Keith Chervenak on mon 29 apr 96
I read with interest the posts of both Elca and Carla and find them
both to be very insightfull. They have raised in me a question that has
been nagging for some time- what am I? I tend to not think of myself as an
artist; I am a scientist by day, that pays the bills, a husband in the
evenings and weekends, a homeowner more than I care to be reminded, and
then in the time that is left I am a clay person ( clay artist?). My
formal training is science, not art. Clay does not keep me housed and fed
but it does support itself. Does this make me a mere hobbyist and not a
true clay artist because I am not living a life based on my abilities in
art but rather relying on other means for life's essentials?
What are the requirements to be an artist in this era of higher
learning? Must we have a B.F.A.? M.F.A.? Serve time as an apprentice? Is
it enough to simply have the desire and ability to create something that is
appreciated by others?
I have goals in art, my heart and soul is in the clay but the
practical side of my life keeps me from being totally in to it. ( Not to
say that anyone doing art fulltime is impractical!!) Do I lack the true
essence of an artist if I am not willing to chuck it all and pursue what
makes me happy? These are questions I ask of myself, not judgements on
others. As I ponder my existence I also wonder what the rest of you think,
have you wrestled with this question and what are your answers? What makes
an artist?
Keith, the "artist"
Lisa Skeen on tue 30 apr 96
In a message dated 96-04-29 19:42:11 EDT, you write:
> I have goals in art, my heart and soul is in the clay but the
>practical side of my life keeps me from being totally in to it. ( Not to
>say that anyone doing art fulltime is impractical!!) Do I lack the true
>essence of an artist if I am not willing to chuck it all and pursue what
>makes me happy?
Excellent questions, Keith. Why does one need a degree to do what one loves?
I was already a student at UNCG when I discovered clay, and have since
switched majors and have taken Kotani's first class. One of my biggest
objections in the Art program is all the dratted Art History classes (5) that
one has to take! I feel that hands-on classes are more important.
L
CLAYJUNKIE@aol.com on tue 30 apr 96
My 2c's.
Why are so many people hung up on lables. Isn't that where many
problems start? You're this...no I'm not, I'm that!
I think that the most important thing to do is WHAT you do, Do
your art for yourself, not for anyone else. First, your art is yours, first
and foremost. Then, if you are one of the lucky one's, Your art gets to the
public level, and it starts to become everyone else's. It's the same work
isn't it? What's changed?
I believe you should produce your work for yourself, be true to
yourself.
If others like what you do, GREAT then that's fantastic. But if
they don't, PLEASE..What are you going to do...
...hey, sorry, it's late...I'm rambling...Point is who cares?
People ask what I do...I say, "I play with clay"...
J.D.
CLAYJUNKIE@AOL.COM
dannon@ns1.koyote.com on tue 30 apr 96
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>In a message dated 96-04-29 19:42:11 EDT, you write:
>
>> I have goals in art, my heart and soul is in the clay
>
>Excellent questions, Keith. Why does one need a degree to do what one loves?
>
>
>I was already a student at UNCG when I discovered clay, and have since
>switched majors and have taken Kotani's first class. One of my biggest
>objections in the Art program is all the dratted Art History classes (5) that
>one has to take! I feel that hands-on classes are more important.
>
>L
>
>Don't knock the art history classes. It is important to know what has gone
before, and not just in clay (most of the one's I've taken look at only
painting/sculpture; everything else, including prints, are relegated to some
dim closet). But you need a visual vocabulary. You wouldn't recommend to a
writing student that they not read what has been previously written, or
expect them to just knock out a (good) novel with no experience behind it.
Anyway, think how often the wheel would get reinvented. Now the PAPERS that
are required do seem nonsense to me. I imagine how many useless superficial
researches into Picasso are dutifully handed in each semester across this
nation -what waste.. Perhaps studio artists should be permitted to do their
research and then produce a work in response to that research, instead of
yet another in an endless stream of papers.........
Dannon Rhudy
Claudia O Driscoll on tue 30 apr 96
Artist Keith,
You have answered your questions when you say, "my heart and soul
is in the clay." I think it is that simple...and complex. "Chucking it all" an
going for the clay full time is something I bet all of us has contemplated.
Some, of course, manage to do it! But those of us left divided between
the job and the art are still artists. I have my father for an example. He
was the head machinist on a San Francisco newspaper, but I remember
the kitchen being littered with his paintings, and full of the smell of linseed
oil. He did not even have a studio...but he painted his whole life long,
never giving up his art, while raising two daughters and doing everything
else necessary to keep the family afloat. When I think of him, I think of
him as an artist.
claudia (claudiao@clackamas.cc.or.us)
Claudia O Driscoll on tue 30 apr 96
J.D.
You are so right...labels should not be all that important. I think what we
are talking about here is not so much what others call us, but what we
call ourselves. A label is put on by something outside...whether or not
'suzie or joe' thinks you are an artist is not what matters. It is what YOU
think, and I have the strong belief that until we can 'say it'...we struggle
with the concept. The name itself is not important...potter, artist, artisan,
craftsman...but the idea that you can give yourself this added bit of
validation is important. Some of us struggle with that. Why?
claudia
John Jensen on wed 1 may 96
This topic sent me to my stack of old writings where I found this(circa 1977):
"Looking at my passport picture taken when I was thirteen years old: Someone
asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said I wanted to be an artist.
That I would like to get a degree in architecture first so that I would have
something to fall back on if I didn't succed as an artist. I never did get the
architecture degree, so I don't now have anything to fall back on; but I am an
artist."
"Funny word, artist. To me it seems more high to be an artist than to be a king
or president. The word has a rich smell about it, like the smell of linseed oil
and turpentine--of exotic pigments. It has the blood of Van Gogh and Gaugan
running in it. It carries with it the sense of absolute precision beyond
military precision, beyond the marksman's precision. It has the precision of a
leaf suspended in a spiders web, just so. Not a half a degree this way or that.
But in exactly the position in space that it occupies. And beginning to
move...Now! Quivering. The word, artist, carries with it the sense of an ocean
wave buildiing from imperceptible undulation in the deep water to unfold
crashing on the beach and to slowly drain into the sand until there is no
evidence....the wave is gone. In that momemt when the wave is gone, art lives.
And it is in that moment that the artist must struggle to live, whatever he
does."
Respectfully submitted, John Jensen 76053,1462@compuserve.com
Jack Phillips on wed 1 may 96
> and I have the strong belief that until we can 'say it'...we struggle
>with the concept.
> the idea that you can give yourself this added bit of
>validation is important. Some of us struggle with that. Why?
>claudia
>
>
Claudia,
We struggle with that because we know that as soon as we call
ourselves "artists", we will be scrutinized and compelled to substantiate
our claim. Are we up to the task?
PS I "chucked it all" quite awhile ago.
Jack Phillips
STONART Ceramic art
Portland, Oregon
TROY@JUNCOL.JUNIATA.EDU on thu 2 may 96
If I ever need a surgical procedure, I hope I'm lucky enough to have it done
by someone who's been practicing to be the best surgeon possible rather than
sorting through metaphysical dandruff to determine once and for all whether
"surgeon" is an appropriate name to call one's self.
When I look at the pots with which I live, the best ones seem to have been
made without tentativeness by people who probably wouldn't have wanted to be
anywhere else when the clay was within reach.
Our clay statements had better say it all. A majority of the best pots in
history were made by people who were probably illiterate but who were wonder-
fully articulate with clay.
Call yourself anything you like, but call us when you've unloaded your best
kiln ever. Here's hoping it's your next one.
Jack Troy
RandHeazlt@aol.com on thu 2 may 96
I 've been following this thread on and off for awhile and the key point in
all this is the reason we make pots, we are addicted! We have no choice about
making/ creating because our lives are less without it. In essence it is
purely a selfish endevour, that as a byproduct happens to create something
that other people can benefit from. Call yourself what you want it just
does'nt matter, or spend time you could be making pots worrying about what to
call yourself and what other people think about it. Personally I've got a
habit to tend to and will be making POTS.
Rand
New Albany, Indiana
No matter where you go..... there will be some fool to argue with you!
Susan H. Park on sat 4 may 96
I am new to clay, new to college art, old to life - I couldn't resist
the opportunity to respond to your comment about art history classes.
Perhaps there is a way to approach these classes that would allow you to
gain some benefit from them. There is so much there! When you take
Ancient Art History - look at the decorative motifs used by the Minoan
Ceramic Artists - they will blow you away! They are so full of life and
movement. If you were to approach your art history classes saying "what
can I learn that will apply to my art" perhaps you will begin to see the
wealth of practical applicability.
I hope that you can find a way to enjoy the art history!
Susan
On Tue, 30 Apr 1996, Lisa Skeen wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> In a message dated 96-04-29 19:42:11 EDT, you write:
>
> > I have goals in art, my heart and soul is in the clay but the
> >practical side of my life keeps me from being totally in to it. ( Not to
> >say that anyone doing art fulltime is impractical!!) Do I lack the true
> >essence of an artist if I am not willing to chuck it all and pursue what
> >makes me happy?
>
> Excellent questions, Keith. Why does one need a degree to do what one loves?
>
>
> I was already a student at UNCG when I discovered clay, and have since
> switched majors and have taken Kotani's first class. One of my biggest
> objections in the Art program is all the dratted Art History classes (5) that
> one has to take! I feel that hands-on classes are more important.
>
> L
>
Geoffrey Barst on sun 28 aug 05
Anyone wonder what the response from your fellow passenger on a plane
might be to your reply "I'm an artist" if you happened to be sitting in a
first class seat?
Geoff Barst
Karin on sun 28 aug 05
I usually say "I'm a potter."
Karin Hurt
www.laughingbearpottery.com
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