mel jacobson on sun 27 oct 96
just a couple of thoughts of backward throwing...i am sure in some
situations it is alright to adapt to a personal choice... but what happens
when:(?)
1. you have to give a demo at a strange place and the wheels all go c. clock.
2. you buy a new brent and it goes c. clock.
3. you try to teach others and they all go c. clock.
and the list goes on and on... for a new potter the best way to throw is the
same as everyone else...c. clock. once you have started backward it is very
hard to un-learn. it reminds me of doing left handed calligraphy...you
might as well put the pen in your right hand and learn to write over from
the beggining.
i have had to un-scramble a lot of left handed potters who have been advised
to just throw either way....it is not that simple... most of the fine
equipment that is made in america is for right handed, c. clock
rotation...it is very difficult to fight that technology... (this is from
the teachers view)
but heck, if it feels good and works throw lying down, or upside down, if it
works......but there will be roadblocks. mel jacobson/minnesota. with
respect to all of you that throw backwards...
Don Sanami on mon 28 oct 96
Mel J., I,ve been a lefty potter for more than 35 yrs. My first trip to
Japan I was complimented on my throwing since right-handed Japanese
potters throw on a c-wise wheel. They thought I had learned in Japan. I
learned in New England. With the Shimpo none of my students ever had a
problem. donOn Sun, 27 Oct 1996, mel jacobson wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> just a couple of thoughts of backward throwing...i am sure in some
> situations it is alright to adapt to a personal choice... but what happens
> when:(?)
>
> 1. you have to give a demo at a strange place and the wheels all go c. clock.
> 2. you buy a new brent and it goes c. clock.
> 3. you try to teach others and they all go c. clock.
> and the list goes on and on... for a new potter the best way to throw is the
> same as everyone else...c. clock. once you have started backward it is very
> hard to un-learn. it reminds me of doing left handed calligraphy...you
> might as well put the pen in your right hand and learn to write over from
> the beggining.
>
> i have had to un-scramble a lot of left handed potters who have been advised
> to just throw either way....it is not that simple... most of the fine
> equipment that is made in america is for right handed, c. clock
> rotation...it is very difficult to fight that technology... (this is from
> the teachers view)
>
> but heck, if it feels good and works throw lying down, or upside down, if it
> works......but there will be roadblocks. mel jacobson/minnesota. with
> respect to all of you that throw backwards...
>
Debby Grant on mon 28 oct 96
Just to add my two cents. I agree wholeheartedly with Mel Jacobson.
He hit the nail on the head. I've taught pottery for 27 years and although
we had two wheels that could be reversed I made a conscious decision
to teach left handers to throw counter clockwise. I like to put my hands
over a beginning thower's hands while sitting opposite to him/her so that
they can get the feel of centering. this would be very difficult if the
wheel
were going in the wrong direction for me. Besides, while throwing, both
hands are doing equal work though different jobs.
Debby Grant
Vince Pitelka on mon 28 oct 96
>just a couple of thoughts of backward throwing...i am sure in some
>situations it is alright to adapt to a personal choice... but what happens
>when:(?)
>1. you have to give a demo at a strange place and the wheels all go c. clock.
>2. you buy a new brent and it goes c. clock.
>3. you try to teach others and they all go c. clock.
>and the list goes on and on...
I have to second Mel Jacobson on this. I have always felt the same way
about the whole idea of left-handed people learning to play the guitar
backwards. It's ridiculous. When you are doing complicated tasks with both
hands, what is the point of learning the whole process ass-backwards to the
way everyone else is doing it? Unless, of course, you plan to live in Japan
(where they throw clockwise), or, unless you are just a contrary kind of person.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@Dekalb.Net
Phone - home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801
Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville TN 37166
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