Applegater Spring 2013 9
THEY LIVE AMONG US
Applegate potter inspired by nature
by SebaSTIan klIneFelTeR
Nancy Yturriaga never planned on
a career as a nationally known ceramic
artist. It was an accident. As a young
child in San Francisco she could have gone
in any direction—the place being known
worldwide for unique, controversial ideas
and radical forms of expression.
Despite the lack of funding for art
education in the schools, Nancy says that
as a child she gravitated toward expressing
herself with color; exploring nature was her
greatest inspiration.
At age 18, while attending City
College of San Francisco in the late 1960s,
Nancy stumbled into the ceramics studio
and thought, “Ah, this looks like fun!” But
her skill at making pottery didn’t come
easily. “Art is a constant struggle; it’s the
nature of the beast,” she remarked.
Having found her medium of
expression, Nancy purchased a potter’s
wheel and began throwing pots in her
San Francisco basement. She would pack
her unfinished pieces and, baby under
one arm and pots under the other, catch
a municipal bus to the historic Victorian
studio owned by well-known artist and
teacher Ruby O’Burke in San Francisco’s
colorful and outrageous Castro District.
A much-loved mother figure and patron
of the arts, O’Burke rented studio space
to potters and jewelers, allowing them to
work cooperatively in a unique inner-city
setting. After her passing, her studio was
forever dedicated for working artists to
create their art.
Several years later, now in San
Geronimo, California, the next step
required was to convert Nancy’s garden
shed into a producing ceramic studio.
This included the acquisition of a small
electric kiln, “the old Duncan,” which she
still uses today.
Nancy’s style is nicely expressed
through her statement: “I don’t plan on
Black dragon teapot in carving stage.
Finished black dragon teapot. Nancy also
creates pottery featuring lizards, ravens,
frogs, owls, dragonflies and other creatures.
anything; I just let my mind caress the
image.” While originally inspired by
classical Asian art, Yturriaga’s efforts have
Long live Ruch Community K-8 School
by maRGaReT della SanTIna and mIcHelle HenSman
Ruch Community K-8 School has
long been known for its parent involvement
and strong community ties, which play a
critical role in the academic and social
success of Ruch students. Our rural setting
provides a healthy and exciting learning
environment; the flip side of our rural
location, however, is that our enrollment
is significantly lower than other Medford
schools.
Applegate Partners Promoting Local
Education (APPLE) has been working
diligently to keep Ruch School sustainable
for generations to come—the school will
celebrate its centennial this fall, and we
want to be sure it celebrates its Bicentennial
in 2113!
In November 2012, the Medford
School Board endorsed APPLE’s proposal
that Ruch K-8 become a community
school with a “place-based” curriculum
reflecting its unique rural location in the
Applegate Valley.
What is a community school? A
community school partners with various
organizations to provide services and
resources the community may need—in
short, it’s an integral part of a thriving
community where students are able to
learn and achieve.
What is place-based learning? Place-
based learning connects national learning
standards and classroom activities with
real-world learning rooted in the local
environment. Students in community
schools with place-based learning curricula
tend to have a strong appreciation for
the natural environment they live in,
and learn the importance of community
responsibility while mastering academic
content and skills.
The Oregon Department of Education
website notes:
Community schools are grounded in the
concept that learning occurs in many places—
in school, after school, in neighborhoods
and communities-throughout our lives.
Evaluations of community school programs
have shown that they help improve student
achievement, increase attendance and reduce
participation in high-risk behaviors. (www.
ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=575)
Ruch families and community
partners are committed to ensuring the
success of our pioneering little school that
is so rich in educational history, natural
resources, and community support. Here
are a few of the exciting things we are
looking forward to in the coming months:
• The Ruch School Family Resource
blossomed over the decades into a unique
body of work that communes with and
depicts the natural world that she so loves.
Nancy has enjoyed great success as
an accomplished artist; over the years her
work has been exhibited in fine galleries
and shows nationwide.
She gained great inspiration from
the painter Georgia O’Keefe, whom she
describes as “a brave woman exemplifying
what can happen if a person is willing to
give everything for her art.” After 45 years
working with clay, Nancy has clearly given
her complete dedication to the artistry
that is her passion. Of her consummate
skill with clay, she laughed and remarked,
“Once you learn the steps, then you just
dance!”
Spurning the idea of getting a “real
job,” Nancy dedicated herself to her art,
bought a horse, and retreated more deeply
into the wild. Ten years ago, she arrived in
the Applegate Valley to “spend the golden
years potting and riding horses.”
Nancy calls her home and studio “The
Sweetwater Ranch.” At the ranch there
is magic in the air; one almost expects
to catch a glimpse of a fairy among the
trees. This magic is reflected in the clay
art created by the hands of the artist I call
“The Sweetwater Potter.”
For more information about Nancy
Yturriaga and her pottery, visit www.
nancyadams.net.
Sebastian Klinefelter
541-846-6689
“They live among us” is an
ongoing feature highlighting people
of interest who live in the Applegate
Watershed. The Applegater
newspaper is looking for volunteers
to take on this column each issue. If
interested, call J.D. Rogers, editor,
at 541-846-7736.
Center (across from the office) offers
health/wellness resources, advocacy,
referrals, and more! Open Fridays 8 am
- noon and by appointment Monday -
Thursday.
• After-school tutoring and academic
support for students in grades K-3, coming
in spring 2013.
• Community Garden. This exciting
project is part of a Master Gardeners’ grant
and partnership, as well as a recipient of
a YES (Youth, Education, Success) grant,
sponsored by local businesses and local
TV channel KOBI-TV (NBC5). We are
actively seeking volunteers for this project,
including people with strong backs,
machinery, design ideas or materials (soil,
crushed granite, cement, plants, pots,
fencing, fertilizer, irrigation materials,
etc.). Students and community members
will cultivate a fruit and vegetable garden,
which will promote team building and
healthy living. Produce will be used to
prepare school meals, and for the Ruch
School ACCESS Food Bank. Silver
Springs Nursery is donating native plants
to create a “100 Years of Agriculture in
the Applegate” educational trail that will
culminate at our community garden.
• Summer programs for pre-K children.
Weeklong, themed camps during June,
July and August, offered at the Ruch
School campus.
• Exciting weeklong summer camps for
K-8 students, focusing on arts, writing,
science, health and wellness, gardening
and environmental stewardship, fire-rescue
and first aid.
• Preschool at Ruch. We are working
toward establishing a preschool on the
Ruch School campus beginning this fall.
• Save the date! Ruch Community
Festival, Saturday, March 9, 2013; 11
am – 3 pm. The community is invited
to meet our staff, students, volunteers
and community partners. Come learn
more about the wonderful place-based-
learning programs students are currently
engaged in, as well as the opportunities
ahead. Enjoy food, entertainment and fun
activities for children and adults.
Organizations can participate in the
Ruch Community Festival free of charge;
we simply ask that partners bring pop-
up tents, and display and advertisement
materials, and share their positive energy
with Ruch School and community. If
you know of a business or organization
that would like to attend as a community
partner, please have them contact Michelle
Hensman at 1-541-306-0668.
For more information about any of
the above programs or events, please call
Ruch School at 541-842-3850.
Margaret della Santina and
Michelle Hensman • 541-306-0668
Applegate denizen and nationally known
ceramic artist Nancy Yturriaga.
Photo by Joan Peterson.
