Tiggerbus on mon 2 jun 97
I had a lot of fun reading the comments about "real" potters these days!
Sorry but I cannot take back my comment on the "grandma-weekend-hobbiers",
the reason is MY grandmother was the one who canned that phrase!!! So who
ever JOYCE is that tried to make me feel sooooo bad for that comment, can
speak to my granny about it! And for your information, JOYCE, the
majority of the people who do mold ceramic items (such as squirrels,
dolls, dogs, and cats, and planters) in my town and in all of the towns I
have lived in are all over the age of 60 years! So pooh on you!
It is a real struggle for those of us who have to educate a whole town,
and when we have educated them all the world will have a better
understanding of what we potters do!
Thanks to all of you who submitted comments on this subject! It was a
real treat reading them all!
Amy Gossett
tiggerbus@aol.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Reality is merely a crutch for those with a broken imagination..."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sherry mcDonald Stewart on wed 4 jun 97
I like your quote about realists, and broken imaginations.....as far as
educating people who are involved in hobbies that they enjoy, I dunno, I
think that whole phrase smacks of ,"snobish!" Why do you think they are
uneducated, just because they have a hobby that you don't relate to?
And, if you had said, that you shared what you do with them, and tried
to learn a little something from them about what they have learned, I
certainly would have looked at your ideas differently, but you can't get
anywhere with people with an attitude like that! People can only be
educated if they want to be educated, it can't be forced down their
throats, and you don't, you just don't reach people with a bad attitude!
Sherry
Tiggerbus on fri 6 jun 97
Original message
>>>>>I like your quote about realists, and broken imaginations.....as far
as
educating people who are involved in hobbies that they enjoy, I dunno, I
think that whole phrase smacks of ,"snobish!" Why do you think they are
uneducated, just because they have a hobby that you don't relate to?
And, if you had said, that you shared what you do with them, and tried
to learn a little something from them about what they have learned, I
certainly would have looked at your ideas differently, but you can't get
anywhere with people with an attitude like that! People can only be
educated if they want to be educated, it can't be forced down their
throats, and you don't, you just don't reach people with a bad attitude!
>>>>>>>
Listen here, missy... i dont have a bad attitude about what I do and what
others do with their spare time. Why don't you read the other frustrating
comments that others have posted about people not understanding fully
about what we do. You have to remember that some people could care less
about pottery and those who make them. And as far as what I have learned
about molds from ancient books in the library there is not much about it,
and around my area it is a dying form. All the ceramic shops in our town
and in Atlanta are all closed bc the women and men who owned and operated
them have closed bc it is no longer a wanted form of craft or art!
People are more into the new molded forms at mortuaries. Seeing that
cement has been newly added into the ceramic arts.
I am a director of an arts center where our main focus is to educate the
community and make FINE ARTS constantly visible to the public, not just
folk art or crafts, but those fine artists who have dedicated their life
following some of the greatest artist of all times! If I were such a snob
I would not dedicate MY FREE TIME to a non profit organization where I DO
NOT RECEIVE A SALARY of any sorts. I believe in pottery and fine arts so
that is why I do not mind giving up my studio time for educating others at
their will.
And just a little tid bit of information for you....in the southern arts
and crafts festivals, if you dare put CERAMICS as your craft or art, they
will not consider your application...You have to write POTTERY or they
will not even look at the photos. So I have learned after numerous
occasions when talking to show directors that I do CERAMICS they
immediately say no until I reassure them that it is wheel thrown pottery.
Also, molded ceramics are not allowed in ANY shows that I have requested
information on, ever!
And lastly there are some potters who have gorgeous mass produced items
that are wonderful and do not fall into the "hobby" category relative to
the 1970's distinctive style of just for fun. I am happy to see people
doing things that make them happy. Some of the best painters on clay work
are those that use molds for fun and to sell, because they are not able to
throw on the wheel or choose not to!
So I dont know where you get the idea that I am pushing "pottery
awareness" down throats of individuals. The whole discussion of the
hobby-crafters is based on the problem of people not knowing what is hand
thrown, sculpted, wheel thrown from purchased molds in which thousands of
molds are made from an original. Some of us who make one of a kind do
have a problem explaining to others that it is made from one piece of
clay. That was all the discussion was about. Plain and simple.
Can we not just end the discussion, or perhaps should we bring in college
professors and let them handle it from here. I know for certain my
professors looked down upon crafts and warned us not to enter that area of
work. All our professors always asked the question at the beginning of
our semesters to answer in essay form..."What is Art?" (Hint...DiVinci
knew the answer...)
So go figure that...At least I am not alone in my standing on what is ART
and what isnt?
amer
Amy Gossett
tiggerbus@aol.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Reality is merely a crutch for those with a broken imagination..."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Margery Shore on fri 6 jun 97
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 09:06:13 EDT
> From: Sherry mcDonald Stewart
> Subject: Re: Real Clay/Potters....what a kick!
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I like your quote about realists, and broken imaginations.....as far as
> educating people who are involved in hobbies that they enjoy, I dunno, I
> think that whole phrase smacks of ,"snobish!"
Thank you, Sherry! As a receipient of condesending attititudes
concerning
arts, crafts, and/or artists, your statement is long overdue on this
list! Bravo!
> Why do you think they are
> uneducated, just because they have a hobby that you don't relate to?
Many of the attitudes alluded to previously come from highly educated
individuals who, in my opinion, stagnate in their field and, therefore,
must
critisize others thereby justifing their purposes.
> And, if you had said, that you shared what you do with them, and tried
> to learn a little something from them about what they have learned, I
> certainly would have looked at your ideas differently, but you can't get
> anywhere with people with an attitude like that! People can only be
> educated if they want to be educated, it can't be forced down their
> throats, and you don't, you just don't reach people with a bad attitude!
Now, if we can just get this point across to instructors and pupils
alike!
Marg in Baton Rouge
Sherry mcDonald Stewart on sat 7 jun 97
Margery, thanks, I am glad there are others who realize that we go
through life being misunderstood , why should we expect everyone to
understand what we do and what it's called? I don't understand what many
people do in this life, and I don't have time to learn about all of it.
Patience, patience, tolerance, these virtues do more to advance humanity
than any others. We cannot make others see things our way.
In the best of all possible worlds...
However, in this world, I say, live and let live. I am not a control
freak. I share my work with people once they show an interest, that is
all I can do. I have converted others to clay, but it was because I use
a gentle hand, not a stick, and I never do resort to name calling to win
an argument, or try to intimidate others. I know what that means when a
person has to stoop so low. This topic is nothing to become threatened
about, or defensive, we all have a right to our opinions, I think,
unless I am mistaken! If the laws of this land have changed, would
someone please advise? Sherry
| |
|
