Francoise Melville on tue 16 apr 96
To say that a blue glaze equals kitsch seems to be rather a sweeping
statement and certainly not one I am prepared to make. First of all, what
is kitsch? 'Pretentiousness and lack of good taste in art' says my Oxford
Dictionary. I have also heard it defined as something imitating another
kind of more genuine object, e.g. white plastic Grecian Urns, pink plastic
flamingos, artificial stone fountains, etc.etc. Costume jewellery maybe?
However none of these definitions seem to fit a blue glaze, shiny or
otherwise. Personally, two glazes which I really don't like because of
their flat, unvariegated, 'industrial' look, are what the public call
'forest' or 'hunter green' and 'cobalt blue'. I have made coffee mugs with
what I have thought to be a far more discreet and interesting hue of
speckled blue or mossy green only to be told by prospective customers -
'Very nice, but please can you make me the same in that beautiful rich blue
or forest green?' I would have thought that forest green had been seen
enough by now, from clothes to furnishings to pots, but it seems to be a
lasting fad. I note that many of us are now looking for purple glazes,
and think that this may have something to do with the fact the same public
which likes bright blue and forest green is now beginning to ask for purple
pots as well. I do not like eating from anything but the lightest coloured
dishes, but that is a personal preference. In fact I admit to enjoying my
food on blue and white plates! Kitschy?
By the way, here in Prince Rupert we have a very large store devoted
to the sale of 'whiteware'. Originally people decorated the stuff and had
it clear-glazed and fired. Now they don't even do that. This store does
a roaring trade just selling this mold-made - dare I say it without someone
taking offense - kitsch, plus a large selection of Duncan acrylic ceramic
paints. They have everything from whales to crinolined ladies, and
obviously enjoy great popularity. The woman who turns out this 'whiteware'
is certainly more business-minded than I will ever be or would wish to be.
I wonder whether she actually enjoys her work, or the thought that she is
inspiring so many people to be 'creative' with their 'ceramics'?
Francoise
Port Edward, B.C.
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