Helen Jean Taylor Documentary Film
Donation protected
January 25, 2019
Don Hahn and his team at Circle Stone Pictures have finished the trailer for our film!
A Centered Life: The Helen Jean Taylor Story
In association with the Community Center of La Canada-Flintridge, our goal is to fund a cinematic-quality short documentary celebrating the creative life of 92-year old ceramic artist Helen Jean Taylor.
"How many people are still working at the love of their life after 50 years? Very, very, few. Artist, potter, teacher, administrator, mentor, friend. Over her nearly 50 years of service to the community, Jean Taylor is all this and more." -- Robert Kibler, Professor of Arts Emeritus, Glendale City College
Born in Chingford, Essex, England the same year as Queen Elizabeth II, Jean studied speech training, drama and ballet at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Married to a diplomat, Jean landed in California by way of Canada and South Africa. She started as the Director of the Ceramics Program at the Community Center of La Canada-Flintridge (CCLCF) in California in 1966. Jean spent over four decades as the Director and ten more years teaching, retiring in 2017.
Jean is an artist and cultural activist who transformed a nascent program with three students into a multi-level clay studio with 22 classes per week, shepherding the program for more than 50 years. Through her vision and despite limited resources, she created a grassroots, volunteer-propelled clay community that continues to thrive.
Here is how Jean describes her philosophy:
"My aim as a teacher has always been to establish the highest artistic standards in an environment where people feel free to express themselves openly and with as few restraints as possible. This has led to a familiarity of minds and spirits in the creative process, thus forming a community that is great and ever-expanding."
Jean's work as an artist and potter is unique for her mastery of color and shading in stoneware. Jean's artistry is based on her decades-long exploration of the unpredictability and chemistry of glazes, and her on-going passion for color.
Jean believes in the idea of community, of people of diverse backgrounds, ages and interests coming together through the arts. She believes that the ceramics studio is a safe-haven for people to learn, interact and create. This the legacy of her friendship and mentorship--and the inspiration for this documentary film.
See this video to know more about Jean:
https://youtu.be/UMNZ7MBHiow
UPDATE --September 1, 2018:
We are collaborating with Don Hahn and Lori Korngiebel of Circle Stone Pictures to produce this documentary--now a 26- minute film destined for public television.
In early August, we completed 2-days of filming with Jean– one day at her home in Altadena and another day at the ceramics studio at CCLCF. We had a great time! Don and Lori and their crew are remarkable. Early snippets we have seen are just what we hoped for.... not surprisingly, Jean is just as wonderful on camera as she is in person. (Plus, she has a better tan than any of us!)
The fund-raising tally at the top of this page isn't accurate as most of the contributions have been directly to CCLCF.
We have raised almost 18K to date through private donations.
We continue to fund raise to reach our budget of 60K, now directed to post-production expenses.
To have your contribution be a tax-deductible donation, please send us a check payable to CCLCF.
Add "Jean Taylor Film" in the memo line.
Mail to: Georgie Kajer, 1730 Bonita Vista Drive, La Canada, CA 91011
For more about Laura and Georgie:
http://laurahullphotography.com/works/home.html
http://kajerarchitects.com
Thank you for your support!
Laura Hull and Georgie Kajer
Don Hahn and his team at Circle Stone Pictures have finished the trailer for our film!
A Centered Life: The Helen Jean Taylor Story
In association with the Community Center of La Canada-Flintridge, our goal is to fund a cinematic-quality short documentary celebrating the creative life of 92-year old ceramic artist Helen Jean Taylor.
"How many people are still working at the love of their life after 50 years? Very, very, few. Artist, potter, teacher, administrator, mentor, friend. Over her nearly 50 years of service to the community, Jean Taylor is all this and more." -- Robert Kibler, Professor of Arts Emeritus, Glendale City College
Born in Chingford, Essex, England the same year as Queen Elizabeth II, Jean studied speech training, drama and ballet at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Married to a diplomat, Jean landed in California by way of Canada and South Africa. She started as the Director of the Ceramics Program at the Community Center of La Canada-Flintridge (CCLCF) in California in 1966. Jean spent over four decades as the Director and ten more years teaching, retiring in 2017.
Jean is an artist and cultural activist who transformed a nascent program with three students into a multi-level clay studio with 22 classes per week, shepherding the program for more than 50 years. Through her vision and despite limited resources, she created a grassroots, volunteer-propelled clay community that continues to thrive.
Here is how Jean describes her philosophy:
"My aim as a teacher has always been to establish the highest artistic standards in an environment where people feel free to express themselves openly and with as few restraints as possible. This has led to a familiarity of minds and spirits in the creative process, thus forming a community that is great and ever-expanding."
Jean's work as an artist and potter is unique for her mastery of color and shading in stoneware. Jean's artistry is based on her decades-long exploration of the unpredictability and chemistry of glazes, and her on-going passion for color.
Jean believes in the idea of community, of people of diverse backgrounds, ages and interests coming together through the arts. She believes that the ceramics studio is a safe-haven for people to learn, interact and create. This the legacy of her friendship and mentorship--and the inspiration for this documentary film.
See this video to know more about Jean:
https://youtu.be/UMNZ7MBHiow
UPDATE --September 1, 2018:
We are collaborating with Don Hahn and Lori Korngiebel of Circle Stone Pictures to produce this documentary--now a 26- minute film destined for public television.
In early August, we completed 2-days of filming with Jean– one day at her home in Altadena and another day at the ceramics studio at CCLCF. We had a great time! Don and Lori and their crew are remarkable. Early snippets we have seen are just what we hoped for.... not surprisingly, Jean is just as wonderful on camera as she is in person. (Plus, she has a better tan than any of us!)
The fund-raising tally at the top of this page isn't accurate as most of the contributions have been directly to CCLCF.
We have raised almost 18K to date through private donations.
We continue to fund raise to reach our budget of 60K, now directed to post-production expenses.
To have your contribution be a tax-deductible donation, please send us a check payable to CCLCF.
Add "Jean Taylor Film" in the memo line.
Mail to: Georgie Kajer, 1730 Bonita Vista Drive, La Canada, CA 91011
For more about Laura and Georgie:
http://laurahullphotography.com/works/home.html
http://kajerarchitects.com
Thank you for your support!
Laura Hull and Georgie Kajer
Organizer
Georgie Kajer
Organizer
Pasadena, CA