Mary Ballou: Get a Little Class in Your Night Life

I arrived in the Aspen area in August 1972, having just graduated from college, married, and back from our honeymoon. A frat brother of my husband spent the previous winter in Aspen and he advised us, “You have to spend one winter in Aspen before you go somewhere to get serious about life.”

So, that WAS our plan. But by November, we bought a bar. In January, we bought a house…a real “fixer upper.” Six months in, we weren’t planning to leave.

In January, I also signed up for a clay class through CMC. It was held at Anderson Ranch. I had started “playing with clay” at age 14 and majored in fine arts and art education in college. I was very anxious to find a place to continue.

Over the years, I have taken many, many clay classes with extraordinary teachers. I have also taken watercolor and drawing classes, education classes, science classes, music appreciation, film classes, language classes and probably some I have forgotten about. I just know that when I need to request a transcript, it seems like they have to cut down a tree!

I love the concept of being a “life-long learner.” In the 1970’s, there was a banner that CMC would hang over Main Street at registration time that said, “GET A LITTLE CLASS IN YOUR NIGHT LIFE.” I love that!

CMC has been a life enhancing institution in my 45 years in Aspen. And during difficult times, knowing that I could escape to my “happy place” (the pottery studio) was lifesaving. And I have made the most wonderful friends in the ceramics community. I think of CMC as my second home and my family.