics. It was absolutely dreadful. I couldn’t center the clay and everything I made looked like blobs. Then it happened. I was determined to get it and I DID! It all clicked and I was able to throw a centered pot on the wheel! I called home and said
“MOM, I know what I want to do with the rest of my life, CERAMICS!”
She was moderately shocked but SO INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE. I am blessed to have parents who not only encouraged me to follow my dreams, but did everything they could to make sure I achieved them!
I received my BFA in ceramics from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2010 with a minor in Art History. I dropped my art-ed major so I would have more time to create without abandon. A week after I graduated I received a phone call asking if I would be interested in teaching a wheel class and running a community clay studio called Clayspace.
Talk about diving right in! I learned how to teach, through teaching and managed a clay studio for 4 years! I taught everyone from at-risk youth to Bhutanese refugees. I used clay as a tool for healing and learning.
I would have never left home, but my friends presented an opportunity I had always dreamed of. It is with great excitement that I now reside in Asheville, North Carolina. Where I am a resident artist at Odyssey Clayworks in the River Arts District! I took a demotion so to speak. Instead of running a clay studio I am working in one and I will be honest, I LOVE IT! I thank the powers of the universe every day, for bringing me to this beautiful place.
I am so grateful to share my talents with you!
Peace and Love, Julia
