Linhares, Paul on fri 28 feb 97
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Hellooo Clayart
I just read the =22Mad Potter of Biloxi=22 by one Garth Clark and a couple =
of other
authors. It seemed to me that the story of Ohr's life is painfully relevant=
to
todays potters. The struggle between the =22no two alike=22 expression of =
the artist
and the simple pleasures of creating mugs for the discerning masses (the =
rest of
the masses will always shop at Wal-Mart). Ohr made a lot of tourist =
trinkets
and drain pipes but his passion was always for his =22mud babies=22. He =
sent 50
pieces to the museum in New Orleans and they wanted 12 of them for their
permanent collection he was so incensed that they would even consider =
breaking
up the collection he demanded that they all be sent back where the were =
found
long after his death still packed in the crates from the museum. He was the
largest obstacle to his own recognition, because he wanted his pieces to be
accepted and appreciated in a specific manner by certain people.
I think potters would benefit from recognizing who it is that appreciates
whatever it is that they make and finding the appropriate venue to present =
it to
those people. It might be a table under the tent at the local crafts =
bizarre or
the highest pedestal in the Garth Clark Gallery. The fact that potters can =
make
objects that could appeal to either of these audiences is a good thing, but=
I
don=B9t think we should blame the gallery for wanting to shoot holes in our =
pots
and hang them on the walls if that is what appeals to their clientele. Find=
a
new venue.
Paul in Ohio
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